Thread: Razor Bumps after 2 months of SR shaving

Is it unusual that I would be getting razor bumps after almost two months of shaving. Up to now, I've had a very smooth face, but in the last 4 or 5 days I've developed a few razor bumps on my cheeks. I've read a ton of tips on razor bumps, but am wondering if anyone has tried making a paste from aspirin and water, and applying that to the affected area? Seems like it might work over time, but wondering if anyone here could chime in.

I suspect your blade is not as sharp.With a sharp blade it will cut clean through. A blunt blade will drag and catch hair which can cause the problem you aare describing. Anyway if you have been keeping the edge keen then you can rule this out at least.
Haven't tried aspirin paste.

Until I switched to a DE razor and, soon after, straights, I used to regularly have to "rest my face" for a week or so every couple of months because of similar red bumps.

Since switching to these better razors, I've never had that problem.

I believe you have been honing your own razors. Is it possible that you had a razor or two that weren't honed up to snuff? It can be easy to try to make up for a more dull razor by using more pressure and this can result in such irritation.

Acne creams often have salicylic acid (aspirin) in them so your solution might help the symptom.

For certain skin, trying to shave too closely and going for a BBS shave everytime can result in getting bumps also. If you are going for a BBS shave every time maybe try backing off a bit and try for DFS or CCS?

Another solution (one that I also use since I have very sensitive skin) is to try shaving every second day, if it is not necessary for you to be absolutely clean shaven all the time. I can do this with straight razors since my beard grows back slower than by using any other method to shave.

Another thing to look at is if you are using alcohol based aftershaves. I tend to get breakouts if I use them immediately after a shave. I have taken to using aftershave balms and with only a very light coat. I find WM Newmann's aftershave balms to be particularly suited to my skin and I also use Krampert's Finest aftershave splash. That product still has some alcohol in it but I never get breakouts or bumps from it.

I've never been prone to razor bumps, and never on my cheeks. Since I started SR shaving, up until just a few days ago, I never had a razor bump, but looking at your responses, I think the "not as sharp" blade is the likely culprit. Which brings me to another question...

Yes I have been honing my own blades and have had very good comfortable shaves for about 1 week after honing, from the two Genco's I've been using lately, with no irritation. After that first week, it seems like the quality of the shave drops fairly rapidly. I was able to get good shaves from my Dovo for about a month before I needed to do a refresh, but these Genco's seem to require maintenance more frequently. Does that sound probable, or am I doing something to shorten the life of my razors edge?

As a beginner your shaving technique and stropping technique can degrade the edge faster. For the first few months I was hitting the CrOx and 12k stone pretty often, like every week. As you get better though, the needed refreshes will be farther and farther apart.

Originally Posted by criswilson10

As a beginner your shaving technique and stropping technique can degrade the edge faster. For the first few months I was hitting the CrOx and 12k stone pretty often, like every week. As you get better though, the needed refreshes will be farther and farther apart.

That's oddly reassuring.
Thanks

I also get red bumps from alcohol based aftershave,it makes a wreck of my face and neck!As to the razor dulling I have Genco fluid steel that has not been on a stone in over 3 years.That said I've been at this for over 5 years.YMMV.

Originally Posted by Zemke

I also get red bumps from alcohol based aftershave,it makes a wreck of my face and neck!As to the razor dulling I have Genco fluid steel that has not been on a stone in over 3 years.That said I've been at this for over 5 years.YMMV.

So that about sums it up for me. Pretty sure alcohol based aftershave isn't an issue for me, but your 3 year hone free Genco (I'm assuming you actually use that razor) and 5 years of experience says a lot.

What I'm getting from the feedback is that the razor sort of has a language that takes some time to learn. A smooth comfortable shave says everything is well. But a razor that starts producing irritation may be telling you that it needs some attention, or that your being ham handed on the strop, or some other detail may be out of whack.