Thread: $300. Spent And I Still Can't Achieve a Comfortable Shave

Hey guys It's been a while since I've been SRP. But I am really really in need of help!
So I started shaving about 5 years ago on my medium coarse/ coarse facial hair, (which still isn't fully grown yet), I always get irritations and red marks on my neck and these red marks or razor burns last the full day. I shave every 3 or 4 days so my skin has plenty of time to heal.

Last year I spent around $300. on all sorts of shaving equipment, I researched a ton, watched Youtube videos, I've watched Lynn Abrams guides, I've even read dozens of tutorial threads on SRP and some tips from Straight Razor Designs which is where I got my shave ready Ralf Aust 5/8 and my leather strop.
I had everything planned out, for the days I'd use my straight razor and when I can use my safety razor on trips and such. Here's the list of stuff I bought.
-SRD Ralf Aust 5/8
-SRD Leather Strop
-Merkur Safety Razor
-Feather, Derby, and Astra double edge blades
-Parker Brush
-Mikes Natural Shaving Soap, Porasso anti-irritation, Cella, and Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandlewood

I tried and tried and tried and tried, over and over again adjusting my angle to achieve the proper 30 degrees, getting a different soap as recommended from others, soaking my brush longer for a better lather, lathering up my face for extended periods of time, appliying little to zero pressure of the blade on my skin...or applying more pressure, etc, etc.
I think you guys get the point that I've tried everything a million times and the blades still tug at my skin even after professional honing or swapped out blades.

The Experiance:
So whether I'm trying to shave with my Merkur razor or stropped Ralf Aust, I always feel a tug. This is way more prevalent on the Merkur razor, meanwhile the Ralf Aust barely cuts anything-(It'll just glide along the watery smooth lather barely slicing any hair or if it does manage to cut hair It won't be able to get under 1mm of length.)

So I feel the tug, and after I shave my face, my face is usually burning a little bit with razor burns on my face.

Guys I have no idea what to do, my skin is pretty normal and usually can take more of a beating than most people's, I just don't know what to do!!! The only place that I've heard of that's in the Fairfax Virginia area is the "Art of Shaving" but they cost over $50 for one shave.
Is there anyone out there that can teach me?!?!? I've been getting these awful shaves with safety razors, straight razors, and my Phillips Norelco electric shaver.
Here are some pictures of my face after shaving with the Feather on my Merkur, doing 1st pass WTG and my 2nd pass across the grain.




I am willing to do anything necessary to get at least a "decent" shave without discomfort. Any further guidence or reccomendation will deeply be considered. (I will be reading all comments)

Thanks Everyone For Any Help

PS- I do have a little bit of acne, but ever since I began using organic products on my face it's gone down significantly more than what the Dermatologists would typiclly give, (which were always full of chemicals and hormones.)

PSS- My acne is just a slight bump and the same color as my skin, making it hard to notice, but I'd say that half my cuts and burn are on acne and half are on somewhat clear skin.

Update: I do not have any so called razor bumps, its all acne. Trust me on that one, lol. Also before I shave would usually soak my face in hot water for a couple minutes, while having my badger brush soaking for exactly 2min in hot water. After all of this I make a face lather.
One thing to note is that I do not stretch my skin when shaving. I have tried but because my face is covered with a lather I can't get a grip any where with a my finger to stretch the skin. I have never been able to stretch my skin. I also have tried the derby, feather, and astra DE blades and the derby offers the most amount of comfort but it won't cut my facial hair so It requires allot more force than usual to shave. I do have a free ticket to return my Ralf Aust for a free honing by Lynn, but I'm not going to be doing that anytime soon until I can at least shave with my Merkur. Technique comes first.

Merkur Razor: http://www.amazon.com/Merkur-Long-Ha...eywords=merkur

Wow, I feel bad for you. Maybe you can find a mentor in your area, at least I hope so. Is it possible that poor technique stopping dulled the edge on that Aust? It may need honed again. Good luck

The Ralph Aust has been used for less than a dozen times and it's still able to cut the hair off of my arm

Your straight sure sounds like it is dull to me. As for the DE...not sure. I think you probably need some one on one help. Don't give up!

Wish you were closer to see you shave,, could be the straight is dull now from bad stropping, but the feather blade in a DE it's not dull if fresh. That my friend is all you doing that. Your technique really needs help, cutting yourself up like that is not good. Also your beard and face may not be tough enough for a feather blade, they take some experience, and just to be totally honest some guys ain't cut out for this,

I would back up and start fresh, get the razor honed again, then follow the Lynn DVD on first shaves, doing only one piece of your face till your getting comfortable until you get better at your technique. Wanting instant pro results ain't cutting it. From the looks of it you need to slow down. Till you have learned each step of the way.

Hope you get it all worked out , and look for a milder DE and blades, T,c

First off, you'll need to rest your face several days after damage like that before trying your next shave. Now of course it is possible that you have dulled your razor while stropping, so the current state of your straight razor is in question. It really bothers me that that you are having trouble shaving with your Merkur. That's just not right. There has got to be some kind of technique issue going on here. Are you using fresh blades each time? Given the damage to your skin, I would recommend a fresh blade each time. Some people consider Feather blades to be too harsh, so you might want to avoid them. Are you having trouble with all three blade brands?

Make sure that you use a very light touch on your skin. Pressure will cause the damage you are seeing and it will not improve the cutting capacity of either type of razor.

Whoa! That boils down to poor technique first, and a few possibilities after that. Lather being another top culprit. I've found that after getting a few razors "professionally honed" they don't perform as they should. I've been honing since I started shaving, and find coticules to an inferior hone. This will surprise many, I'm sure, but every razor ive ever used off a coti has pulled and tugged like no other. My only saving grace has been japanese naturals. If your interested, I can send you a razor that shaves nicely. Send me a pm and we can work out the details.

PS. I have the thickest facial hair imaginable!

What are you doing for pre shave prep? For some it's a very important step. For me it's the difference between just shaving to a VERY good shave

I could be wrong, but they look much like razor bumps to me . You may wish to try shaving only a couple of times per week and only a single wtg pass with a your Merkur . Try a post shave balm of (four aspirin dissolved in a tablespoon of water and a tablespoon of honey) the salicylic acid helps reduce inflamation and exfoliate the skin helping to release ingrown hair while the honey acts to sooth the skin and kill bacteria. Bumpy skin is tough for any shave system to negotiate.

sounds like a dulled razor resulting in to much pressure being applied
give your skin a week or so to heal & get the razor re-honed it doesn't take much of a bad stropping to kill the edge.
I find that the DE blades are harsh compared to a well honed Str8 also & don't like them in shavette's etc

do you use hot or cold water to shave?
I found cold water shaves to be much less irritating & have only had a couple of warm shaves in over a year & prefer the cold water 100%

also the TOBS Jermyn Street for sensitive skin is a staple in my routine & I find the Porasso (white) alright too

are you using an Alum block before applying your after shave, it will sting a bit looking at the damage you are doing but your skin will heal quicker
JMHO

PS I would take Prodigy up on his offer for sure this will help you to rule out the sharpness