Every day shave irritation

Hi everyone,

Through most my adult life, shaving was neglected. I usually used a beard trimmer to shave close to the skin because shaving with a traditional razor irritated my neck.

Several months ago I saw a video on straight razor shaving and thought maybe this could be my saving grace to be able to shave regularly. I really love it, and I do get a wonderful shave. I'm probably 15 shaves in with a straight razor, Dovo Forestral, that I acquired from SRD.

However, I am unable to shave two consecutive days without getting razor bumps on my neck. After the first day, my skin feels great. No irritation whatsoever. It's that second day shave that really gets me. I even take it easy, shaving WTG and only doing one pass.

Is there anyone here that can relate to my situation? I would love to shave every day, but my skin doesn't seem to want to tolerate it. I feel like i have to let my skin settle down for a week before I can shave again. I have tried shaving with a straight razor on day 1, and a DE on day 2. DE on both days, and SR on both days.

Thank you for your time, and I really look forward to learning a lot here.

Welcome to SRP!

If you haven't done so read everything in the library https://shavelibrary.com/w/Shave_Library

My first thought is improper skin stretching and/or razor angle too steep, make sure you really stretch your neck and keep the spine of the razor one to two spine widths from your neck. The neck is the most sensitive area for most chaps so don't be disheartened if it takes a while to get it all to come together. Experiment with angles and have patience.

Just a thought can you use a DE two days in a row without razor burn?

Thanks for the link. I'll be sure to read all I can.

After I posted that I realized that there are so many different variables that could possibly affect the shave, which might lead to irritation.

I cannot shave with a DE two days in a row. I think that's worse on my skin than shaving with a SR on day 1, and a DE on day 2.

Thanks for the tip on experimenting with different angles. I have noticed that my angle tends to be a little greater than it should be at times.

About a month ago I started an experiment where I'm only shaving WTG, and only one pass to see if that helps, and it certainly has. It's just not that close of a shave. But at least it's eliminating some possible causes of skin irritation. Now I just need to work with the same method until I don't see any skin irritation for 24 hrs. after shave #2.

Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Surge

I feel like i have to let my skin settle down for a week before I can shave again.

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Something is wrong in that case,

my skin prefers shaving every other day


not enough stretching has given me less frequent problems than over stretching
my neck is VERY peculiar about how I shave in regards to the grain and how I stretch it; instead of pulling DOWN on the bottom of my neck and shaving above my stretching fingers, I need to stretch up on my check/jaw and put my head down so my chin is against my throat and shave UNDER my stretching fingers
my finishing edge is of big importance to me
finding the right angle is a must, and it's different for every razor
as little pressure as possible, just the weight of the blade only


Shave for comfort, nothing else, the rest will come with time

DE blades are not my thing, I find 'em too thin and clumsy to use them much; ergo I switched to SRs, I do enjoy them occasionally but would prefer the old thicker blades they used back in the day

Best advice I can give

"Shave the Lather not your Face"

Basically adjust the angle as mentioned above and use just enough pressure to remove the lather

Concentrate on comfort ONLY not the quality of hair removal, as you get better the Hair removal will get better

I started this in 1981 because I could NOT shave more than twice per week, without serious red bumps and irritation
It works just aim for comfort and let it happen slowly

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

Best advice I can give

"Shave the Lather not your Face"

Basically adjust the angle as mentioned above and use just enough pressure to remove the lather

Concentrate on comfort ONLY not the quality of hair removal, as you get better the Hair removal will get better

I started this in 1981 because I could NOT shave more than twice per week, without serious red bumps and irritation
It works just aim for comfort and let it happen slowly

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Thank you. I like that thought process.

No worries we all started in the same boat and all here to help.

Shaving WTG only is a great way to start and since you have less irritation your on the right path.
If you haven't done so already map your beard direction. Here's a typical growth pattern

Attachment 291233

Mapping your growth pattern really helps to make sure your actually shaving WTG.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TristanLudlow

Something is wrong in that case,

my skin prefers shaving every other day


not enough stretching has given me less frequent problems than over stretching
my neck is VERY peculiar about how I shave in regards to the grain and how I stretch it; instead of pulling DOWN on the bottom of my neck and shaving above my stretching fingers, I need to stretch up on my check/jaw and put my head down so my chin is against my throat and shave UNDER my stretching fingers
my finishing edge is of big importance to me
finding the right angle is a must, and it's different for every razor
as little pressure as possible, just the weight of the blade only


Shave for comfort, nothing else, the rest will come with time

DE blades are not my thing, I find 'em too thin and clumsy to use them much; ergo I switched to SRs, I do enjoy them occasionally but would prefer the old thicker blades they used back in the day

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I have noticed that I get a better shave with a heavier blade, like a near wedge that I have. It's about as effortless a shave as I have experienced so far.

I too am in that same boat. I did resolve it though. There has been some really good advice so far. A couple of things that help. Noxema as a preshave. A really good soap and brush. Skin stretching and holding is important, as well as low blade angle. I shave against the grain first, which is a little odd, but my first barber shave went that way and turned out great, so I followed. The hair on my neck lays very flat against my skin for the most part and it shaves easier is that is the first pass. It will take some experimenting to overcome your issue. Also the shave the lather rule makes a giant difference in my approach and the results show. Having my edge fine tuned is important. Don’t be afraid to try new products.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RezDog

I too am in that same boat. I did resolve it though. There has been some really good advice so far. A couple of things that help. Noxema as a preshave. A really good soap and brush. Skin stretching and holding is important, as well as low blade angle. I shave against the grain first, which is a little odd, but my first barber shave went that way and turned out great, so I followed. The hair on my neck lays very flat against my skin for the most part and it shaves easier is that is the first pass. It will take some experimenting to overcome your issue. Also the shave the lather rule makes a giant difference in my approach and the results show. Having my edge fine tuned is important. Don’t be afraid to try new products.

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Great advice, RezDog, thank you.

The hair on my neck, mustache area, and sides of my chin lay flat, so maybe the ATG would be the way to go in those areas. Shave it clean the first time, and might not have to take a second pass in the neck area.

Giving your pre shave prep extra attention can help to. pre shave prep can make huge difference on a shave when the edge is not a lazer.

Im with the folks that are talking about angle and preasure. That besides a edge that needs touched up are the main issues with irritation IMO.

You've been given some great advise already. One thing I found that helped as well,is a good quality soap.
There are many out there, there is a thread here which will give you an idea of the best ones over all.

FIRST TIER SOAPS AND CREAMS

It's a long thread, but Obies list t the beginning will help you out

Have you tried a pre-shave treatment? I don’t use one myself, but several folks here have sensitive skin and recommend the Proraso pre-shave.

Angle, pressure, prep, lather, edge. The information given is spot on. But there's one other that comes to mind..your new to straight, I presume. Most of us have many years under our belts, and our skin is more tempered from shaving this way. I too, was in the same boat as you, just keep rowing, calm waters are ahead.

Lots of good advice here. You might also consider your after shave regime.
The whole idea is to minimize skin irritation.

First of all, a thorough rinse is important in order to remove all soap remnants.
Also, when you dry your skin, patting it dry, rather than rubbing helps.

Finally, it might help to apply something soothing to your skin: something like
Thayers Witch Hazel with Aloa Vera. For your usual hot spots on the neck, you
could apply a thin coat of vaseline or a vasoline based antibiotic lotion.

Avoid alcohol-based aftershave lotions, but there are a few products that are
specifically intended to prevent/heal shave bumps.

Go lightly on the shave and stay cool after.

Here's a little post shave advice----> After you're through shaving wash your face and rub an alum block over your damp skin. This is a disinfectant. Next give your face a splash of witch hazel. This is a nourishment and promotes healing of any damaged skin.

Benz sez---> Look sharp and smell nice for the ladies.

As far as a pre-shave prep:

Hot shower
Proraso pre-shave, or bloom water (whatever I'm in the mood for)
3 drops of pre-shave oil

Post shave:
Alum block (always)
Thayers Witch Hazel
Aftershave: variety - Stirling, Lucky Tiger, Proraso, Clubman

I tried shaving with a Feather DE on day 3 last week. I was astounded at how well it shaved. The Feather was one of the last blades to try in a sample pack. I was timid about trying it because I heard it was an aggressive blade, but man o' man... what a great shave. Perhaps it's just a matter of my skin getting used to shaving every day.

I also tried something else. I saw a video by Michael Freedberg, and he did a test on his face with the brush... put the side of the brush to your face when lathering, and then pull it away to see if the soap is too paste like. When the soap creates nice peaks on your cheek, there should be enough water in the lather. I used that method until it was just right, and then I shaved with the Feather DE.

My skin was a little less irritated on that 3rd shave, and two or three days later, my neck looks fine.

So many variables, but I'm going to stick with that lather method. Perhaps there just wasn't enough water in my lather to make the soap slick enough. Or maybe I just wasn't using sharp enough blades.

I have always had a fast growing beard. As I have aged, that beard has grown coarser and tougher. When I had teenage acne, I started shaving with an electric shaver as I could not use any type of blade. However, with my fast beard growth, the electric shaver never got close enough, so I often needed to shave again later in the day...bummer.

I have blue eyes and a ruddy complexion, and a condition known as rosacea. Thus, my face is easily sun burned, cold burned, wind burned, and razor burned. I have found that I get the most comfortable shaves using a properly honed straight razor and top tier shaving soaps lathered with a soft tip brush.

1. The razor- I hone my own razors. My first finisher was a Naniwa 12K SS, but I found the edge was too harsh for my face. I get better edges for my face using natural finishing stones. I have tried several different stones looking for the one(s) that best produce an edge keen enough for my tough beard, yet smooth enough for my sensitive face. My latest venture is with a Zuly Grey from South Africa. I refresh the edge of my razors, whenever they start to lack keenness or smoothness. Since my beard is tough on the razor edge, that usually happens every 4-6 shaves, depending upon the quality of steel in the razor.

After honing the razor, I polish the edge by stropping on bench strops with Cubic Boron Nitride of 0.50, 0.25 and 0.10 micron pastes/sprays. These pasted strops have made a significant difference in the smoothness of my shaves. After the pasted strops, I strop 50 laps on cloth and 100 laps on leather.

2. The brush- If your skin is sensitive, I would suggest that you bowl lather rather than face lather. Face lathering might irritate your skin. You also need to use a brush that has soft tips with minimal scritch. Although a silvertip badger will work, there are also synthetic, horsehair, and broken-in boar brushes that meet that criteria.

3. Soaps - You need a great soap that has slickness/glide, and good cushion to protect your skin from the blade. In particular, avoid canned gels and foams that can dry your skin.

Depending upon your skin, you face might be sensitive to some scents. For me, soaps with lime or close sting my face, but everyone is different in this aspect.

There are many different soaps from both well-established firms and recent artisans that can meet that criteria. Look in the soap and cream forum for suggestions. Personally, I prefer tallow-based soaps as I think they give a better face feel after the shave, but there are also good vegan soaps for those who have an objection to the use of animal fats.

Also once you find soaps you like, then experiment with the amount of water you add to the soap to produce the slickest, most cushioning lather.

4. The shave- Like others have already said, use very light pressure and the correct shave angle (never more than 30 degrees). As indicated "shave the lather" not the beard. You want to remove the minimal number of skin cells as you remove your beard. Although many of us shave three passes (WTG, XTG, ATG), if you are getting bumps, you might try shaving a couple of passes with the grain and forego other directions until you figure out what works best for you.

5. Be sure you do not remove residual lather from your face by rubbing with a terry washcloth. I suggest using microfiber cloths that are much smoother. You can find them in the auto section of a local store. Also pat your face rather than rubbing it. Whether you shave with warm lather or cold, always finish by rinsing with cold water to close your pores. You might complete your shave using a shave balm for sensitive skin to protect your newly shaved face.

It might take you some experimentation to get to where you need to be, but your face will thank you for it.

best advice I can give the lather the palm of your hand until you can consistently get a good lather, than later and shave your forearms(easier to hide if you nick yourself as well as see what you're doing), after that is good, move on to your face. also pick up an alum block that way when you nick your face , it won't look like Swiss cheese for more than an hour or two.

I know this thread is over a month out, but I had the same problem when I started out. A couple things I do with good success is first, I use beard oil as a pre-shave. I use just enough to get a little lubrication to my skin. Not enough to be greasy, just enough to get rid of the squeaky clean fresh shower feeling. Let that sit for a few minutes. Second, most soaps don't cut it for me. I've found that thick creams work a lot better. Soaps take too much oil out of my skin for shaving and will leave me irritated every time. Also, some of the newer creams with caffeine in them leave a good feeling for some reason. YMMV on the caffeine but definitely try a heavy cream. If your skin feels dry at all after shaving, put a little more beard oil back on your skin to moisturize. Keeping your skin from drying out is key. I wore a full beard for years before getting into shaving on a regular basis and what I noticed was that my skin was a lot drier than it ever was when I was using beard oil every day, so I put that back into my routine and problem solved. I never use after shave. Just beard oil very lightly. Definitely nothing with alcohol. Once I started doing this, it no longer mattered what direction I shaved or how many passes. Hope this helps.

It is like anything, if you are not taught correctly then how do you know you are fluffing it, this website is invaluable for that sort of info. I have sensitive skin on the neck and wet shaving seemed to be the answer, however not knowing how to prep, post shave and maintain was a issue (the first few shaves were a tragedy). Thick hair is also a problem, so it was critical to have a clean edge and I am still OCD on edge maintenance, take it easy on maintenance. Practice slowly and ensure your edge does not get mucked up, remember lighter is better until you get a feel for it. Don't do numerous passes if you don't have to, by lathering in sections one pass at a time I can lightly clean up stubble after lathering both the next pass and the freshly shaven pass. Beyond that stretching was foreign to me and learning where my pass missed some stubble and how to get to it was another step. I kind of miss being new at the shave because all the fun discovering what works for me is done and now it is more a relaxing experience with some alone time. Try shaving a balloon, it's a good technique to getting pressure and feel for angle down which can be part of the problem, it will also teach you how light your touch should be on the edge.

You've been told pretty much every alternative technique to try and I like all of the advice, so my advice is just keep trying different things and sometimes different "approaches" on different parts of your face/beard.

For instance, there are parts of my face where across the grain works better as my first pass. For me that is my neck. Also, on my neck I can never go against the grain...period, with any type of razor for the last 55+ years. It is too hard on my skin, AND I don't need to get that close a shave....period.

Everyone's face and beard is different. Try different things until you eliminate your problem. You'll find the right combination!!

All great advice given above, I'm sure it will solve most of the problem.

A dermatologist told me that the skin takes time to adjust. So give it time, and use the techniques described.
I cannot shave everyday. For about 20yrs I too simply used a beard trimmer. My skin was very sensitive and the "surface" of my skin was not conditioned to having a blade glide across it. So it was once a week for a while when I started SR shaving.

The other thing that helped immensely was using a spray on skin toner with witch hazel and vitamins and a bunch of good stuff.. it is formulated to heal and PH balance the skin. And then I'd gently pat it in.
That helped the "conditioning period" until my skin was ready for more frequent shaves, and some of the more traditional aftershaves that I now enjoy.

What you are experiencing is not unusual for any form of wet shaving.
Good luck!
:)

I am in the same boat. No matter what I try, there is always skin irritation below the jawline when I shave every day. Always felt it was a sharpness issue but have now arrived at edges so sharp (using Jnats as final polishers) that I can do a one-pass shave without pressure and still get skin irritation no matter how comfortable the shave itself. Skin irritation will typically kick in 15-30 minutes after a very comfortable shave. It still surprises me that I can have a very comfortable feel after shaving and end up with an irritated skin that looks terribly inflamed.

Shave the lather and not your face is the first thing. Also, when shaving the lower part of my neck, I slow down, focus on a light touch and proper angle.

The other thing is proper pre-shave preparation.

Here are are couple of blog posts:

https://hendrixclassics.com/blogs/bl...-a-great-shave

https://hendrixclassics.com/blogs/bl...l-whisker-prep

try soaking your face longer, and get a nice lather with peaks so that going over the same spot a few times without re-lathering will be a little more forgiving when it comes to irritation, and with your skin starts to feel irritated, or just for fun, take a pass, re apply the lather, then in theoery won't have the blade directly on your skin, so you would not get irritation.

There are so many variables, most of which have been touched on in the thread, that now maybe you just need to try changing only one thing at a time and judge change in your skin condition. Hang in...you’ll figure it out, or grow a beard trying!

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Originally Posted by Haroldg48

There are so many variables, most of which have been touched on in the thread, that now maybe you just need to try changing only one thing at a time and judge change in your skin condition. Hang in...you’ll figure it out, or grow a beard trying!

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yep there are so many variables that have been thrown out there, that it may take a year or two just to test them all properly.