Thread: My Face... It Burns!

Ok, I've had it with modern razors. My skin is far too sensitive. Razor burn is getting old, but I like a clean-shaven face. The dilemma sucks. If you want to get to the point, scroll-down past the next bits.

I've been shaving since I was about 15. Since then, I have dealt with razor burn most everyday of my life. I have tried single-bladed disposables, double-bladed disposables, and the much overrated Gilette Mach 3. I have tried various shaving creams accompanied by different aftershaves. You can also throw several different face washes, etc designed to ease shaving. There are electric razors I have tried too. None of them have impressed me.

My lineage is of northern European decent, so I have very thin, pale skin accompanied by thick, coarse hair. Yay! I get ingrown hairs and razor bumps with ease. I still suffer from the occasional acne breakout too. And yes, I make sure to shave with the hair, not against it. My skin also dries out easily even though I apply moisturizer daily. God help me if I go a day without shaving. My face feels so itchy that I have to wonder if avoiding the razor burn makes it worth it.

*Here's the Point*

Help me Straight Razor Place. You're my only hope.

I'm certain that my last hope lies with the ways of old, namely, with a straight razor. I've read the stickies and understand where I should look for a razor and that it needs to be sharpened. However, I want to get some personal recommendations, if possible, from people who closely share my history.

I plan on buying a blade, a strope, the video you guys recommend, and the various other bits needed to get started. I'm trying to do this on a budget, but I realize the importance of a well-manufactured blade and will not cut corners on that.

So, help me!! Please?

Originally Posted by DoctorL

Ok, I've had it with modern razors. My skin is far too sensitive. Razor burn is getting old, but I like a clean-shaven face. The dilemma sucks. If you want to get to the point, scroll-down past the next bits.

I've been shaving since I was about 15. Since then, I have dealt with razor burn most everyday of my life. I have tried single-bladed disposables, double-bladed disposables, and the much overrated Gilette Mach 3. I have tried various shaving creams accompanied by different aftershaves. You can also throw several different face washes, etc designed to ease shaving. There are electric razors I have tried too. None of them have impressed me.

My lineage is of northern European decent, so I have very thin, pale skin accompanied by thick, coarse hair. Yay! I get ingrown hairs and razor bumps with ease. I still suffer from the occasional acne breakout too. And yes, I make sure to shave with the hair, not against it. My skin also dries out easily even though I apply moisturizer daily. God help me if I go a day without shaving. My face feels so itchy that I have to wonder if avoiding the razor burn makes it worth it.

*Here's the Point*

Help me Straight Razor Place. You're my only hope.

I'm certain that my last hope lies with the ways of old, namely, with a straight razor. I've read the stickies and understand where I should look for a razor and that it needs to be sharpened. However, I want to get some personal recommendations, if possible, from people who closely share my history.

I plan on buying a blade, a strope, the video you guys recommend, and the various other bits needed to get started. I'm trying to do this on a budget, but I realize the importance of a well-manufactured blade and will not cut corners on that.

So, help me!! Please?

Id say the 1st order of business is to use a good brush and some nice soap. If you buy some per-shave oil it works VERY well as an addition to the soap routine. Read what some of the posters use as their pre-shave routine. Get an idea of what you are willing to do. PREP is key to a good, irritation free shave. An open straight razor is much less aggressive to your skin also. Try the whole thing. I think it will be of great benefit.

I would try the following:

1. Institut Karite shaving soap - incredibly moisturizing and mild - shea butter key ingredient. I got mine on amazon.com but it is very hot now so is often out of stock
1a. For a change up, Nancy Boy Replenishing Shaving Cream (nancyboy.com) - fantastic ingredients, very mild
2. For post shave soothing, get Nancy Boy Replenishing After Shave Balm (aloe vera gel, rose hip seed oil, cucumber hydrosol - very very soothing and mild)
2a. For change of pace, Institut Karite After Shave Balm or Pre de Provence After Shave Balm - again, the idea is to soothe after you inevitably rough yourself up the first 20 tries with a straight
3. Vulfix Pure Badger Strand Brush (classicshaving.com)
4. Tony Miller Artisan Strop, 2.5 inches with D rings (wellshavedgentleman.com)
5. Ask others on hones, but the answer is probably a yellow belgian coticule (perfectedge.com or classicshaving.com)
6. Basic Thiers Issard or Dovo 5/8 or 6/8 straight razor in the $100-$200 range. You can buy on classicshaving.com, and purchase the $20 pre-sharpening service. Or ask for a pres-sharpened used blade on the B/S/T part of this site.

I don't like preshave oils but some do.

You and I are of a common feather my friend. I've had the same problems, same dilemmas. But I don't mind a full beard or modest stubble, so I rarely shaved before discovering straight razors, now it's an every day ritual.

I'd be more than happy to set you up with many of the items you'll need to get up and going, send me a pm and we'll talk more.

Or, if you'd rather peruse the B/S/T forum, there are some great deals to be had for less than the cost of a brand new straight.

Help me Straight Razor Place. You're my only hope.

I can't fault anything loueedacat is saying, and Russel won't steer you wrong either.
The best advice I can give you from having similar problems, is make sure you start out with a good brush and soap. even if you don't start out with a straight right away, wet shaving is the way to go.

Thanks for the advice so far guys. It's really helping me get an idea here.

So far, I'm looking at the DOVO Special Tortoise 5/8
DOVO Straight Razors

The brief perusal of the forums I've been able to do indicates a lot of you like it.

I'm not jumping into this though. And I probably will get all that prep stuff you guys recommend before getting the blade.

I started with a Dovo. They are good razors. You can also pick up a NOS Wapi razor around here and have someone bring it up to shave ready, all for $40. These are GOOD razors at a very good price. I use mine as much as my Dovo.