Thread: Ouch. The Price of a Close Shave. Change Needed?

I've been SR shaving for 2 1/2 weeks now and am mostly pleased with my progress. Thanks again for the tutilege offered here.
My problem now is the irritation I get: redness and soreness mostly below the corners of my mouth, in the hollow above the chin. In order to get a smooth shave, I am probably doing 4 or more passes, relathering with warm good lather each time. Also to get almost as smooth a shave as I got with a DE, I am going XTG and ATG in as many places as I can, though not where I have the greatest irritation. I have no weepers, just this nearly invisible, yet uncomfortable, irritation. My post-shave swipe with an alum block that I've always done tells me what I know...I've been rough with the steel.

Presumably many of you suffered this in your shave development.... So what to do? Two weeks of shaving should not require a rehone (Max honed blade). I strop on cotton and latigo. I think my shave technique is pretty good...use left and right hands, though I have to be a little agressive on upper lip and chin to take off the hair. I'm trying to let the blade do the work.
My prep is good. I know the skin adjusts to the shaving style to some degree. Should I take some breaks...skip a day or so?

I know there may be a hundred variables...and you havent seen me shave, checked the blade, etc etc. But I bet you have some good things for me to consider and try.

Thanks, Jim