Breaking Out!

Good evening. I've been straight shaving for a whole two weeks now. I use the Classic Shaving Soap and a badger bristle brush. Since then my face has been breaking out with bumps, is real dry, and itches like hell. I wear a helmet everyday and the chin strap just irritates it even more. Of course taking the helmet off is not an option. Nor is skipping a few days shaving to let my skin heal. The past couple of days I put the straight down and have been using a disposable and reg shaving cream. No, I didn't sell out or give up just yet. I'm just giving my face a chance to heal up. I'm not sure if it's the soap, the brush, or just my lack of experience. Should I just suck it up and assume my face will get use to it eventually? I have some soap and cream from TGQ en route just to see if that works a little better. It's also almost impossible to keep my lather even luke warm in my little wooden bowl while I shave. I would appreciate any advice.

It does take time for the face to get used to the straight razor, go ahead and shave with the usual until your face heals and then come back to it, you may have to do this several times before you can over come the irritation. Im an old grunt and understand the situation, God Bless.

Do you use any type of after shave?

As nun said, it does take a little time for your skin to become accustomed to the straight. I'd have to agree. Use your old method & ease into it. Use the straight every few shaves at first maybe.
I'd imagine you have enough on your mind without having to worry about an uncomfortable chin strap!
Once you are used to it, it will give you more comfortable shaves than anything else.

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Originally Posted by broncobob

Do you use any type of after shave?

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No. But I do put some lotion on my face to help sooth it a little.

yer, aftershave deffo helps. The first couple of days when I started I was reaching for it as soon as I'd finished shaving. I think it would have been quite uncomfortable otherwise, I never used to bother.

Something to do with exfoliation apparently.

Also if you're using a steep angle then this will be even more of a problem I would think.

I don't know if you are able to get ample hot water for shaving there, but good prep and post shave are just as important as proper shaving itself. Was your razor professionally honed prior to you shaving with it? If the edge is sub-par, that could also be the culprit to your itchy, irritated skin. If you have good hot water, go ahead and large good amounts on your face prior to shaving, a hot shower before is optimal of course. It would help to use a good after shave for sure. The lotion should suffice for now, especially with the irritation. I hope the shaves get more comfy and fun as the days go by. Keep on rockin' in Iraq and put the bad peeps in their place! Jeremy-

There's some great advice from everyone above, but one thing came to mind. Maybe your skin is sensitive to the shaving soap you're using. I know my face and soap do NOT get along, so I use a more sensitive cream, from The Body Shop. Have you been using this soap prior to switching to the straight, or did you start using it at the same time?

Don't know if that's what the issue is, but it's worth considering. :shrug:

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Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

There's some great advice from everyone above, but one thing came to mind. Maybe your skin is sensitive to the shaving soap you're using. I know my face and soap do NOT get along, so I use a more sensitive cream, from The Body Shop. Have you been using this soap prior to switching to the straight, or did you start using it at the same time?

Don't know if that's what the issue is, but it's worth considering. :shrug:

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Yeah, I was gonna say this. Try using the soap and brush with your regular disposable razor a few times to make sure that the soap isn't messing with you. If that seems ok then its your technique/prep or the razor not being properly honed.

I must agree with what the others have said. Let your face rest from the str8 until your bumps are gone.

RE: CS soaps - I love CS but I have problems with their soaps. So far I've tried citrus spice, lime, and lilac. All burned and irritated my face, especially citrus spice and lime. After the bumps go away, try shaving with the CS soap and your disposable. If the irritation returns with the disposable, try the TGQ. Thanks for serving and :gl:.

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Originally Posted by cessnabird

I don't know if you are able to get ample hot water for shaving there, but good prep and post shave are just as important as proper shaving itself. Was your razor professionally honed prior to you shaving with it? If the edge is sub-par, that could also be the culprit to your itchy, irritated skin. If you have good hot water, go ahead and large good amounts on your face prior to shaving, a hot shower before is optimal of course. It would help to use a good after shave for sure. The lotion should suffice for now, especially with the irritation. I hope the shaves get more comfy and fun as the days go by. Keep on rockin' in Iraq and put the bad peeps in their place! Jeremy-

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Well, hot water is hit or miss here. I recently found out what a scuttle was and do have a coffee maker to where I can heat up some water. I'm not too sure if I want to spend any money on that at this time. I have two straights now. Both were purchased from gentlemen through the classified section on this forum. They were both shave ready. Now did I jack up the edge due to improper stropping? :shrug: That's very possible. I'll be going on leave in a few weeks and I guess while I'm in Houston I'll look somewhere to see if I can find some aftershave and what not that will help me. Thanks for the response.

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Originally Posted by Tonsor

I must agree with what the others have said. Let your face rest from the str8 until your bumps are gone.

RE: CS soaps - I love CS but I have problems with their soaps. So far I've tried citrus spice, lime, and lilac. All burned and irritated my face, especially citrus spice and lime. After the bumps go away, try shaving with the CS soap and your disposable. If the irritation returns with the disposable, try the TGQ. Thanks for serving and :gl:.

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Well, I tried the Almond and it burns like hell so I'll never use that one again. I'm currently using the Sandlewood. It has a slight burn but, not as bad. I still have the Bay Rum left to try. If that does not work I think I'll stay away from CS soaps all together. I started using the soap and the straight at the same time. So I'll try the soap again with the disposable and see what happens. I ordered the sample pack from TGQ so I could see if I like the soap or the cream more. Well, thanks for the advice.

when you shave do you use pressure on blade to cut hairs?
your razor should be in great condition and cut without any pressure. Let me know when you get home and send 1 st 1 of your blade i will check it out.if it has problem i will fix.Lastly what degree you keep blade to your face ?don't go more then 30 please.
It is hard to get used to straight without getting hot water .i have never tried shave with cold water don't know how difficult it is.i must test it ones.how about leather soap .do you leather good?
Cold water bothers me most.I know everyone first starts had alittle problems.face needs to get used to it.But if you have burns on your face it most likely too much pressure on blade or bad soap.don't use any shaving oil.Oil makes razor slide top of the hairs.

I really have a feeling you need to try another brand of soap and see if you still have the same problems.

Good Luck,

Lynn

When I tried the Classic Shaving soaps my face became really dry. I since moved on to other brands.

I had similar problems in my inexperience and last night used a hot towel pre-soap and once after lathering, per Lynn's advice on the dvd, and again after the shave. That seriously made all the difference. That was last night and my face is still buttery-smooth. I use Col. Conk soap and haven't had a problem with it at all. Definitely try to use a hot towel while you're out deployed, but if you can't get one, try it out when you get back home. Thank you for your service, too. My wife and I really appreciate it.

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Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

when you shave do you use pressure on blade to cut hairs?
your razor should be in great condition and cut without any pressure. Let me know when you get home and send 1 st 1 of your blade i will check it out.if it has problem i will fix.Lastly what degree you keep blade to your face ?don't go more then 30 please.
It is hard to get used to straight without getting hot water .i have never tried shave with cold water don't know how difficult it is.i must test it ones.how about leather soap .do you leather good?
Cold water bothers me most.I know everyone first starts had alittle problems.face needs to get used to it.But if you have burns on your face it most likely too much pressure on blade or bad soap.don't use any shaving oil.Oil makes razor slide top of the hairs.

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Well, I only tried cold water once. :gaah: Will never do it again. The amount of pressure I use differs. Sometimes it seems like I'm trying to beat the clock because the soap will begin to dry on my face. If it gets too dry I have to use a little more pressure. I don't go more then 30 degrees. I don't use any shaving oil. Once my other soap and cream I ordered arrives I'll try that. If that doesn't work then I'll look into sending it off to get rehoned. Thanks for the offer. Do you or does anyone reading this know if I'll be able to transport my razors through the checked luggage when I fly back home?

i am sure you can do so but blades have to be in the package not on your hands.you can't take in to the plane.At least people says this on civilian airplanes.
if you soap is getting dry so fast i think Lynn maybe right .it could be the soap problem. I forget to tell.Use small strokes too until you get use to it.You know my contact information i will do everything i can to get you going.

If you have access to electricity you can get a little water boiler/electric kettle. I think I've seen cordless ones before, too. You probably won't be the only one around who wants hot water for something, so maybe you can split it with somebody. Have you tried using an mre heater/canteen cup? You might be able to scare up some old heating tabs to use with a canteen cup and stand. I know those will give you hot water.

Try an unscented soap; the essential oils or fragrance oils used to scent soaps can be irritating if you have sensitive skin (I don't, I can use anything, but that's just me).

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Originally Posted by HTownSoldier

. I ordered the sample pack from TGQ so I could see if I like the soap or the cream more. ...

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This could be the end of your troubles right here.

X

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Originally Posted by crazycliff200843

If you have access to electricity you can get a little water boiler/electric kettle. I think I've seen cordless ones before, too. You probably won't be the only one around who wants hot water for something, so maybe you can split it with somebody. Have you tried using an mre heater/canteen cup? You might be able to scare up some old heating tabs to use with a canteen cup and stand. I know those will give you hot water.

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MRE heaters..hmmm...never thought of that. There are other soldiers here that have ways to heat water. The past few days, time has been the culprit. I haven't had a "day off" in a couple weeks and I don't want to rush it. Once things slow down again here, if they do, I'll be back practicing. Thanks for that advice.

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Originally Posted by xman

This could be the end of your troubles right here.

X

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I hope so. I only hear good things about her soap.

Things should be starting to heat up a little bit over there, so you might could get away with setting a bottle of water in the sun for a while, depending on what time of day you shave.

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Originally Posted by crazycliff200843

Things should be starting to heat up a little bit over there, so you might could get away with setting a bottle of water in the sun for a while, depending on what time of day you shave.

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I work overnight, thank God, I wouldn't want to be out there in the heat. We only drink bottle water which they keep outside on pallets. I guess one day when it's very hot I'll pick up a bottle from that pallet and use that.

All good advice so far, I have problems with certain soaps too so that could be the one. Might be worth trying an Alum block as well. I use it in place of alcohol based after shave (other skin problems) and it does the trick to a tee. Good luck on all scores.

Iv flown all over the world with straights on both civvi and military flights and as was said above. There is no problem provided its not in your hand luggage. Took a yellow coticule through the detectors once and that got subjected to cocaine swabs and the like :o

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Originally Posted by nobby

Iv flown all over the world with straights on both civvi and military flights and as was said above. There is no problem provided its not in your hand luggage. Took a yellow coticule through the detectors once and that got subjected to cocaine swabs and the like :o

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I didn't plan on taking it in my carry on. I know I have to go through customs and whoever else finds cause to hand check my other bags. I guess I'll wrap it up good and put it inside my duffel. I also have had my carry on drug and bomb tested while I was in uniform but, I guess that's another story. Thank for the advice.