Thread: 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.

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.

Originally Posted by broncobob

Do you use any type of after shave?

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

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.

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.

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 .