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So, I have been straight razor shaving for a few months, and I am only now remembering to ask this, but no matter how I have shaved with any shaving tool, the hair itches like crazy when it grows back. Does this mean I am doing something wrong? Can I do something to avoid this? Cuz there's no point in taking so much care of my face and neck if I scratch the crap out of it the next day.
When you compare your preparation and post shave routine to these articles, do you notice any differences?
I had similar problems at first. For me, it had more to do with bad technique irritating my skin.
Those articles BeBerlin posted are a really great place to start, but I'd also ask at exactly what point it starts itching.
Does it itch right away, as soon as you start to get a 5 o'clock shadow, or the next day?
Do you grow scruff in between shaves? If so, the itching with that has nothing to do with the shave and more to do with tiny prickly hairs growing out and touching (tickling) your face when your skin stretches and moves around. I am a scruff guy, I only shave once every few days and if I let my beard grow more than 4 days, it starts to itch.
If you DO NOT grow scruff, it may be bad prep pre and post shave. If you're not already, shave after showering and after you shave, try a good aftershave balm, not lotion or cologne. It sounds like a balm would be best suited for your possibly sensitive face.
you can try moisturizing with something like Coconut oil of even Olive oil (i hate moisturizers because of all teh pointless additives and perfumes). organic is best as there will be no trace amounts of pesticides and other bad crap.
i find that i usually like to moisturize the next day after a shave (with both coconut and olive oil you really don't need much) and it seems to reduce and itching or dry skin i would normally get. i am not someone who like to rely on moisturizers and cleansers and all that stuff to maintain my skin, but the natural oils work great and as long as you don't use too much they soak in quickly. if i let my beard grow out (for me this is anything over 7 days) i will still get itching but it is alwlays reduced when i use something to moisturize.
just my thoughts.
the hair itches while it's growing back, so a few hours after I shave, I'll say 6-8 hours after. I shaved yesterday at 4 and at around 11:30 it started to itch.
I have Body Shop aftershave balm and Real SHaving Company aftershave balm for sensitive skin and I switch between the two depending on how I feel like smelling.
I go through proper prep too, so do I just need more practice? Should I try a pre-shave oil?
Simply do not know enough to offer any solutions but would like to say, do forum members think that wong's bear could be possibly to sensitive for the straight? I know my face is about as sensitive as a rock, in other words not at all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WongKonPow
I can't explain why your face itches just hours after shaving. My face always feels " exfoliated" after shaving, but the only itching I've experienced post shaving is with a less than sharp blade. Is your straight professionally honed? I think you said you have the same feeling after shaving with other types of devices too...Maybe you do have very sensitive skin.??
itching that soon, but not in the first few hours is a bit of a mystery to me also.
It could really be the growing back of the hair if you beard grows very fast, but I'm thinking it has more to do with skin irritation.
Perhaps one of the products you're using post-shave isn't agreeing with your skin, but is taking a few hours to build up irritation?
That's an easy one to test. Just use this as an excuse to try different after shave products and see if it helps.
Are you highly prone to razor bumps? The reason I ask is that it seems like it could be related to that.
Just for the sake of a curiosity/comparison... Do you have any irritations after shavin with a normal run of the mill razor?
Looking for a base of comparison.
(A total newb thought thinking about the box) If a normal razor with the same prep does not give the same effect, then your angle could be off and the itch is your face itching as it heals. Like a sun burn or a scratch in an area that gets lots of movement and has a tendency to itch baldy as it heals right after that last bit of scab flakes off.... we all know what thats like.
Before my days of straight shaving I would maintain some kind of facial hair, be it goatee or full beard, and I would grow them for months at a time. I would also suffer from itchiness. I found that shampooing and conditioning my beard area really helped when there was hair, and I have had similar results when there isn't. Give it a go.
What kind of oil do you put on your blade, and do you wipe it off completely before your shave?