Thread: question about shaving

hello i am new to forums and would like to ask a question, my skin is VERY VERY sensitive, no matter how i shave and with what i get EXTREME razor burn......my question is, would switching to double edge razor reduce my razor burn or will it stay the same or increase?? thank you.

it may not help instantly but after a few shaves and finding a good blade it will reduce if not eliminate your razor burn. I recomend the Merkur HD and Red Pack Personna blades ... also using a good shaving cream or soap and brush will help

It is worth a try and if you dont like it resale is pretty good on the forums

I have fairly sensitive skin myself. Until I discovered wet shaving, I thought ANY kind of shaving was impossible for me and would just trim with 0 guard with some beard trimmers. Even then, the trimmers would irritate my skin.

I've found good prep is the best defense against irritation. Have to make sure your skin and your beard are really well hydrated before you try to shave. I've tried a few different shave oils, and they help, but the best for me is the Proraso pre/post cream. I'm not a fan of mentholated products but I grin and bear it for this one because the benefit FAR outweighs the temporary discomfort the minty cold cream brings. Also, like erectski said, the right cream or soap can make a huge difference. Find one that gives plenty of cushion and lubrication. Tabac works great for me. It's kinda pricey but it gives me the closest shaves with the least discomfort.

Originally Posted by c0smit0

hello i am new to forums and would like to ask a question, my skin is VERY VERY sensitive, no matter how i shave and with what i get EXTREME razor burn......my question is, would switching to double edge razor reduce my razor burn or will it stay the same or increase?? thank you.

If what you're shaving with now is a cartridge razor with umteen blades, then changing to anything else which only has one edge on your skin would probably help. Also, you might have a sensitivity to something in the canned goos that would be helped by changing to a relatively simple shaving soap with perhaps no scent.

thanks for the replies guys, my father has a DE razor running around, i believe it is the feather double edge razor, is that a good razor to try first?? also is it possible to find those soaps and brushes at a retail store rather than online??? i live in nyc, thanks in advance. i also just finished talking to my father and he said that if i use one of those razors it will kill my face... so idk if i should try it or not...

I have shaved with everything under the sun including: roatary electric, foil electric, cartridge, double edge and a straight. The electrics and the cartridge tend to be the most irritating in my opinion. Personally I recommend the double edge or the straight. Of course my face is the exact oposite I could do this job with a broken bear bottle and everything would come out great.

The only way that razor is going to kill your face is if you use really poor technique. Even my first shave with a DE was better than anything I'd had with cart/elec. As far as retail stores, check online for shaving supplies in NYC. If nothing else you can get a tube of C.O. Bigelow at Bath and Bodyworks. It's my 2nd favorite soap/cream. They also have preshave oil there and a pretty decent aftershave balm.

Originally Posted by c0smit0

thanks for the replies guys, my father has a DE razor running around, i believe it is the feather double edge razor, is that a good razor to try first?? also is it possible to find those soaps and brushes at a retail store rather than online??? i live in nyc, thanks in advance. i also just finished talking to my father and he said that if i use one of those razors it will kill my face... so idk if i should try it or not...

Originally Posted by c0smit0

i also just finished talking to my father and he said that if i use one of those razors it will kill my face... so idk if i should try it or not...

You've got two chances, it either will or it won't.

I have to say though, in my brief time participating on these forums, and others, there is a fairly steady flow of people finding DEs and straight razors are actually much easier on their skin. I never had that problem, so I can only speak through vicarious experience.

Certainly give it a go, what have you got to loose? In a few weeks time when you've got over the initial learning curve I would not be surprised if you were as convinced about these old razors as 95% of the people who give them a real go are.

The best thing you can do is read up on the preparation, that's what is going to really help reduce your irritation.

Originally Posted by c0smit0

thanks for the replies guys, my father has a DE razor running around, i believe it is the feather double edge razor, is that a good razor to try first?? also is it possible to find those soaps and brushes at a retail store rather than online??? i live in nyc, thanks in advance. i also just finished talking to my father and he said that if i use one of those razors it will kill my face... so idk if i should try it or not...

You can fnd Williams at many grocery and drug stores for about $1.50. Inexpensive brushes are carried by many of them as well. Try CVS or some other drug store chain. Also, have you tried a shave balm as an after treatment?

What you are saying is true greg but the troubble is that the start up costs for a straight is rather high when compared to some of the other forms of shaving. Perhaps if he looks on ebay he can find a lower cost razor which might help convince him a bit.