ingrown hair nightmare

The bane of my existence for many years has been ingrown hairs. I have tried every single razor on the market and nothing works. I have tried hot showers, face cleansers, everything. I'm fine if I shave with the grain, but face it that does not provide a baby butt close shave. If it go against the grain I get ingrowns and zits galore and they hurt for days, preventing me from shaving for about a week.
Will a straight razor help with this? I really want to shave against the grain so i can get a close shave, but i'm afraid that will never be possible.
Any ideas?

A straight and proper prep has a great chance of helping. There are plenty of people it has me being one.

Comparing a straight shave to a cartridge is like comparing a Mastro Livi Damascus to a Zeepk ! I rarely if ever get serious ingrowns w/ a str8--with a cartridge, my whole neck was a mess. Prep is also important too. Just hang around this forum & you'll find a method that works for you.

does the Uberlather help with reducing drag on the skin? I use different shave creams and gels and they soften the hair, but they tend to dry out quickly.

salazch,

First, I would have to say that your situation may require more than just proper beard preaparation and a change of razors. I can't say for certain, though, given the limited amount of information you provided.

That being said, I would also have to say that your attempt to achieve a bbs shave with improper shaving equipment may be at least part of your problem. My own experience with many of the multi-blade razors on the market was much like yours--ingrown hairs, pimples, etc. I took hot showers, used face cleaners, etc. for decades. All to no avail. However, when I switched to a DE last fall all of those skin problems abated--or at least they are less noticeable to me now. The improvement of the condition of my skin with the DE is what inspired me to take the next step--purchasing and using a str8 razor.

It wasn't just the change in equipment that brought about this change, though. It was a change in my habits with, as Don pointed out, proper preparation of the face for shaving after watching Mantic59's YouTube shaving videos. From what you have described, the skin on your face is traumatized from your numerous, continued attempts to achieve a bbs shave. Lighten up and take the time to properly prepare your face and beard for a shave. Soak your beard to soften your whiskers after you get out of the shower. Use a pre-shave such as Pro-raso to further soften your beard, followed by a hot towel. Apply a moistening shave cream or soap. Apply another hot towel. Apply some more shave cream. Then shave. Don't aim for a bbs shave at first, just a decent shave with the proper equipment--either a DE or a str8 razor. (My preference, if you haven't tried it yet, would be a DE razor because they have less of a learning curve than a str8 razor.) After the condition of your skin has improved, you can then attempt to achieve the ever closer shaves that are to your liking. Do so with the proper equipment, though whether that is with a DE or a professionally honed, shave-ready str8 razor.

After shaving follow up with a splash of cold water on your face and/or a non-alcohol, fragrance-free astringent such as witch hazel to your face to close the pores. Then apply an aftershave balm.

Beleive me, all of the previously described steps involving pre-shave preaparation and post-shave skin care won't solve your problem overnight, but given time your face may show improvement.

Take care...Hoping that these suggestions will be helpful to you.

Let us know how things turn out.

i looked into some of the stuff that you recommended, like the proraso. There are lots of different kinds, so how do i know what to get?
So from what you said it sounds like the issue is more like the skin being damaged and the hair not being properly softened. The thing that I found with normal razors is that they pull the hair and cut below the skin so the hair gets stuck while trying to grow out. Since straight razors cut at the skin level (even while stretching the skin and cutting against the grain) I assume that there will not be any problems with the hair getting stuck trying to grow back in. Am I right?

I use to use a Mach 3. Since this razor pull and cuts, then drops the hair back into the pore, I would develop ingrown hairs and a pimple that took many days to go away. Life sucked, so I switched to straight shaving and these problems went away.

Yes, decent equipment is important, but to keep your cost low, start with disposable straight razors, but get some shaving soap designed for straight shavers along with a badger brush.

Just go with the grain to start out to see how that goes. If all goes well, then add some XTG passes. If that goes well, add some XTG/Near ATG passes.

Try not to get too ambitious and take it one small step at a time and build upon your success. With this blade, you are cutting along the surface and not below it. Everyone is different and you need to find your comfort zone.

Good Luck,

Pabster

Proper prep + straight shaving will likely do a lot for your ingrowns. It's a primary reason I switched from cartridge to DE and then from DE to straight. DE cuts down a lot, too, but even moreso with a straight. Every now and again I'll have one pop up, but it's pretty seldom.

Also, you may want to think about incorporating witch hazel, alum or both into your aftershave routine. I can vouch for the witch hazel. I haven't used an alum block in a good while, but from what others have said, it keeps the ingrowns to an absolute minimum. May have to pick another one up here soon.

so you use witch hazel as an aftershave? ok by its self?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by salazch

so you use witch hazel as an aftershave? ok by its self?

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Yep, but it's only part of my aftershave routine. If you're like any of us, you end up going through quite a few different WHs, splashes, balms, etc., before you find your favorite products that work the best for your face.

You can still use it by itself, though. It's gentle in general and is ideal for guys with sensitive and acne-prone skin.

Two things that worked for me: (1) not overstretch the skin, as it can apparently cause the "cut below skin level" effect; (2) use http://straightrazorpalace.com/misce...e-dermo-k.html both for prevention and reaction.

Good luck,
Robin

If you are getting ingrown whiskers as a result of shaving you are
not alone.

Since each face is different you will need to experiment.

• One common error is trying for a BBS.
• Another is shaving against the grain.
• Another is product reaction: aftershave, fragrance...
• The most common is sanitation.

When you are shaving you scrape the protective surface
of your skin off and expose it to bacteria and other stuff.
Limit your shaving passes to a basic systematic once over
and then a touch up for the bits you obviously missed. Too
many passes in the hunt for a BBS will give many of us a rash.

Shaving against the grain only works well for difficult faces when
the stars, soap, lather and blade align. I recommend shaving
across the grain because that is what works for my problem
spots.

Product reaction is real for some. I cannot use most aftershaves
and fragrance rich products. When I buy a soap or other product
I start with the fragrance free versions and if that is a good shave
I venture into the rest of the line. I have tossed most products
my girlfriend found for me at Macy's and the like, but not all.

Sanitation is often overlooked. Always use a clean towel, not yesterdays
wadded up on the floor towel.

Switch to a razor with a single cutting edge. Cheep BiC and Schick, are a bargain IMO. I like old time double edge razors but they are hard to find. And yes a str8 can do wonders for some but requires a learning curve. Lots of guys had full beards for a reason in history. If you drive a manual shifter by choice like I do then a str8 may be for you.

Skip the double, tripple, quadruple cutters the market wants to push at you they just shave some of us too close.

Believe it or not most of this stuff by Shick at this link is good info
if you dial back the product specific bits.
http://www.schick.com/tips/default.asp
For example apply a thick layer of lather is near bogus unless
you are selling it by the gooey can. You do want a layer of lather
that keeps your whiskers wet and helps you see where you have
shaved. Read the whole article, some of the hints for women
apply to men with problems beards. Especially the bit
about giving the skin a full 30 min to rest after shaving.

BiC has good info too:
Shavers FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about BIC Shavers
Scan down to the line "If you suffer from razor bumps or ingrown hairs (Pseudofolliculitis Barbae or PFB)," I must admit to keeping a handful of the classic BIC® shaver under the sink for days when I need to calm down this old mans face because I failed to lather, hone, strop or otherwise do my bit well the day before.

If this is what you are seeing, it runs the full spectrum from my modest Irish/ Polish roots swirled bad spots to a more extensive problem for others. The most common solution is to dial back the shave and let the face mend. Then shave gently and correctly without irritating products.

The Army has even seen this issue as a problem.
http://www.mamc.amedd.army.mil/refer...s/derm_pfb.htm

Learning to lather is important....!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by salazch

i looked into some of the stuff that you recommended, like the proraso. There are lots of different kinds, so how do i know what to get?
So from what you said it sounds like the issue is more like the skin being damaged and the hair not being properly softened. The thing that I found with normal razors is that they pull the hair and cut below the skin so the hair gets stuck while trying to grow out. Since straight razors cut at the skin level (even while stretching the skin and cutting against the grain) I assume that there will not be any problems with the hair getting stuck trying to grow back in. Am I right?

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salazch,

Yes...You are correct. I believe your skin is damaged and your beard is not properly softened before shaving. Additionally, the current razor you are using may not be properly cutting/removing your whiskers.

As for your other questions...There is only one Proraso pre-shave. It comes in a small jar and can be found online at many of your better wet shaving internet merchants. Taylor of Old Bond Street also has a herbal gel pre-shave that allegedly has a formulation with both antiseptic and anti-bacterial qualities. Look at both of them and decide which one you want to try.

As for a shaving cream, consider the Proraso Aloe and Green Tea. It is made specifically for sensitive skin and has the conistency of a shaving soap. To use it you will need to purchase a a shaving brush, which needn't be real expensive and can also be purchased online or at your local drugstore. Many online shaving stors also sell Thayer's Witch Hazel, a popular astringent among wet shavers. You can also purchase generic witch hazel at your local drugstore.

When you purchase your pre-shave and shave cream, give serious consideration to purchasing a quality DE razor such as a Merkur Classic or HD straight bar. Like a str8 razor, they don't, as you say, pull the face hair and cut it off below the skin. They provide relatively close shaves with just one or two passes across your face and the blades are a lot cheaper in the long run than multi-blade cartridges. They are also cheaper, initially, than a quality str8 razor. I would try one of them first to address your shaving issues before taking the plunge into str8 razor shaving.

Remember...A str8 razor is not a magic remedy or silver bullet for all skin problems. If none of the remedies I or other SRP members have suggested work, you may even want to consider a visit to a dermatologist before taking the plunge into str8 rzor shaving.

Take care...

I've seen lots of videos on the web and this site where the guy doing the video will only shave against the grain and will say that its BBS without going against the grain. I've never been able to do this with a normal razor. So can stra8 do this that well?

It sounds like you suffer badly, as i do when i shave too close. You can do an awful lot to minimise things, & straights can be a huge step toward this, but if you go ATG you'll probably still suffer. I found that i just had to accept that there was such a thing as too close. I still look well shaved, but I can feel stubble when I drag drag my hand ATG.

Thanks for the info. It has helped. So here is where I'm at. I'm getting close shaves without even going against the grain. My hair is not growing ingrown, I left it above the skin just to make sure. There was no irritation at all for the first 24 hrs, and I don't have any ingrowns. But at the base of each hair the skin is red. It hurts if I run my hand against the grain. Typically I only feel/see this if I go clean against the grain. I did proper prep and took it slow. Fresh blade, no drag. No cuts.
Any ideas?

Sounds like razor burn. It'll calm down as you work on your pressure and angle.