Thread: Hoping to turn shaving from a pain to a pleasure.

Well, after mulling the decision for a while I've decided to make the jump to a straight razor. Shaving has been horrible for me ever since I started at 16. I always bleed profusely and have more ingrown hairs than you can imagine. My "condition" according to my dermatologist is: pseudofolliculitis barbae. I've tried it all before and after a shower. 1,2,3 & 4 blades. With/against the growth. Tons of creams, salves, oils and prescribed aftershaves. However, all with the same result. Lot's of blood and ingrown hairs. This is what has tempted my foray into straight razors. I figure if this doesn't work I'll be moving on to electric hair removal.jk

I've read much of the beginner materials and plan to buy my razor and accouterments soon, but I would love to hear any advice from someone who has experienced these symptoms and what they have done to cope. Also, any brand and model names that you've personally had success with would be helpful.

Thanks,
Brad

Welcome!

My slight foray into ingrown hairs taught me to shave often and shave close. A straight works pretty well. I still occasionally have to lift a whisker out from under the skin.

There is a big, long learning curve. Be patient.

Welcome! You're in the right place!

Straight razor shaving certainly helped clear up my ingrown hairs. You can also try this stuff called PFB Vanish, which works really well. Its a mixture of exfoliants to get the hairs loose, alcohol to stop infection and aspirin to reduce swelling and it works really well. It comes in a large roll on bottle and you just apply it to the problem areas, which for me was the base of my neck.

You can get PFB here: Ingrown hair treatment. PFB Vanish ingrown hair treatment official UK website

Also, dont put aftershave on the area you have just shaved as it can irritate the skin. Instead, use a balm like Trumpers skin food on the shaved areas and apply the AS to the sides of your neck. This has really helped me too.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Welcome to SRP. I haven't had any of the problems you describe so I can only wish you good luck and smooth shaves.

Welcome to SRP. The Mach 3 was consistent over time in giving me ingrown hairs that turned into unsightly pimples that took a long time to cure.

This has not happen since I took up straight shaving and what a relief it has been. All I had to do was to become determined to learn and invest some $$ in the right shaving tools. I can't describe how satisfying it has been for me to get the best shaves of my life and to have a better looking face (without ingrown incidents).

Take it one step at a time and SRP members are here to assist you.

Pabster

Originally Posted by BradnJacksonHole

Well, after mulling the decision for a while I've decided to make the jump to a straight razor. Shaving has been horrible for me ever since I started at 16. I always bleed profusely and have more ingrown hairs than you can imagine. My "condition" according to my dermatologist is: pseudofolliculitis barbae. I've tried it all before and after a shower. 1,2,3 & 4 blades. With/against the growth. Tons of creams, salves, oils and prescribed aftershaves. However, all with the same result. Lot's of blood and ingrown hairs. This is what has tempted my foray into straight razors. I figure if this doesn't work I'll be moving on to electric hair removal.jk

I've read much of the beginner materials and plan to buy my razor and accouterments soon, but I would love to hear any advice from someone who has experienced these symptoms and what they have done to cope. Also, any brand and model names that you've personally had success with would be helpful.

Thanks,
Brad

pseudofolliculitis barbae:

A solution is going to be a personal solution. What
works well for one person is not ideal for another.

There are a lot of products designed to help.
Do some shopping -- you are not alone.
i.e. first do some homework.

Below is my personal low budget recommendation that
you should be able to act on today with a
trip to the CVS pharmacy.

Too many products often make it worse. Start with
a minimum wet shave solution.

In general multiple blades make it worse. You want a single
blade only. There are three common sources.

• Bic Classic Sensitive Razors (yellow handle)
• Double Edge razor
• Straight

The multiple blade razors all attempt to
cut whiskers below the skin line and that
is the most common cause.

If you have not tried the yellow handle
Bic Classic Sensitive Razors do try then. If they
help you then you are well justified in
spending more on the the other solutions
including a straight razor.

Skin prep: Less is often more. Wet shaving
with soap and a brush works wonders for
many. You can start with a classic shave soap
like Williams Mug Shaving Soap for a couple bucks
and an entry level Tweezerman Men Deluxe Shaving Brush
for ten bucks or so. Van Der Hagen Premium Shave Set
(Soap, Bowl, Brush) is equivalent and you get a bowel too.
Yes, there are better, way better, but since
technique counts bushels more here this is a good start.


If you have an old coffee mug toss the shave puck
in it. You can use a plastic soap dish to hold the
puck too.

Wet the brush and soap. Run the brush around the
puck and pick up some soap with the brush. Take the brush
and work a lather on the hand after setting the soap down.

Set the brush down and apply the lather to your face
and just scrub lightly with both hands. Washing your face...

Rinse well, pick up the brush and build some more lather
use water... Apply to your face and let it rest a little bit
so your whiskers soften. You want your whiskers to see
about three min of water and lather before shaving. Jackson
can be dry so you may want to add more wet lather as
you go.

With a very light touch,
shave in one systematic pass. No special strokes
just one clean pass. Rinse and inspect.... if you
missed a place tidy it up but do not try for a superior
baby bottom shave and go back for more passes.

Rinse all the soap off your face, rinse again.
Use cold water on the last rinse....

Pat dry and let your face air dry for 30 min then
if you must apply a very mild post shave balm
like "Nivea For Men After Shave Extra Soothing Balm
Sensitive Skin".

When you can skip days and go Don Johnson.

Most of the red stuff that leaks out of you is
from small bumps getting sliced off so a LIGHT
touch can let the blade slide up the bump and
not try and cut it off flat. Normal skin oil tends
to be sticky thus the wash your face step.

It can help to hold those yellow tossables with
two finger as far from the blade as possible.
Worth repeating: shave with a light touch.

Stretching the skin a little helps. Stretching
a lot does not help more.

</OneMan'sSolution>

I get many ingrowns with an electric razor, very few with a DE, and almost never with a straight razor. YMMV.

Results are great with any straight from singing to full wedge. As long as it's sharp and reasonably good steel, brand and grind is more of a preference thing.

Often, the more you use a straight, the better it gets...

Welcome to straight shaving.