Thread: Burning like fire

So I've been shaving for about a month now and I have had my razor re-honed due to bad stropping and it seems nice a sharp now (arm hair and drop hair (kind of) tests passed), but I'm still getting a mighty burn especially on my upper lip, chin and center neck areas. I normally shave wtg and then atg, going xtg in some areas. I get a nice close shave (nicking the hell out of the above mentioned areas) but still have to use a safety razor in the center of my face to get a the closeness I want. What am I doing wrong to get such a burn? I strop before and after a shave. I use pre-shave oil and heat my face with a hot towel but all to no avail.

Thanks for all the previous advice on the dullness of my blade. I think I'm stropping better now but damn the burn.

Help.

Fontenot

It's most probably the angle, especially on the areas you mentioned, your angle may be a bit aggresive. Also, for me, A razor that has been honed/finished on .25 diamond paste or spray, really irritates my skin. If I buy a razor from somebody, They don't even have to tell me, I know as soon as I shave....

P.S. After shave balm will help soothe the flames.
TOBS Sandalwood Luxury AfterShave Gel is awesome, a bit pricey, it's like vasaline, and smells great.

Or Speick Intensive cream is awesome too....

These products are great if you have irritation after shaving.

Are you using a good soap/cream if not ALRAZ on this site has an excellent selection of cream that has great glide and cushion. When shaving you should not have to go over and over the same area, you should be able to get those whiskers on the opposite pass.Also use lite pressure on the blade. As far as putting out the fire, get an alum block to rub on the face and then some George F Trumpers skin food ( balm with no alc. in it ). See the Wiki pages on how to us the alum Block. Works for me!!!

It's going to take time to develop your technique. Four months of daily shaving my entire face and I'm just now approaching a BBS shave (I took an entire month to work into a full face shave).

Look for any post by JimmyHAD and check his sig. It tells how to hold your razor to minimize nicks and irritation. That helped me a lot.

Also, there is a particular stroke I learned that helped me much to eliminate razor burn and move me closer to that elusive BBS shave. Open the link <File:Help Files 1961 Barbering Text - Shaving.pdf> you will find here.

The last paragraph on pg 33 speaks of an efficient cutting stroke that is illustrated in figure 27 on pg 34. In the illustration it is shown "toe leading," but depending on which part of my face I'm shaving, I'll lead with either the toe or the heel. I employ this stroke in all three of the passes I make: WTG, XTG and ATG.

Above all, trust your right brain. With time and experience it will lead your hands where they need to go.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

I am brand new to straights, but from a couple years of double edge shaving I know not to use too much pressure or I get the burn!

you have gotten all the advices you need.
1 st is Pressure.(what happens sometimes you could use same strokes more then you need in same location) if you need to use pressure make blade to cut hairs there is something wrong.
2 nd is please avoid shaving oil. just use good soap.
.3. Why in the world you are shaving ATG?
it will give to you razor burns.
you should be able to get great shave with WTG AND XTG.
Try and see.
gl

Jeffegg is right on the money. When I started, my face burned fierce for hours. I eventually figured out that it was the pressure I was placing on the blade and believe me it's a hard habit to break if you're coming from those multi-blade monsters that encourage you to push it into yourself as hard as you can. I learned that if you treat the razor like a feather and pretend that you're using it to just tickle your face, you've got the right pressure.

Originally Posted by Morty

It's going to take time to develop your technique. Four months of daily shaving my entire face and I'm just now approaching a BBS shave (I took an entire month to work into a full face shave).

Look for any post by JimmyHAD and check his sig. It tells how to hold your razor to minimize nicks and irritation. That helped me a lot.

Also, there is a particular stroke I learned that helped me much to eliminate razor burn and move me closer to that elusive BBS shave. Open the link <File:Help Files 1961 Barbering Text - Shaving.pdf> you will find here.

The last paragraph on pg 33 speaks of an efficient cutting stroke that is illustrated in figure 27 on pg 34. In the illustration it is shown "toe leading," but depending on which part of my face I'm shaving, I'll lead with either the toe or the heel. I employ this stroke in all three of the passes I make: WTG, XTG and ATG.

Above all, trust your right brain. With time and experience it will lead your hands where they need to go.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

Originally Posted by red96ta

Jeffegg is right on the money. When I started, my face burned fierce for hours. I eventually figured out that it was the pressure I was placing on the blade and believe me it's a hard habit to break if you're coming from those multi-blade monsters that encourage you to push it into yourself as hard as you can. I learned that if you treat the razor like a feather and pretend that you're using it to just tickle your face, you've got the right pressure.

I am in the me too category with these folks. Takes time to learn. Do what I used to do...SCREAM..........

The only thing I will add is that I am a lefty...so I am truly in my "Right" mind.

I've got nothing to add to the good advice given, but each time I see your post title the music from Watership Down runs through my head. I'm just beginning to tire of it!

YouTube - "Bright Eyes" - Watership Down