Thread: Face peeling after first straight razor shave

Hello, Aja:

I am not sure shaving in the shower with a straight razor is a good idea. I assume you face lather, which is fine. Here are some thoughts and suggestion you might consider:

1. Shave at the sink rather than in the shower.
2. Let your brush soak in a mug of hot water (not boiling) as you are showering.
3. Since you like Proraso shave cream, after the shower wet your face again, message a light coat of Proraso pre-shave and then make lather on your face.
4. Let the lather sit on your face for about a minute. Make sure the lather is not dry (not too watery, not too dry).
5. Now shave: keep your razor angle low. The general rule with a regular straight razor is an angle of 30 degrees. General rule. With a replaceable blade straight razor, I suggest keeping the angle way low.
6. Zero pressure.
8. Avoid excessive passes over the same spot.
9. Until you become accustomed to the suggested technique, say, for the next three or four days, shave with the grain only.
10. I would suggest two passes, lathering after each pass.
11. After the shave, rinse with cold water.
12. Apply a touch of Thayer's Super Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera.
13. Apply a balm — the Proraso pre-shave is also for post-shave.
14. Lay off the aftershave until your face heals.

These are only suggestions. You can improvise around them. Being a pianist, I am sure you are familiar with improvisation. By the way, during your shave, put on some Bach preludes and fugues for solo piano or harpsichord — and you'll soar with your shave.

Regards,

Obie

Originally Posted by Lazarus

I'd be even more worried about what it might do to a pianist!

One more idea in addition to the excellent advice already provided is to make sure your angle isn't too agressive.

Shaving passes - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Thanks for the link, this is quite an interesting read.

Obie,

Thanks for the detailed instructions. I have ordered some Thayer's Witch Hazel and some Proraso pre/post shave cream, so that I can try your regimen. Glad you appreciate the harpsichord..I'll throw on some fugues and let you know how it goes

I might also suggest the possibility that the peeling may be the result of a reaction to the products you are using (in conjunction with excessive pressure, I would add). Have you used the same products in the past without incident?

As well, is there a reason why you use a new blade for every shave? You should be able to get a few shaves per blade, and often times the first shave with a fresh blade can be the harshest. You can try corking the blade - give the blade a swipe or two on a wine cork - this can help to make a blade more face friendly.

BTW - Always good to hear from a fellow piano player. I play guitar as well, but the piano was my first instrument and will always be number 1.

I wonder about the amount of pressure you're applying, too.

But maybe you should also consider that whatever products you're using dry your skin out or something. Maybe try a moisturizer or something after a shave to keep the skin supple and moist? If you have a little bottle of glycerin, maybe work some in to your face after the shave? Works pretty well.

I havent see where you hail from but I know in my area it has been extremely dry and so I had to adjust what I put on my skin after a shave. Thayers Witch Hazel with aloe, alcohol free of course, made a big difference. With that said no amount of anything will make up for improper technique. Is any of the rest of your face or skin dry/peeling or just the area shaved?

Originally Posted by Ryan82

As well, is there a reason why you use a new blade for every shave? You should be able to get a few shaves per blade, and often times the first shave with a fresh blade can be the harshest. You can try corking the blade - give the blade a swipe or two on a wine cork - this can help to make a blade more face friendly.

BTW - Always good to hear from a fellow piano player. I play guitar as well, but the piano was my first instrument and will always be number 1.

Thanks for the corking tip. I bought 240 blades for ~$17, and...I only have to shave once every 3 days. So even if I use a new one every shave, it's going to take me exactly 2 years to get through them all. I would like to experience what else is out there, namely, stropping, having a handcrafted blade, etc

I'm on my 4th shave now, and I've been using Proraso pre-shave under my lather. All my problems have been solved. It was just a matter of time.

P.S. -- Piano is #1!

I am a DE shaver, my face is not appreciable sensative, and I currently lather with MWF, Tabac, and Bigalow (Proraso) in rotation. I find that of these three products, I am least apt to have the irritation and nicks with MWF closely followed by Tabac.

The Bigalow (Proraso) cream lathers superbly and is a well respected product, but I find that the eucalyptus and menthol are sometimes irritating on my face. If I start getting irritation during my quest for a BBS, I back off the eucalyptus and menthol lather for a few days.


You might consider trying a milder lather and greater focus on preshave preparation. I find that showering and shampooing immediately before shaving better softens my beard giving me a more comfortable and less irritating shave. Of course, YMMV.

You might also try shaving only part of your face with a straight until you find a shave prep combo that seems to be working for you.


HTH

I started Straight Shave using disposable SR blades. The first shave is so unforgiving and it takes a lot of skill to use it without stressing the skin. About the third shave with the same blade offered a good performance while offering more forgiveness.

Try using the blade for two more shaves and see how that goes and how your skin reacts. The skin may also adjust as well and time will tell.

Pabster

Originally Posted by Aja

Don't worry, I'm a pianist, my hands will never fail me

I sure hope your hands don't fail you...those could be famous last words. If I use a safety razor I shave in the shower for convenience, but I'd never shave with a straight in the shower...I'm not so worried about toes as other extremities along the way! I don't have much of a gut to protect that appendage which I value far more than a couple toes! Just sayin'.

It sounds like you've got a handle on the face peeling, thanks for posting that up. I'm a newb so now if I run across this I'll have a better idea of what to look at.