Thread: still having razor burn problems. can anyone help?

ok so now i am about three months in and it is still almost impossible for me to have a good shave with out getting razor burn. here is what i do so maybe someone can point me in the right direction. i have this is issue with both straigt's and DE's so i start with a very hot shower, followed by a mixing my cream which i think is very good not to thick, not to thin but good enough to the point that it does not dry out so fast. i have the pre-shave oil as well but i stopped using it because i was getting better results with out it. i then do my normal 2-3 passes depends on how i am feeling never using any preassure just letting the weight of the razor do the cutting. i then rinse off with warm water, pat dry and give a splash of cold, followed by some lavender balm, with no alcohol. and then i usally go to sleep because i usally shave at night(more relaxing). and throw on some more blam in the morning. also to add i have just recently tried the alum block and the the burn is not so intense. and i dont know what else there is to do to help get rid of the burn. but i think there is one more problem i do not get the burn right after or the next day. the razor burn shows up almost two days after. thanks for any help

If it's showing up two days later then I'd suspect it's not razor burn (at least as I understand it) but rather a skin reaction to one of the products you're using.

really? well as far as what i use most of the time i use the AOS lavender line. oil, cream, and balm. but i also have creams for truefitt and hill, and also geo F. trumpers. but i no matter what cream i use. so it could be the balm? because i no longer use the oil.

Personally if I get razor burn then spashing on regular aftershave stings like crazy, no burn means no or almost no sting. A skin reaction on the other hand will usually take me a few hours to show and stick around longer. If your redness isn't showing for up to 48 hours after you shave then I really doubt it's from shaving but rather the multiple applications of balm. Try backing off on the chemistry.
Another reason I don't think it's the shave; if you can successfully shave with just the weight of the razor and no additional pressure then I think the razor is probably sharp enough. Your stropping might be worth looking at, perhaps, but it can't be too far off if that's the edge you keep.

it does not burn though when i apply the balm. it hurt like hell though when i rubbed the alum block over my neck and face but i only get the redness on my neck never on my face.

I would almost guarantee it'll be the pressure you're using the razor with, i had the same problem until i had a eureka moment recently. Do you have any old school barbers nearby? go get a hot shave at one if so, it'll give you a lot of perspective

Check the ingredients on your balms, see if they are similar. I get a rash from a few balms out there as well. A good way to eliminate that is to try something like cornhuskers lotion which contains no oils, is relatively inexpensive and is locally available for many.
You could also be having a reaction with something else. If you use a blemish product salicylic acid causes problems with many people, even a loofah or facial scrub can cause problems with a straight razor by over exfoliating your skin.
These are just a small portion of what could be happening.

Try a nice rich lather and shorter strokes some after balm with witch-hazel and aloe