Thread: Razor Burn

Razor burn is usually caused by using too much pressure. Right around the throat can be a tough spot, everyone is different, in time you'll find what works for you.
If you rolled your edge, you'll find youself using more pressure to cut hair, which could be why you're having irritation. If you think you dulled your blade, pay for the shipping, and I'll look at it and touch it up if it needs it. Or look around your area for a member and see if they will look at it for you.

I would suggest reading through Larry Andreassen's shaving manual, it will help explain the why's and why not's. Under NEWBIE HELP: Contents

Hello again all!
I can't thank you enough for all your help. I'll stick with it and see you in 100 shaves or so. Have a great week!
Phil in KY

Originally Posted by roughkype

I learned gradually, shaving only the simple parts of my face with the straight and finishing up with my old disposable. As I got more comfortable with the cutthroat I expanded my range. The sides of my adam's apple were the last to conquer. No shame in taking it slow.

Good luck with it.

How did you end up conquering the adam's apple area? I'm having trouble with this area. Currently, I have about 3 shaves in. Also, do you have any advice for right under the jaw line?

@KYPHILIP, you might consider stropping your razor a little longer. I'm also very new to a straight razor and after figuring out a few issues I was having I come to the conclusion I wasn't stropping enough. I use canvas/leather and did a 30/80 compared to doing 5/10 or so. I noticed a big difference. Have fun!

Originally Posted by KYPHILIP

I had heard that it takes about 100 shaves to get proficient.

I would REALLY like to know where it says that on this site, this isn't the first time I've seen a newbie quote this "fact". Guess what guys, it's a load of bunk! There are many factors that will determine how quickly you will succeed at SR shaving; the user's manual dexterity and using a shave ready blade would be at the top of the list. To tell a new person it will take 100 tries to get good results from something is not only disheartening but dishonest as well. I can only speak from personal experience, but it only took me a fraction of that number to get serviceable shaves, and still far less than 100 to reach BBS level.

So again, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE pay no attention to that number, or any other number for that matter, and simply concentrate on getting a good shave. You will get there in due time.

Have fun,

Ryan

I agree Ryan. Personally I started achieving great shaves around the three-week mark.
But straight shaving is difficult, but that is half the fun! I'm only 81 shaves in and there's still loads to improve on. :=

+1 on all the above advice, the thing I feel I should tell you is I had some neck issues, the way I get around the lumpyness of my neck is to stretch the skin tight from one side to the other to even out the playing field. And for over all shaving comfort in fact is to stretch all the place's on the face as flat and as tight as it takes to contact the razor's edge. If you find your sensitive to alcohol in after shave products, there are a number of balms and such that are alcohol free, Thayers comes to mind, they make both type, alcohol with and without.

Oh and welcome aboard!! It's a great Hobby, have a gret shave, BBS will come in time.


tinkersd

Originally Posted by Blix

I agree Ryan. Personally I started achieving great shaves around the three-week mark.
But straight shaving is difficult, but that is half the fun! I'm only 81 shaves in and there's still loads to improve on. :=

Absolutely Blix, and I'm not saying that before the 100 shave mark you will have nothing to learn. It's definitely an on-going process. I've been doing this for nearly 3 years now, and I'm still trying new things to improve my processes. But admittedly, after you get your shaving technique down pat, the next challenge is extending blade longevity. That's a whole other thread, brothers.....

Originally Posted by UPD

Razor burn is usually caused by using too much pressure. Right around the throat can be a tough spot, everyone is different, in time you'll find what works for you.
Contents

I have found this myself as well, I am about Three months into the straight shaving now, and it took me quite a while to find the right pressure to shave my neck/chin (especially when going ATG). After reading quite a few post on there I found that it helped to "think that you are just trying to remove the soap". The neck and chin are what proved/still are the most difficult areas for me.

Originally Posted by brandon215

How did you end up conquering the adam's apple area? I'm having trouble with this area. Currently, I have about 3 shaves in. Also, do you have any advice for right under the jaw line?

Well, I didn't even go near the adam's apple until I was really comfortable with the blade. If you can choose between a rounded tip and a spike tip, go for the rounded. For my whole neck, I start at the bottom so I've always got a dry spot to grip and stretch from. It's possible to stretch the skin back and forth across the adam's apple, so you can work it against a more flat surface on one side or the other. I do short strokes, only about 1", downward toward my chest. That's more or less with the grain for me; your grain may differ. I generally stretch in the same direction I mean to shave toward.

Under the chin and along the jawline are tough because my beard is so dense there. I do a with-the-grain pass and usually let it go at that; I'll only mess with ATG if my razor is really fresh and sharp and I have some reason to look extra-good. A good stretch is most important. Use a washcloth or small piece of one for better grip while stretching. Don't be afraid to temporarily rearrange your face to stretch a tough spot onto a flatter backdrop. Just be sure to keep any pieces you cut off; the EMTs can sometimes put them back on for you.

With 3 shaves in, I'd say try a single stroke (~1") along any of the tough spots, so you can have a sense of how the straight is going to feel there, then finish the tough spots with your old method. It took me about 3 months to switch over completely.

Go slow, keep a light touch (scrape away soap and the beard will follow; scrape away beard and burn will follow), and strop regularly.