Thread: Noobs with “Sensitive Skin”

Going to get flamed here me thinks, but... you think most noobs who bemoan thier sensitive skin are nothing more than men who can’t lather up a good soap or haven’t gotten past the point of razor burn? I mean why do so many noobs have “sensitive skin?”

Seriously?

I mean I remember when I started, I got razor burn like a champ! Years of pushing down hard on my old plastic razors made it impossible for me to tread lightly on my tools!

But it couldn’t be me, so I blamed it on my “sensitive skin.”

Then as time passed, I’d make a lousy lather, most of the time because I was cheap and didn’t swirl enough on the soap, or apply enough cream, and then after I got another crappy shave that was irritating... yup, sensitive skin.

I bemoaned my sensitive skin for years. It was never sensitive skin, it was me messing up. What’s worse was, buying some soaps for sensitive skin meant less tallow or glycerin or whatever, exasperating the situation!

Personally, I think 90% of dudes who are crying the blues talking on how sensitive thier skin is, is nothing more than guys who need to slow down and learn the art better! Stop applying so much pressure! Learn to make a good lather! Don’t be cheap like me!

Signed - the curmudgeon

It may not be sensitive skin. They mostly buy new razors with factory edges. Don't have proper angle, pressure or lather. If you don't start with a properly honed razor you ha e made your first mistake. Not useing the right angle or pressure is mistake number two. Dry lather does not lubricate, mistake number three. Now you think it's your sensitive. Not!

This is so true it hurts.
I too thought i had sensitive skin. But i think my big mistake was too much preasure. When i figured out that a keen edge will slide right thru whiskers with next to no force, meaning the gram weight of the blade, just enough preasure to hold the razor against the skin and no more, then all came together.

I dont have sensitive skin! Now, if a person has been wet shaving for years with DE's and or SE's and or Straights, and still says he has sensitive skin, i will believe him. Like when i found out Obie has sinsitive skin. I fully believe him. Now a newbie, yes it is a possibility but not likely.

Exactly Jerry.

I can attest to the sensitive skin ideal. I lamented shaving with a fired passion like a burning thousand suns. Simply stated for years shaving hurt. I switched to a straight with mostly nostalgic thinking but little hope that comfort would follow. Instead what I found is that as my skills got better my comfort came in spades. I built slowly and now can daily shave with no lingering discomfort. I feel better lathering with focus on better creams and/or soaps has gotten me here. So to summarize I feel sensitive skin is a true thing but that time, patience, and dedication will guide the sensitive to a better shave life.

Originally Posted by Theoman

I can attest to the sensitive skin ideal. I lamented shaving with a fired passion like a burning thousand suns. Simply stated for years shaving hurt. I switched to a straight with mostly nostalgic thinking but little hope that comfort would follow. Instead what I found is that as my skills got better my comfort came in spades. I built slowly and now can daily shave with no lingering discomfort. I feel better lathering with focus on better creams and/or soaps has gotten me here. So to summarize I feel sensitive skin is a true thing but that time, patience, and dedication will guide the sensitive to a better shave life.

Much better worded than mine Theo - thank you and congrats man!! A life of awful shaves is no life at all!

I wish i could put words together lime thats. Bravo. It is on the money. I think its the main reason men hate to shave. They havent found the comfort that it can give.

In short....they've not become tempered to the blade.

The skin becomes accustomed to the exfoliation a straight brings to the shave. Agreed..!, with proper lather and prep, angle, ect., it greatly reduces the effects.

But what I've noticed over my thirty some years with just straights, is how easily I can maneuver the blade on my skin, without carving into my face. If I would have tried some of the passes I do now, fifteen years ago....I'd look like I was in a train wreck. So the skin gets tougher IMO.

Originally Posted by outback

In short....they've not become tempered to the blade.

The skin becomes accustomed to the exfoliation a straight brings to the shave. Agreed..!, with proper lather and prep, angle, ect., it greatly reduces the effects.

But what I've noticed over my thirty some years with just straights, is how easily I can maneuver the blade on my skin, without carving into my face. If I would have tried some of the passes I do now, fifteen years ago....I'd look like I was in a train wreck. So the skin gets tougher IMO.

I hear you Mike. I mean, I sometimes resemble a dude with a scythe more than a dude with a straight in his hands. And I always do long flowing strokes now vs short scrapes BUT, my hands have gotten a lot better - as has yours. I’m not sure aside from the dullness of age, that our skin got tougher. I really don’t. But I’m positive your hands got better.

Originally Posted by earcutter

... I’m not sure aside from the dullness of age, that our skin got tougher. I really don’t. But I’m positive your hands got better.

Mine got looser and stretching became more important. now I can pull my neck skin up the my sideburn area