How to conquer razor burn?

I've been shaving with a straight razor for a while now and I couldn't be happier with the shave (and neither could the gf), but I seem to always seem to have a face of pimple-like razor burn the next day. My routine is:

Shower, rinse face with hot water, lather with shaving soap and bristle brush, shave with grain, lather, shave against grain, rinse with cold water, and finish with a neutrogena moisturizing aftershave lotion.

Any thoughts about what I am doing wrong or how I can keep my face baby-bottom soft for more than a few hours? Thanks a lot!

You might try shaving across the grain before going against, which will reduce your beard a little more before the final attack, and may lead to a little more smoothness. After that a few questions:

1) When was the last time your razor was professionally honed? It could be time for a honing, because if you're razor is losing some smoothness, that could lead to your irritation.

2) Do you strop before every shave? This step is essential for maintaining smoothness.

3) How much pressure do you use on the blade? Too much can lead to irritation. Let the weight of the razor do the work.

4) Check your angle, make sure you're not coming in too steep. Also, make sure you're not going over the same spot too many times. Both can lead to irritation.

5) Where in DC are you? I'm a senior at GW.

I have come to the realization that shaving is goes beyond removing hair from the face. I have found that using good quality products prevents razor burn. A soap with good conditioning properties could make the difference. Most soaps in the market just dry out my skin. Since I discovered what was causing the problem, I have corrected the situation to my complete satisfaction. Also, beard preparation is essential for shaving. If your razor is sharp and your technique is good, you may want to explore the possibility that your skin is too sensitive and make the necessary changes.

Al raz.

Like the wordover said pressure. That one was the one that I didn't realize. Before I was pushing pretty hard on my face and when I put on aftershave I nearly died of shock. But after watching an instructional video here I realized/was told 5 or 6 times in the video directly in a fashion that made it impossible to miss, "light touch" Ever since then I have had little to no razor burn at all.

Good call Alraz. I didn't even think about irritation from specific soaps, despite the fact that its happened to me! It could be that too. Some soaps and some creams can dry out your skin during use, leaving it open to the razor to scorch it. Try switching to a different soap or cream.

Maybe I am just pushing too hard, I'll give that a try. I'll also switch up the soap for a while and see how that goes. I don't think the razor is the problem. It happens whether I use my shavette or my regular straight which is well honed and stropped. Thanks for all the help guys!!

Some parts of my face have always been a bit inclined to this rash you describe, particularly if I get out of the habit of shaving regularly. A mach 3 or a straight will do it to me if Ive not shaved for a while, usually in the the valley below my bottom lip and worse if I shave very close, this is also the place where my stubble seems thickest and hardest to cut :rolleyes:

I starting shaving with a straight about a month to six weeks ago after not shaving at all for a few years and Ive had the type of rash you describe consistently coming up for a few days after every shave, just now my face is getting used to being shaved regularly again and Im getting irritation free shaves. We all have different faces some more sensitive than others, its not always just down to technique or equipment.

I found that an Alum block makes a lot of a difference. Alum - Straight Razor Place Wiki

I suffered from razor burn for a year before I finally got the right formula for my own face:

- very light touch, which requires...
- very sharp blade, except when using...
- diamond pastes (too harsh for my liking), so instead...
- use coticule (incredibly smooth shave and zero irritation).
- And only two passes if you can -- some parts of my face I'll go WTG first off, other parts I'll go XTG first off, and the second pass all over is usually ATG (I find more than 2 passes greatly increases risk of burn).
- Alum to finish, and a decent moisturiser or balm.

If I've suffered a little burn on my face, I use Tend Skin and within 36-48 hours it has completely gone (just in time for another shave :D).

If you've got bad burn, then I would leave the next shave for another few days to give your skin a chance to recover.

If you're getting ingrown hairs (perhaps what those pimples are), then you're shaving too aggressively and you should ease off and be less obsessive about BBS (I know this from experience! :o)

Wishing to attain BBS with every shave is the main reason for less than satisfactory shaves, in my opinion. My most comfortable shaves have come from two passes, LOOKING like BBS, even if I can still feel very a few minor or minute prickles under the skin. Believe me, no-one notices the difference between BBS and near-BBS, but everyone notices an irritated face through over-zealous shaving!

Each post has included something, if not all i'd agree with, but i'll add that a splash of witch hazel, & a light moisturise with vitamin E oil does wonders if you do apply too much pressure, or just can't stop that last pass that you should have avoided!