A REAL irritated neck! Any Suggestions?

Hi everyone!

I am wating for my Pearl Handled Dovo from Lynn -- so in the meantime I have been practicing my skin prep. AND for my last 2 shaves .. I been using my Grandpa's WWII Double Edge Razor (looks exactly like the HEFTY on Classic Shaving) -- with a new blade....as a practice for the straight edge. On a side note -- I was in a wedding party this Sunday.

I have a very tough and course beard (sometimes I swear it looks like 4 heirs in one root). So Friday I shaved for work with Mach 3. (After Shower, pre-have oil, Badger brush, shaving cream, 1st with grain, then re-later, against grain, wash and balm).

So for the wedding on Sunday, I did not shave Saturday...and on sunday I had a 10 o'clock shadow. I get out of the shower and:
- apply a hot towel (hot water squeezed out)
- pre-shave oil
- lather up
- Hot towl again
- re-lather
- START with the Double Edge -- worked great on the cheacks, sideburns, chin.....then I got to the neck. Went with the grain.
- applied more lather
- with the grain
- apllied more lather
- against the grain
- Used Hot towel to soak up Blood.
- wet neck profusely

Then i realized i was to walk down the alter in 2 hours for my friends wedding -- So I got out the septic pencil -- and wet it. Next i used it like a rolling pin up and down the neck. I think I created some new profanity words. The bleeding stoped. But I looked like someone put powder all over my neck. Then i applied the Balm -- WOWOWOWOW.

Finally I used cover up (from my girlfriend) to seal some of the gashes.

I rested my neck on Monday and again tried it this morning. Again -- same result (and I tried to be genteler on the neck).

So -- while I am recovering from blood loss -- can anyone offer any suggestions? (I was going up first on my neck -- then down--against) Beard prep methods -- etc?

I am afraid that when i get my straight edge I will be going to work with a Sicilian neck tie. lol

Everyone in this forum has been very helpful! Thanks in advance. :)

Well, assuming your razor is indeed shaving sharp and your technique is not too heavy (both of which might be false), You're probably not giving yourself the right prep. I know that seems tough to swallow since you've explained your great prep so well. All I'm really suggesting is that somehow your neck is drying out. A super slick skin surface like the kind I get with the Ambrosia should minimise irritation. If I find I'm drying out I just add a splash of hot water. Makes the world of difference. I don't know how well that would work for traditional soaps though. Might just wash the soap away.

X

Ambrosia -- What is this? May want to try it.

Hmm -- I may be a little heavy handed. I will try lightening up a little tomorrow. As for the blade -- I just put a new one in on my first shave. may have to add a new one.

Something I may try is shaving IN the shower. (Always helped stop blood quick too).

Thank you for your advice -- as hard it is to diagnos a problem without actually seeing it -- every bit helps. Once I get good at my technique -- I too will be able to help others out.

What brand of blades are you using in the DE?
Perhaps you could shave across the grain on
your neck.


Good Luck,


Terry

Oh, you were using a DE - though being heavy handed is a problem there, too. You don't want to use much pressure at all, just the weight of the razor, and you should make sure to get the angle right - start with the razor perpendicular, then decrease the angle until you can feel the blade, then back off a bit from there.

And presumably, yes, a DE blade right out of the box is very sharp indeed.

Your prep sounds like it's pretty good, with hot towels and pre-shave oil and such. (I won't get into the relative benefits of oils. Some guys, me included, use them, some don't, and some manufacturers insist in will damage your brush).

I would suggest you /not/ shave in the shower. For the love of God, please. First of all, it's wet and slippery, and you're likely to drop your razor. And when you start shaving with a straight, dropping the thing while you're standing naked in the shower can have disasterous consequences. Also, the shower will wash away the cream far faster than you can shave. It's just not a good idea.

A word about wound care - first, I would suggest that if you give yourself a nice gusher, don't go on to a second or third pass. You really need to take care of it right away. Second, if you feel all razor burned and miserable after the first pass - ditto. Let your skin recover.

Before even bothering with the styptic pencil, it's a good idea to splash your face with the coldest water you can stand (Which is usually the faucet to its coldest setting). This will close small cuts and slow big ones. Then wet the styptic pencil and press it to the cut. Yes, it stings, we hate that feeling, too. Once it dries, you can wipe the white residue off. Again, I would suggest not smearing cover-up all over yourself (I wouldn't, that is, unless one is trying to hide a hickey or something). I can't imagine it's good for you if it gets in a cut.

If you're really stuck, use a small bandaid, provided it's an area that can be bandaided. Sometimes, there's nothing else you can do.

Good luck, though, and let us know how it goes when you get your straight.

Diablo,

A few things come to mind. You are using your Grandfathers' DE. Is the new blade you are using a blade that you purchased, or were they blades left around from when your grandfather used the razor? Are you applying pressure with the razor, or letting the razor do the work? When you use the DE, which direction is the handle pointing? Almost straight out or towards the floor? I ask these questions because DE razors have more blade exposure than cartridge razors, because DE blades over time deteriorate, and because without proper blade angle, you aren't shaving, you are scraping. Another variable is that it is possible to use water or towels that are too hot, making the face more sensistive, tender and actually swollen. Your prep sounds great. I would recommend that you toss the current blade. If these blades are old, toss them all. If not, understand that it is possible to get a bad blade now and then. Second...make only one pass...WITH the grain. I don't like the use of N-S, S-N or whatever. Make sure that the pass is done completely with the grain. And stop. Do this for a few days. Understand that you will not have a close shave, but your face has to adapt to this new way of shaving. You'll go through this again to an extent with your new straight. After a minimum of 3 days of making only one pass, IF you aren't finding tender or sore spots on your face, add pass number two, which is ACROSS the grain. Do only these two passes for a minimum of three days. Now the shave is getting better. Once you reach the point that there are not tender or sore spots on your face, it's time to add pass #3...against the grain. Remember, you are not trying to eliminate all of your stubble with only one pass, but reduce it until the last pass which will do the cleanup work. Pay attention to what your face is telling you. You'll want to do the same thing when you start with a straight. A variation with what I have suggested would be after 3 days of shaving only with the grain for one pass, to add another pass of with the grain, and waiting before going across the grain.

Good luck and keep us posted.

RT

I have to agree with most of the other replies.

This is my list in order of things that I think are probably happening.

1. To much pressure, this is very common; remember there is no barrier between that blade and your skin, press hard enough and you are shaving off more skin than hair!

2. Make sure your face is completely saturated with hot water before you start your first lather, then leave your initial lather on your face and neck for at least four minutes prior to your first stroke. I also use pre-shave oil, and I truly believe this helps! (I have very sensitive skin as well)

3. As others said make sure you are shaving with the grain, across the grain, and then against the grain. Also make sure you re-lather before you pass over each direction.

4. Use a good aftershave that is made for soothing sensitive skin, even if you dont have really sensitive skin, it generally provides more moisturizers which is good for razor burn.

5. The angle, if you arent shaving at the proper angle the blade will naturally try to cut into the skin as you drag it up or down your neck. I like around 35 degrees around my neck, and I find long slow strokes work best and irritate the least.

6. Try using some of the new "platinum" type blades. Most companies make them like Merkur, Dorco, etc...there are literally tons of different types, I find anything that that is labeled platinum is fine. I use the Dorco's and they work very well for me and generally cost around 5 - 20 cents a blade depending where you get them. I do change blades each time I use the razor however.


I hope some of this helps you!

Wow --- thanks everyone. This is the information I needed.

For tomorrow I will pay more attention to

a) making sure my face is saturated

b) paying attention to how heavy I hold the raxor against my face.

c) looking at the angle (I forgot how I held it against my neck I know i held it parallel to my face and slowing increased the angle till it caught

d) go out and buy new blades. Yes the blades are NEW from a package -- but not sure how OLD the package is! (Could be WWII as well--Though i am thinking more "Threes Company" era). Old New blades never occured to me but now it makes more sence!

e) JUST GO WITH THE GRAIN! (My main reason for the coverup was the wedding pictures -- If I looked out of place the Bride would have gotten a straight edge of her own and "Solve her Problem") lol


ALSO -- thanks for the first aid tips. I never really knew how to tackle them that good before. My neck is still sore...we will see tomorrow. :shrug:

I agree with all the advice on here provided so far. If that advice does not work consider:

Buying a new razor
Using a straight instead, they are easier than a DE on the skin
Shave only in one direction, not 2 or 3
Try getting the neck really wet and soaked without using hot water, cool water may be a better choice for hypersensitive skin. Rare, but worth a try. The hot water creates bloating of the skin and the razor tears up the heated skin, if the skin is ultra sensitive. This problem is very rare though.
Try running the razor through cork or using a blade that isn't as sharp, that can help too. Most need a sharper blade, but some need a duller blade. Just a little experimentation is all you need right now.

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well this Morning I:

a) Changed the blade on the Razor

b) used a hot water towel on my face to sften the beard

c) used a pre-Shave oil

d) Lathered up with some Taylor of Bond Street

E) AT A 90 degree ANGLE -- SLOWLY MOVING IT DOWN MY FACE LIGHTLY---AND IT WORKED! As for my NECK -- Same principle -- but I did not go against the grain my 2nd pass--but rather with and across the grain! It may not be as CLOSE as i would like it--but it is a GREAT start -- ZERO blood loss!

My Straight Edge SHOULD be coming from Lynn this week! So this sort of a testing period.

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE! I NO LONGER HAVE TO WEAR A RED SHIRT TO WORK TO HIDE MY MISHAPS!

Excellent. it's amazing how blood and secere irritation can focus your attention on the details isn't it. ;) The learning curve can be quite steep at the start.

X