Sensitive Neck (NIcks bleeding redness everytime) HELP!!!

The title says it all, this what i use

- Straight razor shavette MD barber cheapie or Parker sr1 stainless steel (same results)
- Derby SIngle edge straight razor blades
- Mug williams shaving soap

My face prep:
- Hot towel wringed out apllied for about a minute twice
- with brush i apply warm water some moisture to the shaving areas
- apply hot lather using mug williams shaving soap

Lathering process:
- shaving soap and brush sit in a Mug with boiling hot water for about a minute
- then I dump the water and whip up a nice thick dense lather, that doesnt dry quick or run
- I apply lather with brush using circular motions for about 30 seconds then using pantbrush like strokes spread the lather against the grain

The Shave
- skin stretch, razor flat as possible, using extremely gentle soft quick short strokes going with the grain typically upward on the left and right sides of the neck and downward on the middle of the neck. very poor results not a close shave what so ever with a little amount of blood typicaly small red dots not too big of a problem

- Now I go against the grain and this is where I get massacared a lot of blood and a not so close shave better then wtg but not baby bottom smooth like I want it

I have sensitive skin especially on my neck, deep pores, and chicken skin like skin on my neck. some hairs I just cant hit close enough no matter what direction I shave.

ANY ADVICE TIP HELP ETC... PLease would be greatly appreciated, Thanks in advance

That doesn't sound like a fun experience at all....

When shaving WTG the blade should be at approx. 30 degrees not as flat as possible. A quick reference is to think of a two spine widths from the face.

Are you new to using a straight razor shaving?
Is this a new blade?

well this is a straight razor shavette not a traditonal straight razor I believe the angles for shaving differ, and I have tried different angles the flater i use it the less it cuts me which why i try keeping it flat 30 degrees does give a closer shave but it butchers me.
Yes I do use a new blade everythime and I do consider myself new to the world of straight razor shaving

Sounds like mostly technique to me.

I had the same issue when I started. I used a disposable blade straight also.

A few things to consider:

1: Lathering technique. I don't know if you have, but really spend some time working on your lathering. I used to think i knew how to lather, then about two months into wet shaving I spent an evening experimenting with lathering and I realized I was always making my lather too dry. It looked good, but didn't provide much protection.

2: Soap. I noticed you use Williams. You'll get mixed reviews around here on Williams, but the general consensus is that it is not a great soap. There are always exceptions and YMMV, but, personally, I can't get a decent shave with out irritation from Williams without at least adding some glycerine to the lather. IMHO, Williams does not do a great job of protecting the face.

Again, I don't know how far along you are, but since you said you're relatively new, I would suggest that you try a different soap/cream and see of it helps. You can find a couple decent creams at some pretty common stores (the body shop carries a decent maca root cream, and bath and body works sells c.o. Bigelow cream)

3: it's a shavette. Personally, I find a shave with a shavette to always be more irritating than a shave with a traditional straight. I don't know why this is, maybe the disposable blades are sharper than a traditional straight. Regardless, I got much more comfortable and consistent shaves when I gave up the disposable blade.

4: know your face. You hear it a lot around here, but you should really consider examining your face and figuring out how you facial hair grows. I have some crazy spots on my face where shaving downward is not actually WTG (depending on the spot it may be XTG or even ATG). Knowing how to approach shaving your individual face will help you avoid some irritation. Once you get better at this it may become less important.

Anyway, just my opinion and some stuff you may want to consider. Take it or leave it as you please.

For your consideration: My experience with a shavette taught me one thing immediately - concentrate and be very, very aware of the edges of blade, since they are not rounded off you are sticking yourself without knowing till you bleed. Two, DITCH the Williams. Get Mitchells Wool Fat Soap, a bottle of glycerin, a small bottle of Vitamin E oil. I have sensitive skin and this is my formula for your consideration. In bowl, 6 drops of glycerin, a few of Vit E (should help with healing) and then the loaded brush of MWF. Produces a very good lather. If you are in a hard water area use bottled water heated. Do you have an alum block. Use that after shave before rinsing off lather. Will sting like hell where ever you were a little too rough on your face. Good sting because it makes you subconsciously start using lighter pressure (my big problem at first) the next time you shave. 30 seconds+, rinse, dry and get some pure aloe vera gel for your neck and a good moisturizing balm for your face. Try it, it might work for you as it did for me.

Thanks for your reply, I think it might be the soap I was considering getting something better, it is a cheap soap.

Thanks for replying, your advice souns great, but I dont want to have to do all that just to shave, the str8 razor shaving process is a big process as it is I dont want to add more to it, I just want a clean and simple good quality shave. back in the day they didnt use all these fancy things and additions like they do now. and they got excellent shaves, we might all be missing something here
@razorfeld

Also if you haven't been shaving with a shavette for long I suggest focusing on shaving your cheeks first to really work on the angle.
I know for me working on the neck and chin area while trying to learn the proper angle got a little overly complicated. Keep it simple and success will follow.

Fair enough. But with the soap I can tell you that, back in the day, Williams had a different formula and was considered a far superior soap to what it is now.

Basically, it's a slow process. Eventually you will probably be able to shave in a couple of minutes using whatever you find laying around the house. When you're learning, it doesn't hurt to have decent equipment and focusing on technique always helps.

The soap would be a thought for me too. While Williams is a shavable soap it is not very good in my personal experience. I would much prefer Arko even. Just because a soap does not cost over $15.00 it does not mean it is not a good shave soap. Look for a decent soap that is easy to get a good lather from.

Bob

My dear Spaoje, the good old days are just that, old. Do you really think the old timers were going to get together and complain to each other about the lousy shave they were getting. All they had their minds on were surviving the lousy conditions of the day. And think about it, a large number of bearded men who probably had beards because they had sensitive skin too. Yes , we tend to add this and add that, and try different things because we've advanced to where we can, on a more organized level, work out the problems as a group instead of as an isolated person or wide spread group. Hey, think internet. In an instant we can communicate new findings to someone on the other side of the planet, not wait months to hear back, "Yes" or "No". There has never been and there will never be a "simple" way or solution to anything in this world, no matter how hard we try.

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Originally Posted by Razorfeld

My dear Spaoje, the good old days are just that, old. Do you really think the old timers were going to get together and complain to each other about the lousy shave they were getting. All they had their minds on were surviving the lousy conditions of the day. And think about it, a large number of bearded men who probably had beards because they had sensitive skin too. Yes , we tend to add this and add that, and try different things because we've advanced to where we can, on a more organized level, work out the problems as a group instead of as an isolated person or wide spread group. Hey, think internet. In an instant we can communicate new findings to someone on the other side of the planet, not wait months to hear back, "Yes" or "No". There has never been and there will never be a "simple" way or solution to anything in this world, no matter how hard we try.

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Well, yes and no to that for me personally. When I started to shave with a straight fairly recently I had a many step routine to the shave process including preshave oils/creams, uberlathers, a nice scuttle to keep it all warm and a post routine of alum block, Thayers witch hazel and a balm. I now get by nicely with an abbreviated routine using cold water. Simply wet face, face lather, shave, use alum block and an aftershave. So it is possible for some people to keep it simple. Each has to find out what works for them and what is enjoyable too.

Bob

I would make 2 suggestions. Try cold water shaving as it can make a huge difference for some and don't shave with any pressure. Its not a safety razor. Use the razor to wipe the lather off only. The blade should do the work not pressure.

I think generally we simplify as we go with our routines, but it doesn't hurt to start out using a more complicated one and dropping things as we go. All the little things in themselves may not make much of a difference, but when put together can be beneficial, and as technique improves then the little things can gradually fall by the wayside.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spasoje

Thanks for replying, your advice souns great, but I dont want to have to do all that just to shave, the str8 razor shaving process is a big process as it is I dont want to add more to it, I just want a clean and simple good quality shave. back in the day they didnt use all these fancy things and additions like they do now. and they got excellent shaves, we might all be missing something here
@razorfeld

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lol, no offense, but what do you know about :back in the day? Post up a link?

Anyway, I had to use an electric razor for the longest time and just recently got into the DE wet shaving and now just a month ago into SRS. It's been a fun journey filled with nicks, cuts and razor burn. I have learned to work on my technique and not be hurried, but with the shavette I got more nicks, mostly due to the sharp corners. I've been using the strait but still clean up with the DE.

I use a comfrey leaf extract post shave if I've managed to mangle up my face, works great for speedy healing.

Good luck to all, I wish my face could stand more shaves per day, lol, I like it a lot. :p

Back in the day? Lets start with I'm 80 and started shaving before the days of goo and multi blades. Watching granddad and dad shave with SEs and DE and calling it a day despite patches here and there. Nothing was as refined as it is today with everything from looking at a razors edge thru a microscope to the literally hundred of soaps/creams with a plethora of scents, let alone all the different skin treatments available for every skin condition. "Back then" rinse and maybe Bay Rum. Old Spice wa a revelation in its day.

Here's a link of a traditional and simple shave by an old school barber

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vY46z9I90p0

Now here's a link of a modern shave ?SEE The DIFFERENCE?


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FqY1u3Sz8Hk

2 links posted below @ Toasty