The Great North.

Greetings from Toronto. I'm new here as of today and I have a few questions. About a year and a half ago I got a Parker Shavette as a gift, and I went right for it. Obviously there were beginner mistakes but I got better over time. I decided to expand my inventory of shaving supplies so I went out and bought a new brush, bowl, a styptic pencil (seems to be a lifesaver), Proraso pre shave cream, William's mug soap, some Wilkinson Sword Shaving soap (blue bowl), some light sandalwood scented soap, and I picked up a Feather Safety Razor. Now once and a while I'll have a perfect shave with my cheap setup, but recently I've found that I seem to keep getting more razor burn with what seems to be a pretty good routine. I start off with a hot shower, so I can get the whiskers nice and moist for the shave. Then I'll set my bowl and brush in some hot water to get ready for the soap, put my Proraso on, lather up whichever soap I feel like using, lather it up, apply it to my face and do my first pass with the grain, apply more soap for a second pass with the grain, and my last application and pass against the grain. I then rinse my face with cold water, use my styptic pencil if there are any nicks, and then I'll apply Aqua Velva ice blue (favorite scent in the world) and wave a towel in front of my face to dry it, after that I like to apply a moisturizer made by Lush called Cosmetic Lad. The scent is subtle and goes with the Ice Blue scent very well. Now this seems like a fairly solid routine to me yet I still seem to be left with razor burn and occasionally I will get some pimples from it. It was at its worst today so I decided to seek out some answers as to what I may be doing wrong. It happens with both my Shavette and my safety razor. I've been making sure to sleep on clean pillow cases and taking any precaution I can think of. Any ideas are greatly appreciated. I use Shark blades in my Shavette and feather or Wilkinson sword bless in my safety razor.Attachment 175829Attachment 175830

Zach, your pictures and description are exactly what happens if I try to shave everyday. The same also happens if I do three aggressive full passes and a touch up.
Have you tried letting your skin rest by shaving every 2 or 3 days, or only doing 2 passes?

And welcome to SRP.:)

I don't have too thick of a beard that comes in so I really only shave once every 3-4 days. Just today my skin seemed to be a much more red and sensitive and I hadn't shaved in almost 5 days so I really don't know.

Well, I'm don't know what to tell you...
It might be easier to isolate the problem. Do everything the same the next time, but switch one thing like brand of blades or aftershave lotion.

Any other ideas, Gents?

Hello, and welcome to SRP!! +1 on leatherstockiings advice!

I am with you on switching stuff out one product at a time. The other thought that can up right away was try one pass and try a cold water shave. I have heard some people with sensitive skin rave about the great cold shave.

How does it feel when shaving? is it uncomfortable on the neck?

I got bad razor burn a little while back and discovered that by making my lather a bit thicker and changing my shaving angle i could avoid it all together.

Check your technique at every stage and see if there are any improvements.

Welcome to SRP :)

Welcome to SRP Zach: I use Noxzema Moisturizing Cleansing Cream in my pre-shave routine. Immediately after my shave I use an alum block, rinse, an apply aftershave. The final step is the application of an aftershave balm.

My number one suggestion would be to discontinue the ATG pass for several days. See if this helps with the problem. You may also try adding the application of an alum block, substituting an aftershave balm in place of your moisturizer to your post shave routine.

Many wet shavers who experience lots of irritation skip hot water on their faces entirely. Wash your face with a glycerin bar of soap and rinse with cold water just before your shave.

I learned to wet shave using feather blades. They are very sharp and can cause irritation, especially in a three pass shave. I found the Rapira Platinum Lux with the (platinum coating) to be far less irritating. Good Luck in your Quest Zac

Hi Zach and welcome. I agree with the above, try cold water shaving, maybe leave out the aftershave an pre shave, but try only one of them at a time and for a few shaves, you could also try changing two at a time if each helps a bit. I would also look at angles, too steep an angle will give you burn, as will too much pressure, in both cases you are removing skin (more than just exfoliation). You could also try making your lather more or less moist.

Welcome to the forum. The previous suggestions are all good ones. I have no prep routine other than wet my face and lather so no suggestions there.

I find if my angle and pressure are wrong I get irritation but not to the extent you seem to get. You could try placing the head of the DE flat on your face and rotate the handle downward till you feel the blade. That should give you a starting point for an angle. You have to keep adjusting to maintain that angle as you follow the contours of your face. The pressure on your face should be no more than the weight of the razor with you simply guiding it. Do not try to remove all the stubble in one pass.

Do not use alum block on razor burn as bad as yours is as it would be an unpleasant experience. If the Aqua Velva stings the alum would be even worse.

I have found Nivea for sensitive skin with aloe after shave balm very good for soothing and healing.

I shave daily and like my cold water shaves. Eliminating one thing at a time from your routine is a very good way to try and see what if anything is wrong with your routine. Good luck on finding the cure.

Bob

You are getting good advice. But, if you have not been using an alum block as yet, don't start until you know what's happening. You very well could be sensitive to a number of items. At the start of my straight shaving I thought hot water, hot lather, hot rinse was the way to go. Well, ouch, ouch and ouch. I am sensitive to menthol, eucalyptus oil, Shea butter, alum, etc. Solution, cold water shave and rinse and no alcohol based afters. I agree a cold water shave will alleviate many problems. And removing one item at a time is a valid process. But, unless there is a definite need for a three pass BBS shave every time it might be prudent to stick with a two pass shave with minor touch ups in areas. And also consider just a two pass shave with minor touch ups with a DE or SE (less irritation). And watch the pressure, light as a feather actually gets more than less removed. And most suggested, and most used, Nivea Aftershave Balm for Sensitive Skin. You also might be sensitive to the scent in an aftershave.

I'm going to wait a few days and then try out cold water. As for an Alum block where would I be able to buy one of those other than online?

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Originally Posted by zachxmclaughlin

I'm going to wait a few days and then try out cold water. As for an Alum block where would I be able to buy one of those other than online?

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Cold water sounds like a plan but I would forget about the alum. If your face is a irritated/razor burned as it looks, applying alum to it will send you howling around the room backwards from the stinging. I would get the irritation controlled first before I tried using alum block.

Bob

Welcome to the forum...I'm also in Toronto.

There are a few places to order in the Toronto/GTA area, as well as a nice store on the Danforth...Men's Essentials that have an awful lot of soaps and shaving related products if you want to browse.

Take your time, most times, any questions you have can be answered using the search function, there's so much valuable information and video's here, this place is like the University of Wet Shaving....enjoy!

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Originally Posted by zachxmclaughlin

Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

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Well, it is hard to tell just from the info provided, but it seems your routine is solid. What you have not mentioned is your shaving technique. Seems to me those small nicks could be due to an overly aggressive angle? I would try shaving with a lower angle and see if that helps. Also, remember gently does it, and cut back to one or two passes until you can do that without problems. Best of luck.

As other members have suggested. Hold off on the alum until the face isn't red an irritated. The alum will burn and sting. It's a good gauge to tell if your using to much pressure and causing irritation with your shaves. I wound skip the ATG pass and try avoiding hot water on your face. Cold water is your friend. Good Luck Zac.

Seems like a too much presure and not so good soaps. Blade dulling could also be the problem. Im somewhat local to Toronto if you need face time.

Hi and welcome. From similar problems I have had I would suggest pressure, angle and technique will be the best things to concentrate on. Good luck