Help is needed!

Hello from the great state of Texas. I joined a few weeks ago and just did my first pass with a straight razor. It felt very awkward, but I followed Lynn Abrams advice about only taking on one section for your first go around. So far so good.
I'm a 21 year old college student at the University of Houston. (go coogs). I have sensitive skin and would like to be able to shave everyday, but can't manage to do so without razor burn.

The problem is razor burn in the neck area. I can only shave about every three days because of this. If any sooner the razor burn is out of control.

This is my normal procedure. Take a hot shower then begin the shaving process. I use a 100% badger brush with Henry Cavendish soap. I think I do a pretty good job lathering. I currently shave with a Gillette Fusion Razor Cartridge. Hopefully I'll be able to move into only using the SR soon.

I'd like to know what you guys do to not have razor burn. I honestly need to shave everyday, but can't because of my neck area.. I've seen a ton of videos out there, and everyone says they have "sensitive skin," but apparently mine is tooooo sensitive.

Feel free to recommend products and oils for me.

Thanks in advance!

Is your razor truly shave ready? A lot of places sell/advertise they when they are not. What razor are you using? Secondly little to no pressure, shave the lather as they say.
What after shave do you use? If it has a high alcohol content that might not be helping. Just some thoughts I have others will be along to help I'm sure.

I bought the razor of off here. I only used the SR on my cheek. As far as the after shave goes, I have tried a few, but I normally use a skin conditioning lotion made by Tea Tree.

So still using the cartridge on your neck? In that case I wasn't able to escape irritation of my neck until getting away from cartridge razors. Have you tried a de razor? They give a great shave and that could help with the irritation. Or you could try pre shave oil, give you a bit more glide.

The fusion razor you are using can cause the problems with your neck that you are experiencing.

Until you are comfortable with a straight razor I think you need to purchase a double edge safety razor and some good blades for it. Straight Razor Designs or many other web shops will all have inexpensive safety razors. Get comfortable using the safety razor and you will find it is a good first step on the road to straight razors.

Welcome to the forum. Ask any and all questions you have and you will get some accurate responses from our members.

If I read this right, you are using your newly aquired straight razor on the cheeks with no problem :shrug:

Again if I read this right you are still using the multi blade on your neck which is were you are still having problems. :shrug:

Based on what I believe I'm reading, you might want to venture onto trying the SR on the neck.

NOW! Please keep in mind that if you get the angle of the blade too high you will be 'Scraping' the hair off which will give irritation. Also if you use too much pressure there will be irritation and lastly if you keep making pass after pass trying to have the legendary BBS (Baby Butt Smooth) Shave then you'll probably have irritation.

I do hope that razorfeld chimes in as he does have very sensitive skin and will be able to help with products and not just procedures.

I hope this has been of some help.

I think all of ya'll are right. I need to get rid of the fusion razors completely. I do want to move on and do my whole face with a straight razor, but to be honest, I don't think I am ready for that. Maybe in a few weeks I'll be able to do my entire face with the SR.
I am going to look into the safety razors, and hopefully that will do the trick.

Thanks for ya'lls input.

Greatly appreciated.

Sounds as though you have a great plan. Good luck post results when you get a de. I dont think you will be disappointed.

The hair on my neck grows upward. I always got razor burn on my neck when I used cartridge razors but the razor was only part of the issue. The problem was that I was going against the grain on the first pass without realizing it. Once I started paying attention to the direction of the hair growth things improved. I now do the first pass on my neck going south to north and go against the grain on my second pass.

You could also try a neutral soap like proraso white, and in my experience tea tree based products can be harsh on your skin. Try a non alcohol based balm. And like has been suggested, one pass WTG on the neck.

Sent from a moto x far far away...

Send me a PM and I'll send you a DE razor and some blades to try while you're learning the SR.

Harold

First welcome to SRP there's a lot of great folks here, as you can see by the post above mine.
There's great info on every aspect of shaving as well.

BeJay and Grazor made excellent points.
Also I used to get razor burn on my neck only as well.
I've found any soapmwithbStearic Acid in it will still irritate my neck. So be mindful of that as it could be a reason for your razor burn

Enjoy and have fun

Welcome to the forum. :)

Witch Hazel for after shave. Cologne for good stink :<0) Watch the pressure, pull the skin and use the straight. If you can strop you really got it made. Just take your time and pay attention. You can do this !

Hi and welcome. Neck was and still is the only area I get irritation. I will add a link to a whisker map. It can make a huge difference. Don't chase a close shave it will come with time and keep the pressure light. Try starting with nothing but rinsing after shaving and see how it goes. Change 1 variable at a time to see if it helps or not. Sometimes what you think helps does nothing or even harms. Good luck with your shaves.

http://www.pbjsite.com/shave/whiskarmap/

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Originally Posted by Christianrau

I think all of ya'll are right. I need to get rid of the fusion razors completely. I do want to move on and do my whole face with a straight razor, but to be honest, I don't think I am ready for that. Maybe in a few weeks I'll be able to do my entire face with the SR.
I am going to look into the safety razors, and hopefully that will do the trick.

Thanks for ya'lls input.

Greatly appreciated.

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Well, how was the shave off of the DE that I sent you to help transition from the dreaded cartridge razors to your straight razor? Inquiring minds want to know :shrug:

Grab an alum block. See if rubbing your face with it after the shave helps any. It helps me.

First of all I want to say Thanks to everyone who took the time to read this and reply. Cudarunner aka Roy kindly sent me a DE razor, and I got it in the mail today. I must say, that I was presently surprised by the way the shave turned out.
These were my steps:
Showered, used bar soap on a rag to wash my face, when I got out of the shower I took a warm rag and held it on my face for 30 seconds. then started the lathering process. I made sure I had it just right. I used a Personna blade that gave me a clean shave. Because I didn't want to push my luck I only did one pass.
So for the moment everyone has been waiting for......

There was very minimum irritation on my neck, and it was not in the area that I normally have trouble with. I think after a few shaves I'll be razorburn free completely. I need to just figure out how exactly my neck is mapped out. It seems to grow in all sorts of directions.

Again, I want to give a special thanks to cudarunner for his generosity. For some reason I am just now seeing about half of these comments. They didn't all make it to my email.
I am glad I found SRP! It is changing my life. (My wife says I am obsessed)... I am very appreciative of all ya'lls comments. Hopefully with in a month or so I will be able to use my SR. Can't wait to see where all this leads to!

Thanks again.

Hopefully this will be a use to another beginner as well:)

Oh and after the shave I used cooled water and that is it. No burning at all. I think I am going to continue using nothing after shaving for a bit, and see how it goes.

Good for you a De is a huge step away from cartridges and a way better shave imo. There is a small learning curve but not that bad and again light on the pressure. Best of luck in the future and Roy is a heck of a nice gent for certain.

Please keep us up to date on your progress with the DE. :tu

While you used one of the Personna blades that I'd sent, you'll find the Feather Blades that I included 'Different' just be sure to remember that the only 'pressure' needed is enough to keep the razor on your face and in good hand control.

You my young friend are on your way to an Older but Better Way of Shaving! :y

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Originally Posted by cudarunner

Please keep us up to date on your progress with the DE. :tu

While you used one of the Personna blades that I'd sent, you'll find the Feather Blades that I included 'Different' just be sure to remember that the only 'pressure' needed is enough to keep the razor on your face and in good hand control.

You my young friend are on your way to an Older but Better Way of Shaving! :y

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I defiantly will! I am looking forward to becoming proficient at both the DE and SR. This is for sure the best Forum community I have ever been apart of!

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Originally Posted by Christianrau

I defiantly will! I am looking forward to becoming proficient at both the DE and SR. This is for sure the best Forum community I have ever been apart of!

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hehehe I just love auto correct! Don't get me wrong I use spell check almost Every Time I write something!

So you 'defiantly' will? Or did you mean that you will 'Definitely' will? (did I spell that right) :shrug:

I am so glad that over 5 years ago I stumbled onto SRP! And I'm very happy to find that you to are finding it the most Welcome, Supportive and Informative Site Dedicated To Straight Razor Shaving on the Web!

Again, Welcome to an Older But Better Way Of Shaving! :tu

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cudarunner

hehehe I just love auto correct! Don't get me wrong I use spell check almost Every Time I write something!

So you 'defiantly' will? Or did you mean that you will 'Definitely' will? (did I spell that right) :shrug:

I am so glad that over 5 years ago I stumbled onto SRP! And I'm very happy to find that you to are finding it the most Welcome, Supportive and Informative Site Dedicated To Straight Razor Shaving on the Web!

Again, Welcome to an Older But Better Way Of Shaving! :tu

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LOL! Thats when you know I've been looking at a computer screen to long!

Cartridges are designed to correct for bad technique, especially excessive pressure. This creates bad habits that have to be broken when shaving with a DE or a straight. And with the cost of blades, most people use them far too long and...increase pressure to compensate for a dull blade. Thus, it becomes a habit to use excessive pressure, which is guaranteed to irritate with a DE or straight. I hated shaving when I used a cartridge...it was a chore, and shaving every day gave me terrible razor burn on my neck. So I shaved every other day if I had to, but preferred every third day. Now, after getting skilled with a straight, I enjoy shaving and can shave daily with no irritation.

Just remember that you only apply enough pressure to shave off the cream; the hair will come with it. And change the blades on the DE frequently; two or three shaves tops per blade (not edge). At 50 cents or less per blade, you can get 25 shaves for the cost of one cartridge and always have a new blade every other shave. No cartridge will last 25 shaves. 5, if you're lucky. Not to make this about cost, but the habit of hanging onto a dull blade is hard to break, but needs to be broken.

Once you have your technique down and have a face map, you'll be able to apply that knowledge to your straight and reduce your learning curve, while also reducing irritation and shaving more frequently.