Thread: New Straight Shaver

Welcome to SRP!

Hi I was experiencing skipping it could be that your blade is dulling and may need a light honing is use a yellow coticule stone 20 laps with water and your back in business. Well done your are making good progress

But I've noticed a problem I'm having. Going up on my neck and beard (ATG) the blade doesn't glide over my skin. It kinda skips a little but. I stretch my skin and try to change blade angles, but no luck. And the shaving cream is still moist. Ant suggestions?

FWIW --

. . . Strop the razor before the ATG pass.

Sometimes that helps me. You need a _really_ sharp blade for a good ATG pass. And it should be almost flat against your skin.

. . . Add a little glycerin to the lather, for extra lubrication.

Charles

Didn't read all posts but I was getting ;skin irritation when I first started shaving. Now take a good hot shower, make sure my face stays warm and use pre shave oil. Now I rarely get burn or irritation, even ATG.

Here's an article from the "Italian Barber" website on neck shaving problems. It seems to cover all the bases.

Italian Barber Online Shaving Supplies - - Shaving Irritation Solutions - Shaving irritation on the neck...how to avoid it


SHAVING IRRITATION ON THE NECK - HOW TO AVOID IT
BY JOSEPH ABBATANGELO

The most common inquiry I get at ItalianBarber.com goes something like this... "I get constant irritation, razor burn and red bumps on my neck; how can I avoid this?"

For most men, the neck is the most sensitive area and there are a few different causes and more importantly, some very simple solutions.

In my personal experience, the principal causes are one or a combination of the following...

1. Shaving against the grain
2. Applying too much pressure with the razor
3. Using a multi-blade cartridge razor
4. Lack of skin protection

Fortunately, with a few adjusts, an irritation free, clean shaven neck is quite easy to achieve.

Here are my suggestions...

1. Observe and map your grain growth pattern. Beard hair on the neck can grow in a lot of different directions. It's crucial to know the direction of growth and only shave 'with the grain'.
2. If you are using a sharp razor, there is absolutely no need to apply pressure. The blade will slice through a well-prepared beard with relative ease. Make sure the blade is sharp and try to visualize the blade hydroplaning just above the skin.

3. Multi-blade cartridge razors are actually designed to 'lift and slice' and can sometimes cut below the skin level. This is a recipe for red bumps and ingrown hairs, especially for men with curly facial hair. I advise using a single blade safety razor (also called DE razor). The safety razor with slice the hair cleanly and won't push the hair back into the follicle like a modern cartridge razor. At a minimum, if you are determined to use a cartridge, use one with a single blade.

4. Beard preparation and skin protection is crucial. Always shave after a hot shower. The hot water will soften and condition the beard hair making it ideal for shaving. If you can't take a hot shower, wash your face with the hottest water you can stand for 1-2 minutes. It's important to have a lubrication barrier between your skin and the blade. I recommend using a pre-shave gel or oil, especially on the sensitive neck area. Imagine a piston in a motor; with adequate clean oil, the piston will glide in the cylinder with ease; without oil the piston and cylinder will be permanently damaged. A pre-shave gel or oil will stick to you skin and provide a protective barrier.

I hope this article with help you to overcome your neck irritation.

This article was published on Saturday 02 April, 2011.

Thanks for the info. I have started using preshave oil lately and it helps a lot. I am sure as my technique gets better and I find the right razor it will be resolved

Hey Op and Chemcorp. Another from the Boot here, split time between Hammond And Nola.