Thread: Can't avoid the irritation

Originally Posted by RayClem

It sounds like you getting razor bumps or in-grown hairs from shaving your face to closely. If you shave such that the hair folicules are cut off below skin level, they can turn and start burrowing into your skin with painful results. Due to the bumps, let your beard row out for four days before the next shave. Because you anticipate it will be four days before you shave again, you once again shave too closely.

I would suggest you shave more frequent, perhaps even daily, but do not try to get a BBS shave. Perhaps only shave a single pass WTG and leave it at that. Do not be concerned with getting a close shave, for now a socially acceptable shave will do. Use the least aggressive razor equipped with the least aggressive blade that will achieve that result. If doing a single pass WTG eliminates the issue, after a few weeks, you might try adding a second XTG to see if you can get a little closer. Avoid ATG passes and buffing as that is likely to be the trigger for your problems.

This is a great strategy, thanks Ray. I will most definitely give this a try. I see no reason why I can't shave more frequently, provided I'm doing it correctly and not getting razor bumps.

I'll stick to shaving one area of my face at a time and only WTG.

Originally Posted by animalwithin

I love wet shaving, whether it be with a SE, DE, or a straight razor.

But for the life of me I can't escape the horrible ordeal of the hair growing back a few days later. What usually follows is the next two days after a shave, as the hair grows back, it pierces the skin which causes a multitude of small, red bumps that are INCREDIBLY uncomfortable and make it seem that I have some sort of skin disorder.

This does not subside until the hair has grown past the skin and pretty much doesn't allow me to shave for at least four days.

Razor burn and areas where I went too hard definitely make it worse and if I take great care to shave slowly it helps. Shaving only with the grain also helps but there are always areas that cause me significant irritation, most specifically the neck and areas around my mouth.

I've accepted the fact that I must have sensitive skin on my face as well as thick facial hair but surely there must be something I can do to help? Shaving every four - five days isn't exactly ideal but it's what I've had to live with.

Any thoughts/recommendations are welcome.

I know exactly what you mean. It can happen on my chin just below the angles of the mouth. If I puff my lower lip it really exposes the whiskers which are sticking straight out, clean cut them and it seems like they are growing/pushing through the skin. I stopped doing the puffing and no problems since then.

Mr Animal,

Sorry to be late to the game. It sounds like you are experiencing trapped hairs, a very common and misunderstood phenomenon.

The hairs in question are not trapped under the entire skin but the outer layer or stratum corneum. If you were to look at your skin with bright light and a magnifying glass, you would see these hairs just sitting there looking (and feeling like) splinters. Given a day or two without shaving, these hairs will emerge on their own or in some cases become inflamed or infected.

Shaving releases the trapped hairs but at the cost of nicks. The trick is to release the hairs prior to shaving. But how, Library Guy?

In the evening, wash your face gently with a mild exfoliant scrub. The operative word here is gently. We’re trying to avoid irritation not cause it. Apply whatever moisturizer you have on hand and go to bed.

In the morning, shave with your established best practices. This will help reduce trapped hairs, bumps, and the burn.

Good luck,

I remain &c
LG Roy

Indeed, I find this to happen more in the cooler, dryer climes.
I like about 6 drops of thin vitamin E oil the night before, rubbed-in good.
Makes for a nicer shave in the morning.

AND, were I to shave more often, it would be a non-issue!

Seeing as this thread has been resurrected from the dead, I shall provide you all with an update!

Following the advice on this thread, my shaving has become immeasurably better and nearly completely free from irritation. While I'm not getting a BBS shave, I am getting fairly close and I'm shaving multiple times a week. Thank you to everyone who offered advice and tips, it definitely was helpful and I'm consistently reminded of the approaches to technique I was made aware of through this thread whilst shaving.

THANK YOU!!!

Hell yeah, happy shaving.