Thread: Witch Hazel Question

Originally Posted by Longrange

My post shave routine is a cold rinse and pat dry. After a few minutes I apply a bit of Original Thayers Witch Hazel and again let my face breath and dry for a few. Next up is the Nivea mixed with some Bay Rum or Old Spice depending on what mood I am in or soap I used for the shave.

I have read quite a few posts that mention the sting after using the Witch Hazel, I however do not notice a sting of any kind while using the product. Am I just luck enough to have tough skin or am I just not irritating my face while I am shaving, not that I want my face irritated.

Just looking for some in-site to the burn of not burn of the Witch Hazel.

Thanks

Hi Jimmy,
I use Thayer's "no alcohol", lavender + Aloe formulation and I have not noticed any stinging whatsoever. The original formulation contains alcohol, and as Carrie mentioned it's upwards of 14%, which is a lot .

It's probably a combination of your shave technique and your skin, which may be less sensitive to alcohol's "stinging" effect(s).

Originally Posted by CarrieM

Commercial witch hazels usually have 14% alcohol in it. You may have a variation that has a lesser amount of alcohol or you are really doing a great job shaving and not irritating you skin so no burn.

Wowww Carrie....That's a lot of alcohol .

I found that over time my face gets used to it, kind of develops an immunity to the scraping of shaving with a straight razor.

I rarely use Witch Hazel anymore. In my earlier days of shaving, I would use it after a particularly rough session of shaving, because of the fact that it didn't burn. I use it only occasionally now because .... well, I'm not sure why. I just do.

Originally Posted by technika1

Here in the uk its mostly a generic w/h, no stings at all, we can but thayers on line, and like the other post says, some have a greater alcohol content=more sting.

I found that my local health store sells Thayer's. It looks like they have been there for decades and are in all sorts of different scents/flavours. Their prices though start from £9.99 and go upwards from there.

Just splashed some on, 14% and no sting.

Put aftershave on top and has a nice sting!.

I use Thayers medicated superhazel and don't get much of a sting but the stuff is really good helps with acne and oily skin.

Thayer's original has 10% ABV... this is also the one I use. With 10%, you won't experience much burn unless you have a really terrible shave. My guess is you shave your face very well

I use T.N. Dickinson's witch hazel (stored in the refridgerator) and when I put it on it will let me know where my technique wasn't up to par