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Hi,
I have a problem with some rash/small red pimple on the base of my neck after shaving. Some time they even have small white head.
I don't know what to do.
This is my routine after shaving :
1-Rince with cold water
2-Alum Block
3-Rince with cold water
4-Proraso Splash
5-Proraso balm
Is this enough?
For now I shave with a cheap 2 blade cartridge razor that I use 2 time max before replacing it. I am waiting to get my Straight razor to get honed.
If you are getting just red rash it could be you left your skin just a tad too thin :D. For the pimples it sounds like not only did you get minor cuts of heavy abrasions, you also got small infections in them.
I don't know about proraso, I looked them up and saw they have an alcohol base but that it's not very high. Perhaps try something with more alcohol to make sure you get the shaved area properly disinfected after your shave. Some Bay Rum stuff might be an option and is quite popular, but there are lots and lots of options.
Also, your pressure may be a bit too heavy. A little abrasion on our skin while shaving is inevitable, but try to leave as much as possible :)
Finally, a nice balm might be a good idea, dryness after shaving might be another explanation for your redness. Proraso might be perfect, I never had the chance to try it. I use some shea butter cream, it works wonders for me.
Best of luck.
I used to get the exact same rash you are describing when I shaved with a multi blade. Now, after 4 months of str8 shaving, all I deal with is the occaisional nick. It was not clear from your post if you have been shaving with a str8 and just waiting for your razor to get honed, or if you're just getting started.
There is a very good chance that it is too much pressure.
There is a chance that you are not building a proper lather.
There is a chance that you are allergic to something in those products.
I want to know more about your facial regiment. You only listed shaving. If you could inform me of your wash/scrub/exfolliant routine. If there is any other product you use or process other than shaving you may want to look into that, I see that you are not shaving with a str8 yet, but what did you shave with before?
-G
Try some astringent after you rinse your face. Seems to clear up the skin quite nicely.
Mantic59 offers some neck advice:
YouTube - How To Maintain The Neck For Shaving
I was shaving with an electric razor. I just started wet shaving. I bought a straight razor and never used it yet. I am waiting that (forgot is name, he is on this forum) came back from vacation to honed my razor.Quote:
Originally Posted by deighaingeal
Usualy i take a shower and I let the water run on my face like 1 min. Then i wash my face with the bioterme et nivea soap. After my shower I put some proraso pre shave. I do WTG and I put some proraso pre shave again then I do ATG.
My lather is very good and I add some glycerin. I use in my rotation Proraso cream, proraso soap, nivea cream or Wilkinson (I don't really like this one, I don't think I am gonna use it again)
And my post shaving routine is a couple post above.
Forgot to say that just before doing ATG I rince with cold water.
try applying some preshave oil onto your beard or conditioner to soften up the bristles, I get alot of razor burn if I don't apply a pre-moisturising oil/balm/conditioner.
regards alex
Sounds like razor bumps aka ingrown hairs, usually caused by cutting hairs below skin level. Are you paying attention to the direction that your beard grows? Could be that you're shaving those whiskers ATG and irritating your neck. If that's the case you can try altering your technique, increase your prep prior to shaving and ease up on pressure. Failing that you may just have to settle for a lesser shave in the neck region rather than cope with irritation. Remember, go for comfort before closeness.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
Yes I paid attention to the direction that my beard grows. If I split my neck in a half horizontaly, the upper section grows down and the lower secion grows up. When I do my first shave (WTG) I respect that direction and when I do the second shave (ATG) I feel that sometimes it is not very confortable in the lower section.
I got the razor bumps only in the lower section. I don't have alot of bumps but I don't find it very esthetic and confortable.
Should I forget to do ATG in the lower section? I would prefer not because I really like the feel of a close shave. Any idea of what I should try first?
EDIT : Would this be a good idea that I clean my cartrige blades with some 70% alcohol before shaving with?
I would ditch the cartridge and get a DE. Go with the grain on the neck which ever direction that is for you. I would not go against the grain on my neck with a multi blade cart.
I would say no, as it'll dry out the skin while you shave and there wouldn't be any point unless you share your razor with other people, its only there to sterilize.Quote:
Originally Posted by macpowa
Even with my straight razor I just use hot water, dry it and then let it air dry.
EDIT: Shoki has a point with the going against the grain with a cartridge they are nasty ATG and might explain the ingrown hairs.
regards alex
Ok thanks for the advice, I will not go ATG with my cartridge. I will wait to do it with my straight.
Before I began wet shaving I wouldn't have known to go ATG. I never even conceived multiple passes!
This sounds very familiar to me. The difference with my face is that the whiskers on the "top half" of my neck (as you put it) grow sidewaysQuote:
Originally Posted by macpowa
towards my ears, while the lower section grows up (like yours). Basically a downwards stroke would be ATG at the bottom of my neck, which is where irritation, if any, is most likely to occur. To make matters worse, the whiskers there lay almost entirely flat, which is the reason why they get cut so far under the skin with an ATG stroke. Unfortunately on a day to day basis I must settle for a DFS in that area as it is not worth the razor bumps. Only on very special occasions do I shave there ATG for a perfectly smooth finish.
As for cleaning a razor with alcohol before shaving - why not? I'd just make sure that the alcohol has evaporated before shaving.
Rinsing with cold water will close the pores and can trap stuff in there. Use warm to hot water for rinses in between passes and cold water only for your final rinse.Quote:
Originally Posted by macpowa
All I've ever used are disposable cartridge razors. I can NOT go ATG or I get a similar reaction. Really bad razor burn, ingrown hairs, little white heads. I just go WTG and deal with the fact that I don't get a close shave.
Its actually the reason I started researching straights. I ordered one off the classifieds and should have it be the end of the week.
Have you tried going cross the grain for the second pass on your neck instead of Against? I found when I go against I get nasty ingrowns and so I started going cross for second passes and that gave me a nice smooth finish with no bumps.
Don't splash.
+1 on this. I have sensitive skin and get much better results with just the balm after shaving. If you like the scent of the splash, you can rub it on the back of your neck or the top of your chest to enjoy the fragrance.Quote:
Originally Posted by MasterRolf
Today I shaved my beard and it was fine :) From all the good answers you guys gave me I manage to do a nice clean shave with my cartridge razor. I don't know if it will always be like that or maybe I just get lucky.
I have done the ATG pass on my neck with no pressure at all and I changed my routine a little bit. The shave on the neck was not as close as I would but I don't get any razor burn, bump or nick.
I will try this new routine a while and see what happen. If something go wrong again I will do a little check on the advices you guys gave me and make the changes.
Now I do (in order) :
1-Shower/wash face
2-Proraso pre shave
3-WTG
4-Rince with hot water
5-Proaso pre shave
6-ATG
7-Rince with cold water
8-Alum block
9-Rince with cold water
10-Splash
11-Proraso balm
What you think of this new routine?
Looks good, although I don't know if you really need step 5 (reapplication of pre/post cream), but if it works then why not? As well, especially if using a multiblade cartridge razor, you may want to substitute a XTG pass instead of ATG. Some guys have no issues going ATG with a cartridge, but many will end up with irritation as a result.Quote:
Originally Posted by macpowa
I have a similar issue to the original poster. I find any direction relative to the grain doesn't get me a really close shave on neck and chin regardless of direction relative to the grain unless I apply more pressure or do lots of passes. Would it be best to do lots of light passes WTG and apply lather between them? The way I'm going now causes a lot of soreness on the chin and some on the neck. Maybe I just need to develop my technique.
:tameshigiri:
Absolutely, rub or pat, don't splash.Quote:
Originally Posted by CDogg