Itching and Burning

So, yesterday being memorial day we upheld the tradition we started when our daughter was born and took the family to the zoo. Taking a 3yr old and a 2yr old to the zoo is like taking them to the candy store without the sugar blitz! It was a lot of fun, but it was also pretty warm 88ish, pretty humid, and then we were in and out of buildings that were also very hot and even more humid.

About half way through the afternoon my neck began to itch. Not a problem. Mind over matter. It's like a mosquito itch, ignore it and it will go away...it will go away...it will...it...gah! Ah, that felt better, just don't scratch it again. Okay...mind over matter...mind over...what? It's, oh man, it's burning now.

After fighting off the urge to scratch, rather unsuccessfully I might add, the skin began to burn, and that combined with itching was killer. I found a restroom and dowsed the area with cold water, and that was a big help.

BUT, Out of curiosity what do YOU do for a post-shave on a hot-humid day? It's just beginning to really warm up here in Northern Iowa (We were at Omaha's Doorly Zoo btw) so I haven't worried about it. In the past my neck was irritated anyway (cartridge days) so either I didn't notice or didn't care to think about it. Now my neck's NOT irritated on a regular basis so yesterday's experience was a new one for me.

Thanks for the input!

Peace,

In warmer months I find myself rinsing off my face several times a day. Sweat, dirt, from heavy play, or just hot weather in the outdoors can build up and irritate if I ignore it. Cold water rinsing periodically throughout the hot days saves my face big time. Also, I find my self shaving at night because I get bad irritation if I sweat on a fresh shave.

A light dusting of talc can help immensely.

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Originally Posted by JohnnyCakeDC

In warmer months I find myself rinsing off my face several times a day. Sweat, dirt, from heavy play, or just hot weather in the outdoors can build up and irritate if I ignore it. Cold water rinsing periodically throughout the hot days saves my face big time. Also, I find my self shaving at night because I get bad irritation if I sweat on a fresh shave.

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Yeah, I shaved Yesterday morning too, instead of the night before. I'll keep that in consideration. Thanks!

I had planned on carrying my osage rub for the warm days, but my wife took it and I haven't seen it since.

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Originally Posted by JohnnyCakeDC

In warmer months I find myself rinsing off my face several times a day. Sweat, dirt, from heavy play, or just hot weather in the outdoors can build up and irritate if I ignore it. Cold water rinsing periodically throughout the hot days saves my face big time. Also, I find my self shaving at night because I get bad irritation if I sweat on a fresh shave.

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Yes, this is what I do too.
in warmer months I always try to shave at night, just before bed time.
A cold water splash throughout the day also helps a lot!

Nivea shave balm. single pass WTG, shave after dinner.

Some sound advice from the others, for sure. Myself, I find for those hot days (all 4 of them here in Edmonton :rofl2:) a cold water splash every now and then helps a lot, but keeping the skin clean and fairly dry goes a long way to prevent scratching and, more importantly, irritation

Not trying to be difficult, just honest. I think if you have to consider aftershave your not doing something right. After a straight shave your skin should feel whiskerless and comfortable all by itself.

I find splashing Thayers lemon/aloe witch hazel and then Proraso pre-post helps in 92 deg 80% hum Fla!

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Originally Posted by AFDavis11

After a straight shave your skin should feel whiskerless and comfortable all by itself.

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I definitely think you're sitting in the minority camp with that one, Alan..... :w

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Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Not trying to be difficult, just honest. I think if you have to consider aftershave your not doing something right. After a straight shave your skin should feel whiskerless and comfortable all by itself.

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Truth be told...and I hope I don't get strung up for this...but on the morning in question I used my DE. I worked from basically 5am straight through to 10pm and didn't have it in me to shave Sunday night. Monday I got up but didn't want to look like the wolf man at the zoo. I hate having families taking pictures of me instead of the animals! :D So I opted for the Fatboy. Shave was great, and I finished with a cold water rinse like I always do. I was comfortable all morning and for the first couple hours out in the heat and humidity. Then things started to get uncomfortable.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

I definitely think you're sitting in the minority camp with that one, Alan..... :w

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Alan is definitely in the minority; and I mean that in a good way. Few have his skills...I sure don't. BUT, I can say that up until Monday I finish with a cold water rinse and am comfortable all day through...though it's been cool here in Southern Canada ;), and even the handful of warm days we've had to date have not included the humidity, nor have I been out in them for as long at a stretch.

Thanks for the input guys. I do have some NSB in my medicine cabinet, but didn't think to put it on Monday morning. The cold water splash in the restroom certainly helped, but it isn't always convenient.

Thanks again,

That's interesting because I was experiencing the same thing since I started SR shaving. Now I know what to do and how to get relief. Thank you to all who responded to the other gentleman's question.

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Originally Posted by pmburk

That's interesting because I was experiencing the same thing since I started SR shaving. Now I know what to do and how to get relief. Thank you to all who responded to the other gentleman's question.

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Yep this is a common topic. You need a blade sharp enough
to snip whiskers without effort but smooth enough to not slice skin.
In part this is why people have their personal favorite finishing hones
and a good honemaster is held in such regard.

Same for skin and whisker preparation. You want to soften your whiskers
but leave the skin in good condition so it is not abused or insulted by the process.

If you over soak the skin it changes texture like soaking too long
in the bath. If you under soak whiskers they fight the razor.
This why there are so many shave soaps, shave creams,
pre-shave and post shave balms on the market.

Some shower then shave others shave then shower.

Understanding this give and take balancing act that pampers
the skin yet slices whiskers is key to tuning your personal
shave experience.

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Originally Posted by niftyshaving

Yep this is a common topic. You need a blade sharp enough
to snip whiskers without effort but smooth enough to not slice skin.
In part this is why people have their personal favorite finishing hones
and a good honemaster is held in such regard.

Same for skin and whisker preparation. You want to soften your whiskers
but leave the skin in good condition so it is not abused or insulted by the process.

If you over soak the skin it changes texture like soaking too long
in the bath. If you under soak whiskers they fight the razor.
This why there are so many shave soaps, shave creams,
pre-shave and post shave balms on the market.

Some shower then shave others shave then shower.

Understanding this give and take balancing act that pampers
the skin yet slices whiskers is key to tuning your personal
shave experience.

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Spoken like a true connoisseur.

So...
...a little update for what it's worth. After doing some reading and investigating, and spending some time with my beloved Gold Seal on my Swaty I shaved yesterday morning with my straight and followed it up with a little Nivea ASB. I'd been using the DE so much b/c my straights were out of commission that I'd forgotten just how much better the straight really is. Usually the Nivea will give a little sting, even as a "soothing balm" after the DE. The Genco was so good to my skin there was no sting at all.

So, up for the day's events: Take a brother down to Omaha for an eye surgery he couldn't get a ride anywhere else for, and on the way home it's 101F out...and my alternator goes out. We get pulled off to a gas station before the battery drains, and by the grace of God things work out so that we can get a new alternator on the rig and make it home the same evening, but there were several hours spent outside in the heat. No itching. No irritation.

Now, I did put on some Nivea ASB that morning. I knew it was going to be hot, though I was NOT planning on spending a bunch of time outside. Still, I was out for about as long as the family was at the zoo a little over a week ago, and in much hotter weather with no irritation. Maybe I should have given Alan MORE credit!

Peace,