DE shaving every day, after a year and a half still getting irritation

Hi guys,

I'm really hoping I can completely get away from cartridge type razors, both for fun and for financial and environmental reasons. I've got three razors, a Tech, SS, and a Lord L6.

I like them with a Feather blade, and find them all nice and smooth, with my favorite being the Tech. The other two tied for different reasons.

The two things I'm still struggling with after a long time, it irritation on my neck, and a slight skin change on my cheeks after a few months of daily shaving. My skin almost starts to look leathery, and it tends to go away when I go back to a Trac II.

I still get some burn on my neck, and some weird bumps near my adams apple. I've mapped out my hair growth, and although its all over the place on my neck, I think Iv'e got a good technique to beat it.

Any thoughts, why I'm still struggling? I usually hot shower, or at least wash my face in the morning. After wards its a hot rinse, Alum block, cold rinse, and a Real shaving company aftershave balm, or a Leather brand aftershave my folks got me. I smell slightly Grandpa-ish as my wife puts it, but it seems ok. Should I be looking for a better anti-irritation balm? The thing is, I have great daily shaves with a trac II and dont need any special aftershaves.

Please help..... I'm about to go back to plastic hell.

Thanks,

Ryan

I have the same problem too. I was using the Merkur Futur with assorted blades and still ended up with razor bumps or irritation on my neck.

I chalk it up to very sensitive skin.

When I switched to a straight, my skin has never felt better and I have no bumps or irritation after a few shaves (old bumps needed time to leave).

I'll never go back to a cartridge, I do like the DE's though, so I'll probably use my Futur once in a while. I actually gave that to my woman for her legs an she loves it (at least it isn't going to waste lol).

I would also try some different post shave products, would you want to get intimate with your grandma? Also you mention your post product, but not what you lather up with.

Have you tried something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Razor-...844559&sr=8-16

Ryan,

I have a feeling you're still trying to use the double edge as if it were the multi-blade cartridge. Some of the important things to remember about DE shaving are: zero pressure and limiting the number of strokes over the same spot. These can easily contribute to razor burn.

Also, I suggest avoiding passes against the grain, especially on the neck. The bumps are probably the result of that. Stay with the grain on your neck. Your shave might not be perfect, but at least you will have less irritation.

You might need to try another razor. Try an Edwin Jagger 89 barley. It's a silky shaver, and that might help you.

Finally, I don't know your preparation for your shave. See if you can work on that. Get yourself a bottle of Castle Forbes pre-shave. It might help you.

Oh, as for leather aftershaves, try Spanish Leather by either Geo F Trumper or Truefitt & Hill.

Thanks very much guys, I appreciate it. I just love the simplicity of the DE, and want it to work. Obie, I'll look into that, and might still razor shop.....although with the way I've been smelling, my wife might really get upset. I might try a preshave as well. My neck hair is really all over the place, so its tough to do a with the grain pass.

Thanks again fellas.

++1 on my good friend Obie's advice. Light pressure--and shave WTG, not ATG, doing no more than 2 passes over the same spot.

If you are using a Futur razor and have it advanced to a high level, dial it down to a medium or mild setting. In my experience, Merkur razors tend to be more aggressive than other de razors.

The closeness of your shave may suffer a bit, but not by much.

Thanks guys, I picked up some Proraso preshave at lunch, and some nivea after shave for sensitive skin. Who knew I was so sensitive?

Ryan

I have some of the same experience thought I have not shaved as long as you have. Once I switched to BlueBeards Revenge shave cream, and aftershave balm my neck really calmed down. I also started using much less pressure and smaller strokes. For me anytime that I tried to get really close neck shave even with the cartridges i would get some irritation. The shave cream made a huge difference for me, and it does not have a strong smell so you can still use your aftershave. Also I quit using the alum block. It was too ittitating for me. Good Luck

You might try some other blades however my money is on technique. I guess either pressure or angle is the culprit, maybe both.