Razor burn on neck

Hey Gents,
I just switched from a Derby, to a Feather blade to try out a new pack I just bought and see if I like them better. The shave felt great! It seemed much smoother then the Derby and less tugging then I seemed to get with the Derby blades.
However, shortly after I was done, my neck was burning like crazy. Even after using a alum block after the shave.
Is this sometimes normal when switching to a new blade or do I just need to work on my technique more?
Any advise is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
John

John,
Feather blades are notoriously sharp. It may be that you applied too much pressure on the neck or that your skin on your neck does not like them. You may have to experiment with them for a few more shaves to be certain. Good luck.

Yes the pressure is a big thig with feathers they are wicked next thing is trying a feather in a r41 now that's insane and literally no pressure required

I always find that the first shave with a fresh Feather is a bit uh, harsh. But the burn you describe isn't called for from any new blade no matter how sharp it is. And no - I don't find going from one blade type to the next will cause burn - as others stated I to I think you might just have placed just a bit too much pressure on it.

Man I hate burn!

I bet you'll love tomorrows shave with it though :).

I'm a big fan of feather. I love them in all my DEs. You just need to realize how sharp they are and really watch the pressure and you'll be OK. The derby is a mild blade so you can get away with a tad more pressure.

+1. First time I shaved with a feather I got the "burn". It was all b/c I had used Merkurs up to that point. I like my feathers, but you gotta get used to them first. There is less "fudge" room than with derby, shark, astra, or the others.

I found blades like Merkur and Derby so dull, I developed the habit of using more pressure when shaving with them. I love Feather, it is my goto blade in any razor. It cuts so easily that I find it easier to maintain the proper pressure. It is very difficult to resist forcing a razor when the blade is not cutting, or tugging and pulling. You just don't get that with a Feather (at least I don't, YMMV).

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Originally Posted by JohnMajor

However, shortly after I was done, my neck was burning like crazy. Even after using a alum block after the shave.

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John,

After shaving and the burning sensation, are there any visible skin reactions? If so does it look like a red rash or a bunch of red bumps?

Hi Ryan,
No red bumps or rash, but I did get a few dots of blood. Maybe a half dozen.

Thanks everyone for the great feedback!! I really appreciate all the advice!!

John:
With any blade, keep the pressure light. This is essential. Also, refrain from using multiple strokes on the same spots. I suggest one stroke over each spot, or a maximum of two. Don't forget, the whole idea is to reduce your beard gradually with different passes. By limiting your strokes over the same spot you will reduce the chance of skin irritation. Feather blades are extremely sharp and you don't need multiple strokes on the same spot with them, especially since you have, say, three passes to clear that spot. Finally, make sure you have plenty of lather.

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Originally Posted by JohnMajor

Hi Ryan,
No red bumps or rash, but I did get a few dots of blood. Maybe a half dozen.

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If there are no visible marks it's likely minor irritation. Easing up on the pressure should do the trick.

BTW - those tiny drops of blood are known in the wetshaving community as "weepers". They can be caused by excessive pressure, dull blades and shaving over tiny skin bumps (like zits, razor bumps etc).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JohnMajor

Hey Gents,
I just switched from a Derby, to a Feather blade to try out a new pack I just bought and see if I like them better. The shave felt great! It seemed much smoother then the Derby and less tugging then I seemed to get with the Derby blades.
However, shortly after I was done, my neck was burning like crazy. Even after using a alum block after the shave.
Is this sometimes normal when switching to a new blade or do I just need to work on my technique more?
Any advise is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
John

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Hi John,

Feathers are very very sharp and are very unforgiving. Even a little too much pressure with the feathers and they will get you.

The neck tends to be a tricky area because the hair doesn't always follow a logical growth patten. Try a few different blades you'll find the right one(s) for you, it took me a long time to find my right set of blades and I've been DE shaving over 10 years. If you are in the UK I can send you a few blades to try.

Hi Gents,
I really appreciate all the info and advice. I hope in time I'll be able to help others as well.

So far, I'm trying to use less pressure and it seems to be helping.

Thanks again!

For some people, like me... feathers are something that I don't know if I'll ever get used to. You may have sensitive skin like myself and need a pre-shave oil to help the neck area. It helps me alot. I use straight grapeseed oil from the grocery store and let that sit on my face / neck for a minute or so while I am building my lather. It really does make a difference for me. I notice when I don't do it. If you don't like grapeseed oil, then another cheap option is noxema although the smell turns alot of people off. It does ok in a pinch as I believe it has eucalyptus oil. Just remember.. everyone's skin is different and people with sensitive skin will not be able to do the same things for shaving as someone else. Learn what your skin can do and enjoy.

Just thought I'd give a quick update.
So far, things are going much better once I started using less pressure. Coming from shaving cream in a can and cheap triple blade razors for many years, the difference is night and day! I feel like I'm hardly pressing at all.

Thanks again everyone for the great advice and encouragement. Before I found this forum (and a few helpful videos on YouTube) I was hacking my face apart trying to shave like I was still using one of the cheap disposables! I was totally clueless and becoming a mess! I guess I'm still mostly clueless overall, but at least I'm going in the right direction and the shaves are going well. :)

-John

I recently used my Merkur slant bar as a "quick scrape" as I call it instead of using my straight.I hadn't used it in a while so I put in a new feather.I expected to get the usual burn and weepers with a new feather but no.Not a bit of burn or a weeper.
What I did differently was simply use lots of little light strokes instead of my usual long strokes.I've since had a few shaves that way and it is persistently comfy and weeper free.Flippin' marvelous! :)
I've seen it done that way but when I first started shaving I assumed it was an over carefull way not realising there was a good reason for little strokes.I'm glad I stumbled on this at long last.Just shows how we never stop learning.

I'm a firm believer that with DE you'll find a perfect blade. Just don't be surprised if its not a Feather. If you were using Derby prior to switching, I suggest moving up the sharpness scale a little slower. Try Shark. Then try Wilhinson Sword. Maybe give Treet a try. Next, maybe Kai. Save Feather fo last. There is a natural desire to feed manly ego with Feather blades. But at the feast of ego, everyone leaves hungry.....and razor burned. Maybe Feather will be your go to blade. But leave open the possibility that something else might be. And as others have stated, zero pressure. Also, be sure to have the proper angle as well. The blade should be attacking the stubble as close to a 90degree angle as possible. If its too steep, it'll scape along giving you that famous burn. Combine that with a Feathwr blade and a good splash of bay rum and it'll light you up like never before. Try to avoid all of that. Good luck.

Thanks for the info OCD.
Your post is actually quite timely. I just returned from a business trip to Los Angeles and forgot to pack blades in my checked luggage. When I arrived, I was only able to find Wilkinson Swords (black label) at a late night pharmacy. They were on my list of blades to try but I hadn't got to them yet. Mainly because I was dismissing them as a cheaper blade and thus, lower quality. Perhaps they are.
After a good three pass BBS shave, I had absolutely no burn whatsoever! I was amazed!!
Three shaves since and all is still great.
I can now see how people get stuck on a certain blade. The difference was remarkable.
I'm still going to look at other blades to see if I can get even better, but a least I feel like I'm finally getting somewhere.

Thanks again everyone for all the suggestions! I've really appreciated it!!

-John

Well if you are trying new blades one of my favorites is Persona Red.

Happy hunting! Try picking up a sample pack and take notes! You'll forget quickly lol.

Exactly what I'm doing. :)

Thanks!

-John

I usually use a Feather in my EJ DE89.

I decided to try a Derby today. The Derby was dull in comparison -- about as dull as a Feather when it's been through lots of shaves and I throw it out.

But no cuts, no weepers. It might be a good choice as a "transitional blade" for somebody used to a cartridge, and learning to use a DE.

. . Charles

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Originally Posted by JohnMajor

Thanks for the info OCD.
Your post is actually quite timely. I just returned from a business trip to Los Angeles and forgot to pack blades in my checked luggage. When I arrived, I was only able to find Wilkinson Swords (black label) at a late night pharmacy. They were on my list of blades to try but I hadn't got to them yet. Mainly because I was dismissing them as a cheaper blade and thus, lower quality. Perhaps they are.
After a good three pass BBS shave, I had absolutely no burn whatsoever! I was amazed!!
Three shaves since and all is still great.
I can now see how people get stuck on a certain blade. The difference was remarkable.
I'm still going to look at other blades to see if I can get even better, but a least I feel like I'm finally getting somewhere.

Thanks again everyone for all the suggestions! I've really appreciated it!!

-John

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One of the great things about DE shaving is that cheap blades are often as good as expensive ones. Don't dismiss them based on price. In fact, if you're lucky you'll find that the best blade for you is but a few cents per blade. Once you find a great blade that works for you, check eBay for a bulk order of 100 or more. You'll find great deals buying in bulk.

Great tip!

Thanks again!!

I thought I would throw in one more variable, the razor. For me, Feather works in all my DEs, but I have other blades that are not as sharp (some are pretty close to a Feather) and I use them when I try a new razor I am unfamiliar with, or that is very aggressive. The thing I discovered is that blade A in razor A maybe a poor combination, but blade A in razor B works very well. I speculate that Feather blades are so sharp because the Feather AS is so mild a razor. Not very scientific I know, but that's part of the fun of DE shaving. I would keep any blades you have rejected and try them in a different razor, you maybe very surprised at the difference.

Very interesting. Thanks!