Thread: Owwww!!

So, SWMBO said she wanted me to ditch the 'stache, and, well, I... uh... obeyed?

Anywho, I just got two of my Genco razors back from Glen treating them to a fine old time on the Shapton's and figured since they were fresh, I'd give one a go. Since it's the first time I've shaved the 'stache in several years, and since my beard is kinda wiry, I knew the razor needed to be super scary sharp if I stood any chance of success. Also, learning to shave that part of my face with a straight with a freshly honed blade would eliminate a variable if I got a bad shave.

So, of the two, a Genco "Seneca Cheif" and a Geneva Cutlery Co. smiling blade (Pocahontas and Smilin' Sally, respectively) I went for Smilin' Sally. I pulled out my beard trimmer, trimmed the 'stache down to stubble and went through my normal prep routine (shower, preshave oil, lather, hot towel, lather again). I made sure to skip the strop, and also used my staple brush and soap, my reasoning being introducing as few variations as possible from my normal routine. I also ended the shave with alum, aftershave of choice and Nivea Post Shave Sensitive balm, again, just part of the norm.

Well, the rest of the shave went great (Glen, your reputation is well deserved sir!), but my top lip hurts like $##%%%#@! I figured this might be the case, since I haven't shaved it in SOOOOOOOOO long, and I'm also thinking technique played a part as well, along with beard density/toughness. The normal post shave treatment hasn't made a dent in the burn, and I've also tried an ice rub (which did help for a few minutes) and putting on some Lubriderm lotion SWMBO has from her most recent tattoo. It feels slightly better this morning, but still burning like the dickens.

I'm certainly not blaming Glen's work honing it up... like I said, the rest of the shave was an absolute dream! I'm just trying to wrap my head around what the underlying cause(s) may be. I made certain to watch my pressure and angle really, really close and stretched appropriately, too. The only other variable I can think of is that the blade is really hollow, which I seem to recall there's some debate on the grind vs. tough beard where folks say that a wedge gives a better shave (sounds like as good of an excuse as any for me to buy a wedge, eh? ), but am I remembering correctly, or is that all just hogwash?

As of now, I'm 99% certain that the length of time and my skin getting used to being shaved there plays a huge factor in all of this, and I'm maybe 50% sure that technique did, too. In fact, those two things together are most likely 100% of the cause. Still, I'm throwing all of this (huge and rambling post) out there to see if anyone else has any ideas on what I might not be thinking of that could have added to the mix. I know it's just process of elimination to get a comfortable shave... I'd just like to have the most complete list of possibilities.

On the plus side, my lip is BBS!

I'd say your issues are 80% skin related, 20% technique related. Skin that hasn't seen a razor for quite some time will get very tender - yes, I've been through this before too . The coup de maître can be a little tricky to accomplish at first, but since you've been shaving with a SR for a few months you'll get the hang of it pretty quickly.

The best advice I can give is to not chase BBS on the upper lip (especially by doing repeated or multiple passes) until the skin has become accustomed to being shaved again. Try to go WTG only until it feels comfortable.

Thanks, Ryan! I know I will definitely be doing only WTG passes, if I shave it at all, until the burn goes away. Then, I'll slowly add XTG passes and ATG passes after a few shavesand give my skin a chance to get used to shaving there.

Also, thanks for the confidence boost about my technique. I'm getting good shaves everywhere else (so long as my razor is up to snuff) and I know it is just a matter of learning which stroke/stretch of the skin works best in a new area before I get this too. Well, that and some healing time.

Thanks again, good sir!

It doesn't matter what kind of a blade I use I cannot go ATG on my mustache at all. That is just never going to happen with any comfort. I get one with and one across (sort of) and that is it. If I try more passes or against it's a rash for me. You may or may not find yourself in a similar situation.

Not a problem at all.

It will take some experimentation, but you might find that you won't need to go ATG, the so-called "Fools Pass", on the upper lip at all. Like the majority of my face I find that a couple XTG passes, each in opposite direction, seems to be enough to get it smooth. YMMV though.

Originally Posted by crouton976

So, SWMBO said she wanted me to ditch the 'stache, and, well, I... uh... obeyed?

My your 'stache rest in peace. And may it live again one day.

Thanks fellas!

Yeah, I kinda was curious about trying multiple XTG passes and seeing what the results were. Obviously, not at the moment, but still...

Oh, and I'm not super sad to see the 'stache go... I kinda have the Abraham Lincoln thing going on (let's hope I don't get covered in green paint now), which I've done in the past and it looks pretty good.

Besides, it'll be back for Movember... hehehehe!

Originally Posted by RezDog

It doesn't matter what kind of a blade I use I cannot go ATG on my mustache at all. That is just never going to happen with any comfort. I get one with and one across (sort of) and that is it. If I try more passes or against it's a rash for me. You may or may not find yourself in a similar situation.

Same here. Only variation would be left to right and then right to left across the upper lip.

Originally Posted by crouton976

So, SWMBO said she wanted me to ditch the 'stache, and, well, I... uh... obeyed?

Anywho, I just got two of my Genco razors back from Glen treating them to a fine old time on the Shapton's and figured since they were fresh, I'd give one a go. Since it's the first time I've shaved the 'stache in several years, and since my beard is kinda wiry, I knew the razor needed to be super scary sharp if I stood any chance of success. Also, learning to shave that part of my face with a straight with a freshly honed blade would eliminate a variable if I got a bad shave.

So, of the two, a Genco "Seneca Cheif" and a Geneva Cutlery Co. smiling blade (Pocahontas and Smilin' Sally, respectively) I went for Smilin' Sally. I pulled out my beard trimmer, trimmed the 'stache down to stubble and went through my normal prep routine (shower, preshave oil, lather, hot towel, lather again). I made sure to skip the strop, and also used my staple brush and soap, my reasoning being introducing as few variations as possible from my normal routine. I also ended the shave with alum, aftershave of choice and Nivea Post Shave Sensitive balm, again, just part of the norm.

Well, the rest of the shave went great (Glen, your reputation is well deserved sir!), but my top lip hurts like $##%%%#@! I figured this might be the case, since I haven't shaved it in SOOOOOOOOO long, and I'm also thinking technique played a part as well, along with beard density/toughness. The normal post shave treatment hasn't made a dent in the burn, and I've also tried an ice rub (which did help for a few minutes) and putting on some Lubriderm lotion SWMBO has from her most recent tattoo. It feels slightly better this morning, but still burning like the dickens.

I'm certainly not blaming Glen's work honing it up... like I said, the rest of the shave was an absolute dream! I'm just trying to wrap my head around what the underlying cause(s) may be. I made certain to watch my pressure and angle really, really close and stretched appropriately, too. The only other variable I can think of is that the blade is really hollow, which I seem to recall there's some debate on the grind vs. tough beard where folks say that a wedge gives a better shave (sounds like as good of an excuse as any for me to buy a wedge, eh? ), but am I remembering correctly, or is that all just hogwash?

As of now, I'm 99% certain that the length of time and my skin getting used to being shaved there plays a huge factor in all of this, and I'm maybe 50% sure that technique did, too. In fact, those two things together are most likely 100% of the cause. Still, I'm throwing all of this (huge and rambling post) out there to see if anyone else has any ideas on what I might not be thinking of that could have added to the mix. I know it's just process of elimination to get a comfortable shave... I'd just like to have the most complete list of possibilities.

On the plus side, my lip is BBS!

Thanks for this, just this morning I was telling SWMBO that since I now loved shaving that I might shave my stache, BUT now I'll wait for my technique to get a lot better not laughing at ya just with ya, I don't want my lip to burn like a !@#$%^*&^%$#

Thanks, brother! I will say that at least the pain is gone, but it still looks a little red. I may shave a WTG pass tonight, or maybe wait until tomorrow and see what the results are.

Another bonus- SWMBO felt so bad about the burn that she asked me if there was anything "those guys on that website" recommended to combat severe razor burn. Well, on the reccomendation of another member of this product over PM a week or so back, I was able to go buy a bottle of Jack Black post shave gel, and was allowed the right to go back and buy the cream if I like how the gel performs at a later date. I got in my truck and put some on right there in the parking lot, and so far so good!

Hmmmm... think should tell her that a 7 day set will help me avoid burn on the future? I mean, aren't you supposed to strike while the iron is hot?