Thread: Neck Redness?

Hello all, I've been using the straight razor for a couple months now. Whenever I shave after i'm done I get little red dots on my neck where each hair grows out, but none on my chin or cheeks. I actually can't even remember if it happened when I used a Mach 3, I never paid much attetion back then. The redness fades slowly as the day goes on. I usually do 2 passes like on Lynn's DVD but even if I only do one the redness is still there. I have pretty sensitive skin but I was wondering if this happened to anyone else and if you could recommend a different technique or even a certain aftershave that helps, I've used Taylor of Old Bond St and Proraso aftershave balms. The Taylor made it worse the Proraso doesn't make it worse or better. Any tips?

Michael

Are you perhaps shaving against the grain on your neck? If so, make sure your first pass is with the grain, and try using a much shallower angle on the razor. When this happens to me it's because the blade is sliding underneath the hairs and clipping the skin right around the root.

I would experiment with changing the angle-maybe a scything motion as you shave your neck and pay special attention to how you stretch the skin and the amount of pressure you are using on the razor. Maybe you're using too aggressive an angle on the razor. For some people against the grain on the neck initially is the way to go and for some its not. I initially went with the grain first and later reversed it and find I get better shaves going against first.

You just need to experiment to find what works best for you.

Not enough experience from me to talk about the shaving aspect - but if you wanted to try an aftershave that may help, Brave Soldier Code Blue has helped me get the redness down. I don't even use it every time after I shave because I feel like I don't need it all the time. Its effect seems to work over a few days. It is a little expensive (over some of the cheaper ones you could get at the local drug store) but it is nice to at least have in the medicine cabinet...

or the "shaving closet" as some have said before (formerly known as the linen closet) - I loved reading that post, that was really funny!

And before you can really start the whole with the grain against the grain comparison you need to really tell which way the hair grows on your neck. Not every one is the same a very few have neck hair that grows from top to bottom, so find what direction your hair grows you made need it to let it grow out for a couple of days.

Sensitive skin here too

Yep - try to go w/ the grain first, stretch well, smaller angle, light light on pressure.

Having said this, I go Whatever The !@#$ Grain on certain parts of my face: I seem to have growth close to swirls in some places so it's impossible to use WTG / ATG As long as the lather is good, you stretch well, avoid pressure, have the appropriate angle - you *may* be ok even with ATG on 1st pass.

Not to miss that after so much abuse your face will most probably adjust. I read about someone here who shaved with a bic and water in the jungles of Latin America and his face adjusted gradually... and his skin was better

Coral Skin Food (Trumper's) works great for me. My wife also said the scent is "Terrific" - which surprised even me - because I thought she'd say it's "too old Europe and girly for you" Now I have the problem that the scent disappears

Cheers
Ivo