Thread: Really in need of some coaching...

But not all conditioners work - check out Kyle's explanation at B&B. Some actually strengthen the hair, making it harder to cut

Cheers
Ivo

My God, we do analyze this stuff don't we?

To death.

The showering before the shave and conditioner suggestions are good ones; I've done both at various times but found that neither works better than what I do now, which is just splashing my face with water every minute or so while I brush my teeth, strop, and make my lather. That gives the water five minutes or so to soak in. Then I lather on my face for a couple of minutes.

I might give up on the DE thing and go back to the straight, though, because I'm a little out of practice with it. The whole point is to let my skin rest, but the DE feels a little harsher than the straight. I might just do a one-pass shave for a couple of days until I can't feel any residual soreness.

Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

... the DE feels a little harsher than the straight...

Exactly! I am always surprised when people say "I'll switch to DE for several days to give my face a break." If you can do it - more power to you, but I think this is only possible if you are very proficient with a DE and just starting with the straights. You aren't just starting, so I was very interested to see your results when I read you are going to the DE

In my experience, properly honed, stropped and used straights are much easier on the skin. This is why I switched to them... (well, not the only reason but a big reason - how can I leave out the fascinating mix of beauty and inherent danger associated with them - beats a DE hands down any day)

Cheers
Ivo

Ivo,

Thanks for letting me come to that conclusion on my own.

The DE thing might be working; I'm still not sure. The funny thing is that it's harsher on my skin but in different places than the straight. My neck and chin get irritated by the straight, but with my DE it's my cheeks that usually complain.

Today my face was burning in the shower, but now I'm not feeling the lingering irritation that I've been getting from my straights.

I am leaning toward going back to the straight tomorrow, though. It's very addictive...

Or maybe I'll just get out the old Mach 3 to give my face a break.

Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

Ivo,

Thanks for letting me come to that conclusion on my own.

The DE thing might be working; I'm still not sure. The funny thing is that it's harsher on my skin but in different places than the straight. My neck and chin get irritated by the straight, but with my DE it's my cheeks that usually complain.

Today my face was burning in the shower, but now I'm not feeling the lingering irritation that I've been getting from my straights.

I am leaning toward going back to the straight tomorrow, though. It's very addictive...

Or maybe I'll just get out the old Mach 3 to give my face a break.

Josh

Come on now, Josh - you wouldn't have listened to me to begin with (yes, admit it) AND it IS better to experiment for YOUR skin and skills anyway For all I knew you might have been a DE Jedi

Also, I don't think I'm such an expert so sometimes I tend to keep quiet. But I would certainly warn you about the Mach 3 (even though some people get great results with it too) - it's just not cool

Irritation in different places (DE vs Straight): easy peasy to explain - different angles (facilitated by different form factor, shorter blade, etc.) and on the easy plains you might inadvertently be a bit careless, use more pressure or more passes to get BBS but without sufficient lubrication, etc.

Yes, addiction is inevitable

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by izlat

Exactly! I am always surprised when people say "I'll switch to DE for several days to give my face a break." If you can do it - more power to you, but I think this is only possible if you are very proficient with a DE and just starting with the straights. You aren't just starting, so I was very interested to see your results when I read you are going to the DE

Yeah, I thought the same thing. I took my DE with me over Christmas and couldn't wait to get back to my straights, and I am (or more likely *was*) very proficient with the DE. But the straight is just easier on my skin. If I wanna let my face take a break I just lower my standards for a few days.

Originally Posted by izlat

I would certainly warn you about the Mach 3 (even though some people get great results with it too) - it's just not cool

The Mach 3 is totally not cool. I hate it so much I haven't even looked at it since last August.

I think you're right about the different types of irritation thing, especially when it comes to my cheeks. I tend to go a bit more quickly there. The only thing I don't get is why I seem to be able to do a lot of strokes on my chin with my DE but the straight causes irritation. With the DE I probably do the equivalent of three or four WTG passes there, plus an ATG pass. If I can figure out the difference I think it'll solve all my problems.

I'm feeling a strong urge to hone something, so I'm pretty sure my resolve will break tomorrow and I'll be grabbing a straight.

Josh

Lots of post to this question I hope it helps. This may to. I found Poraso Pre/Post helps the face heal. If your razor is sharp, it sounds like you should pay attention to your beard growth. It may take a few shaves but find out which direction the razor cuts the beard best. Then find out which angle of the razor cuts the beard with the greatest amount of comfort. Don't go for the gold all at one time. Go with a less than perfect shave so you don't kill your face until your technique is down.

I have a tough beard and sensitive skin, so my prep is important to a good shave.

Conditioner in the shower, you also may want to try a preshave. Two that I know work is Trufit & Hill Preshave Oil and Taylors of Old Bond, Preshave Gel. The Taylors is exceptional.

Let the products do they're job and soften your beard. I would start with a flat razor, and come up in angle a little at a time until you hit the sweet spot.

Go back to the basics, and go slow,

Also the trumpers skin food works good as a pre shave conditioner.

Lately, I've been trying to rotate to one DE shave a week, just for fun. I do find that using my Gillette fatboy does cause more irritation than a straight. Nothing tremendous but I can feel the difference afterwards and I used a DE way before I started using a straight.