Thread: Week 2 and starting to have problems.

You said your first few shaves were very good. How smooth a result were you able to get on your first shaves?
I'm willing to bet you were stretching your skin too much, causing what was left of the shaft of hair to be further below the skin. This is a common cause of ingrown hairs.

Originally Posted by WhiskyGsus

Pay close attention to your angles. I thought I was shaving correctly at first, because the beard was coming off, but I my was angle was too steep and I was "scraping" instead of "cutting" the hair. Its a huge difference, comfort wise. A little extra attention on keeping a correct angle through out your shaves could solve your issue.
Just a process of elimination, hang in there.

Yes, angles and stretching are vital.

However, if your first shaves went well, I'm more inclined to go with the improper stropping technique....it is very easy at the beginning to roll the edge on your blade from incorrect stropping, and once the edge is rolled, you'll end up with the type of shaves your describing....as mentioned, take Galaxy up on the offer....proper stropping is a fundamental to straight shaving, without it, nothing works.

And don't worry, many have done exactly that...I went and visited a mentor, and he had a look at the blades I had at the time, over half had rolled edges...I had to go back and start from the beginning....slowly...speed kills!

My first 4 shaves were actually very good. used kell's soap and took my time. Nicked myself once. I believe the last one was on par with the first 4. didn't notice any more tugging or dragging than before. in fact I remember thinking that the baker st was a little slicker than the kell's. The shave felt the same and it wasn't till later that I noticed the rash coming on.

So last night I decided to get to the bottom of this stropping issue. I brought home a machinists loupe from work and took a real close look at that razor of mine. Up close it looks real good. Not bent or rolled over at all. I pulled a couple hairs and laid them over the blade and it cut them effortlessly. I'm leaning toward bad angles and a possible allergic reaction. makes me feel better about my stropping technique though.

Yep it's good that your doing well on stropping,, so really concentrate on the technique angles , and stretching now, like I mentioned before , lots of guys have allergic reactions to some ingredients ,, Good luck. Tc

I'd start a series of elimination of products used to pin down any allergic reactions you're having. Sometimes they are hard to pin down.

Originally Posted by Straightandproud

So last night I decided to get to the bottom of this stropping issue. I brought home a machinists loupe from work and took a real close look at that razor of mine. Up close it looks real good. Not bent or rolled over at all. I pulled a couple hairs and laid them over the blade and it cut them effortlessly. I'm leaning toward bad angles and a possible allergic reaction. makes me feel better about my stropping technique though.

The first thing I found odd about this thread was why we all went to a dull blade. A - you would have said as much were it pulling, but you didn't. And B - a dull blade can cause a bit of redness as it pulls rather than cuts, but I don't recall getting a rash because of it.

Weird?

Anyway yeah, angle and pressure is typically the reason we get burn. I got burn horribly when I started with a DE - and even more when I started using a straight. It absolutely caused me to get little whitehead type things, but they vanished rather quickly. If you are shaving every other day then...

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

I'd start a series of elimination of products used to pin down any allergic reactions you're having. Sometimes they are hard to pin down.

I am with Razorfeld. You'll need to focus on the product you are using.

All said and done, you'll either work out your technique before figuring out it had nothing to do with the product - or you'll discover that some products just don't work for you. And note this - product can irritate after having used it for some time.

I have used a product that was awesome only to discover that upon prolonged use (after shaving with it for more than 3 days in a row), it begins to irritate.

Good luck!!

It's well worth the trouble to learn this correctly. Thanks to all that chimed in on this. I will get this figured out and stick with it.

Well here is the update. This last week has been a breakthrough for me. I have figured out that I am not having an allergic reaction, just bad technique. I have concentrated on taking my time and controlling my blade angle to a hell of an improvement. I might have given up like many before me were it not for the help I have received in this post. You guys are "GREAT". Now I need to learn about the world of post shave treatment as I am feeling a little chapped using only shaving soap and no after shave. the learning curve continues.

Originally Posted by Straightandproud

Well here is the update. This last week has been a breakthrough for me. I have figured out that I am not having an allergic reaction, just bad technique. I have concentrated on taking my time and controlling my blade angle to a hell of an improvement. I might have given up like many before me were it not for the help I have received in this post. You guys are "GREAT". Now I need to learn about the world of post shave treatment as I am feeling a little chapped using only shaving soap and no after shave. the learning curve continues.

That's great news!

As for after shave(s)... brother, there is a big world out there for you .

Personally, I use my alum block after each shave. Wipe that off with a very moist facecloth and then apply the aftershave of the day.

In my world, balms are awesome and very soothing for me. I use them the majority of the time. In the summer I find they have a tendency to bog down and feel a little heavy - in which case a splash rules the day.

But all said and done, I have never become too particular to any one type of aftershave too quickly. They all have their things. The good ones will really make your face feel great... and if my wife is to be believed, add some sheen. LOL