Thread: Ingrown Hairs Issue with new to me Razor

Hi all!
I have an issue that I am hoping I can get some answers to. I switched to straights mainly because of the multiple ingrown hairs that I would get with a cartridge. After switching to straights the ingrown hairs have been extremely minimal. Maybe one or two a month.

Last week I got a "new to me" henkels 72 1/2 from ebay. It came bevel set, but not quite shave ready. After a good honing I tried it out and it felt quite nice. I noticed more razor burn then I get from my Robt. Claus. But didn't think much of it. After the first shave with the Henkel I had a couple of ingrown hairs on my neck, again I didn't think much of it as a one time instance. Left it for a few days for the ingrown hairs to get better before attacking again. 2nd and 3rd shave with it got even worse. I now have a patch (about a quarter of my neck) just littered with Ingrowns. I thought it might just be this razor. Use my claus this morning and no new ingrowns.

Could there be something up with my Henkel that could be causing it? I dont think it is technique, since I dont have an issue with my other razors. Any recommendations to fix this if it is the razor? Do I need to hone it a bit more? Take off some more steel?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

I associate razor bumps with too much pressure - so that could be the problem if the razor is not quite shave ready still - and you're using more pressure than usual. You don't say how long you have been honing - so could it be that the Henkels is not quite where it should be?

Don't know what I can recommend except that you need to be sure that razor shave ready.

Also try to make next experiment: shave one half with one razor and other half of face with Henkels. Than if you will have ingrown hair on Henkels side you will definitely sure that problem in razor.

You did mention you got more razor burn with the Henkels so it could be that the edge is just not quite shave ready and you are using too much pressure. That is about all I can think of.

Bob

Henckels are top shelf, so if you don;t get an incredible shave I would blame the edge too. Your options are start again or send it out. Is there a major change in grind?

Are those two razors different blade width? If they are, your shaving angle might be a little off with the Henkels.

My razors are different widths so I have to compensate shave angle for each razor............just part of the fun with this hobby.

Originally Posted by Benz

Are those two razors different blade width? If they are, your shaving angle might be a little off with the Henkels.

My razors are different widths so I have to compensate shave angle for each razor............just part of the fun with this hobby.

They are different widths. I didn't think of that. The henckel is 6/8 (I think) and my claus is closer to 4/8.

As for the grind, I am pretty sure they are the same. They are different width and toe style. But I believe they are the same grind.

I will try honing it again, however I dont think that is the issue. It feels better than other razors, but a bit more burn in the lower neck and of course these darn ingrowns. Ill re-hone and try in a few days when my neck clears up a bit. I am also using just a 4/8k stone. I was debating picking up a 12k as an extra step to get a bit nicer of an edge. What are thoughts on that? Is it necessary?

I usually set the bevel on the 4 with about 25-40 circles, then 50 x strokes, then around 100-150 x strokes on the 8k followed by stropping. Is the 12k going to benefit me alot? Could that help these ingrowns?

I can't help you with the different grit stones. All I have and use for stones are a Hard Arkansas for bevel setting and a coticule for finishing. My barber's hone rarely gets used. I've got by for over 40 years with just those hones.

I think it is probably a honing issue. You say the bevel was set when you received it. Are you sure it wasn't set with tape? You also say that you set a bevel by doing 25-40 circles and 50x strokes. Setting a bevel is not about numbers. You may have to do that process 10 times before the bevel is set. I'm not opposed to counting strokes, but after you reach your stroke count it's time to check your progress, not time to move on.

In my experience ingrown hairs are caused by irritation. The hair is shaved at the skin, the skin swells from inflammation and the hair becomes trapped. I also get ingrowns when I use soaps that my skin has a reaction with. The difference is inflammation is caused by the soap but the hair is trapped in the same way.

Originally Posted by BeJay

I'm not opposed to counting strokes, but after you reach your stroke count it's time to check your progress, not time to move on.

That one sentence says a great deal.