bumps

Well, I cannot shave atg or xtg as the hairs on either side of my chin, (down from the corners of my mouth) just get ingrown, and I look like a 13 year old with an acne problem.

Anyone have any tips?

Hmmm, Do a search on the web and you will find some special soaps and creams for this problem. I can not attest to any of them, but they work for some people as I have seen them discussed before. What kind of prep are you doing? A moisturizing face cream may help also. I had a problem when I first started and light pressure and a very low angle helped me. In those problem areas I concentrated on using a scything movement and keeping the blade nearly flat to my face. Make sure you are moving the razor xtg with your hairs growth.

my prep consits of a nice hot shower for about 10 mins., preshave oil, lather, strop (while the lather sits and softens), then relather, shave with the grain, relather, shave again with the grain on the face, against the grain on the neck. If i went across the grain on the face (well the area around my chin) the hair gets ingrown.

Your prep sounds good. is an xtg pass absoulutley necessary? Maybe if you did three wtg passes you would have better results. I use oil sometimes as well, but have found that conditioner and water will work well and they mousiturize the skin as well. Try a different approach at stretching your skin and make sure you do not over stretch.

the xtg is not necessary as I get a great shave going with the grain, but it just that little bit smoother that feels so darn nice. I will have to try the conditioner, but right now I have Tea Tree Oil shampoo and conditioner, and it makes my face go numb, I will have to steal some of my daughter's "Big Bird" conditioner and give it a try.

This is probably not helping you much but I think some people just don't fare well with the ATG passes.

In the past, people were not always getting BBS from barbers - they just looked clean shaven. Barber manuals warn against performing ATG and the danger of ingrown hairs, etc.

I used to get some ingrowns with Gilette and electrics, maybe even with a DE, can't remember. Not so with the straight. I do ATG in some parts (where I used to get ingrowns) but I rarely go for BBS. Can't remember any ingrowns for a long time.

Maybe you can try stretching less? (if you are stretching pretty aggressively)?

Cheers
Ivo

I used to have ingrowns really bad with Machs and even with DEs until I tried the Gem single edge safety razor and Straights . So, I have felt your pain :rant: !

One thing that has to be asked is whether or not your razor is sharp enough and is it stropped thoroughly? Using very light pressure? Is the blade skipping / jumping on the skin? If so, then you may try using Curel lotion under your lather. It has helped me (esp in the past - not using it as much anymore with the straight) may help you.

Good luck - I know those pesky ingrowns are a real pain :eek: Also: I heal better by removing the hairs with tweezers. Others have said to free them from the skin but don't pull. I rip 'em out by the roots and then the skin heals quickly. YMMV