Thread: Are these welts? Technique or equipment?

Originally Posted by animeist

Hey everyone,

So a bit embarrassing to post this here but I am really out of ideas. I was shaving with a shavette for about a month without any issues.
However, I received my first straight about a week ago and since then I have been getting these odd pimple sized welts/lumps and I am unsure if it is my technique or if it is my razor (4/8 wedge). I have a bigger razor coming next week 6/8.

After I shave, I use witch hazel then I use my after shave. I also do two passes.

Attached is a picture of what I am on about..... (see #1 post)

They look like slightly infected irritations perhaps ingrown whiskers.

First understand pseudofolliculitis barbae : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudofolliculitis_barbae

Next remind yourself that any insult to your skin will be amplified.
A soap or post shave splash of stuff will encounter raw skin and react a little or a lot.

Minor infection... it is valuable to keep a seven day set of clean shaving towels.
Use a clean towel for each shave. Sanitation, sanitation, sanitation.
Hang them to dry after use never let them mildew in a wad in a hamper.

Witch Hazel helps some, wait 30 min to an hour and splash some Witch Hazel on your face.
Cologne for sure give the skin time to air dry before adding anything.

Alum Block - An Alum Block is a crystal-like block of alum that is moistened with cold water and
gently rubbed over the shaved area to act as an antiseptic and to combat razor burn.
It can also help to stop bleeding from small nicks and cuts.
They tell you a lot about your shave.
If it burns your shave was 'harsh' ... thus I like alum block as a test for the shave quality. It is easy to
feel for stubble but difficult to know if the skin was insulted more than I like.

Touchstone razor... Way back when I found the yellow handled BIC Single Blade Shaver, Sensitive skin
razors capable of giving a go to work shave. Their single blade does not trigger pseudofolliculitis barbae
on my neck the way a multiple blade razor does.
I cannot roll the edge or hone them badly.
They make ok enough travel razors and they have been OK in carry on and if not toss them in the
bucket no big loss.

Fragrance free shave soaps... if the fragrance free base soap of a soap maker irritates you the
many varieties will only be worse. Try the fragrance free soap if they have it.
An exception is the old brands of English, French, Italian and German shave soaps where fragrance free
is not an option. The old brands get their soap chemistry correct and most are modestly loaded with stuff
and as a result get good marks.
Proraso Shaving Cream, Sensitive Skin is a tried and true (by me) shave cream.

Wash all soap off and pat dry with a clean towel.

Nicks, cuts and rashes.
Dab a bit of double or triple antibiotic on the spots.
Polysporin: Topical ointment or Neosporin® some people react to the third ingredient.

Skip a day if you can.

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

They look like slightly infected irritations perhaps ingrown whiskers.

First understand pseudofolliculitis barbae : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudofolliculitis_barbae

Next remind yourself that any insult to your skin will be amplified.
A soap or post shave splash of stuff will encounter raw skin and react a little or a lot.

Minor infection... it is valuable to keep a seven day set of clean shaving towels.
Use a clean towel for each shave. Sanitation, sanitation, sanitation.
Hang them to dry after use never let them mildew in a wad in a hamper.

Witch Hazel helps some, wait 30 min to an hour and splash some Witch Hazel on your face.
Cologne for sure give the skin time to air dry before adding anything.

Alum Block - An Alum Block is a crystal-like block of alum that is moistened with cold water and
gently rubbed over the shaved area to act as an antiseptic and to combat razor burn.
It can also help to stop bleeding from small nicks and cuts.
They tell you a lot about your shave.
If it burns your shave was 'harsh' ... thus I like alum block as a test for the shave quality. It is easy to
feel for stubble but difficult to know if the skin was insulted more than I like.

Touchstone razor... Way back when I found the yellow handled BIC Single Blade Shaver, Sensitive skin
razors capable of giving a go to work shave. Their single blade does not trigger pseudofolliculitis barbae
on my neck the way a multiple blade razor does.
I cannot roll the edge or hone them badly.
They make ok enough travel razors and they have been OK in carry on and if not toss them in the
bucket no big loss.

Fragrance free shave soaps... if the fragrance free base soap of a soap maker irritates you the
many varieties will only be worse. Try the fragrance free soap if they have it.
An exception is the old brands of English, French, Italian and German shave soaps where fragrance free
is not an option. The old brands get their soap chemistry correct and most are modestly loaded with stuff
and as a result get good marks.
Proraso Shaving Cream, Sensitive Skin is a tried and true (by me) shave cream.

Wash all soap off and pat dry with a clean towel.

Nicks, cuts and rashes.
Dab a bit of double or triple antibiotic on the spots.
Polysporin: Topical ointment or Neosporin[emoji768] some people react to the third ingredient.

Skip a day if you can.

Wow nifty, you are an incredible wealth of knowledge. I am out this afternoon and tonight so I will read through everything extensively tomorrow.

I do always try and skip a day whenever I have an irritation, in this case it was 4.

I have gone back to my shavette and this glides across my face like butter compared to the straight. So I will investigate more on what you said, looks like there are some good tips for every shave regardless of irritations. So thanks for taking the time for passing on this information


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by animeist

Wow nifty,
....
So thanks for taking the time for passing on this information

You are welcome... others here pointed most of this out to me.

I just order some great shave soap and a classic looking lathering brush for my nieces new born boys.
I waited six months... but you know that time flies so better sooner than later.