Razor burn questions

Wow, we really have to fill this topic back up with posts after the big server crash of 2008 (I'll be telling my grandkids about it you see ;)).

Typically, what can account for razor burn with a straight?

Too much pressure with a dull razor? Angle too steep?

I'm asking about an area that normally is not prone to razor burn/bumps, specifically, my chin area. No change in soaps, no change in technique other than I think I got my razor sharper that I've had it to date by stropping after the cheeks/neck and before tackling my toughest nemesis (my chin) and as such, was able to shave my chin to a whisker shy of BBS for the first time. I'm fairly new to straight shaving. Anyway these bumps are really hanging around; it's been days now.

Any advice will help, thanks.

Also any remedies for the area now that it's already making a home on my face?

Yup, this is as big a crash as I remember...

Anyway: yes, I keep hearing inappropriate angle may lead to more scraping, and so - razor burn. A duller edge may prompt you to press more with the same results.

One thing I think may help is establishing a clear definition of razor burn, and also taking good quality photos to illustrate.

I am saying this, because I am not sure what is and isn't razor burn. I have never had any redness linger for several days as some complain. Never had burn suddenly appear several hours after I finish my shave, as others say. On the other hand, I have used bad angles and more pressure and gotten some redness (it disappeared in say 30 min) and I have also had my face *burn* from soaps and creams before I even start shaving. Of course, these are different. So what exactly is razor burn? :shrug:

Cheers
Ivo

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Originally Posted by izlat

One thing I think may help is establishing a clear definition of razor burn, and also taking good quality photos to illustrate.

I am saying this, because I am not sure what is and isn't razor burn. I have never had any redness linger for several days as some complain. Never had burn suddenly appear several hours after I finish my shave, as others say. On the other hand, I have used bad angles and more pressure and gotten some redness (it disappeared in say 30 min) and I have also had my face *burn* from soaps and creams before I even start shaving. Of course, these are different. So what exactly is razor burn? :shrug:

Cheers
Ivo

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Not a bad idea of others can stomach it, lol. I'll try to take some pics of my ugly mug or more specifically, closeups of the chin areas I'm having problems with and post them. Maybe I should not have described it as razor burn, more like a rash in the sense the areas are raised, but not red. They could be slow growing ingrowns that may end up trying to peek there way to the surface, I don't know yet and I guess only time will tell.

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Originally Posted by Chrisl

Not a bad idea of others can stomach it, lol. I'll try to take some pics of my ugly mug or more specifically, closeups of the chin areas I'm having problems with and post them. Maybe I should not have described it as razor burn, more like a rash in the sense the areas are raised, but not red. They could be slow growing ingrowns that may end up trying to peek there way to the surface, I don't know yet and I guess only time will tell.

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I know what you mean - I've seen Joel's pics after using a Feather for the first time - that was not for the faint of heart!

There are also the red dots, which are not burn - supposedly caused by a dull razor pulling the hairs off vs. cleanly cutting them, etc. I guess there may be a quite a number of *issues*

Cheers
Ivo

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Originally Posted by Chrisl

I'm asking about an area that normally is not prone to razor burn/bumps, specifically, my chin area.

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You ever think of growing a goatee? Just kidding...I think once the pic arrives others (more experienced than myself) will be able to guide you the right way. I still get razor burn from time to time on one patch on my neck. If I hit it too hard or try and give it an extra pass--razor burn.

-Pary

Update here:....

Rather than take close up skin shots, I'm fairly sure the flesh colored raised areas on my chin were deeper ingrown hairs. after probably three-four days, they are starting to be noticeable on an individual basis. I can take my needle tweezers and bring then to the surface. Problem looks like it has been solved, but bummer. Bummer because that was the first time to date that I actually got my entire chin area BBS smooth. I can deal with non-BBS (still very smooth) neck areas, but gawrsh, can't a guy expect a smooth chin without razor burn and not being able to shave with a straight for 3-4 days?

As a slightly related issue, for years I've been in a bad habit of pulling out those occasional mutant uber whiskers, you know the ones that are freakishly thick and are what look like a bunch of whiskers fused together). Bad idea. I'm thinking that on my jawline, I must have pulled one a few weeks back, maybe even a month. I got something so deep that it's created some sort of nodule. Yikes, maybe one of those ingrowns that will need to be cut out by a dermatologist? When I've tried to squeeze the sucker, I just anger it big time; then it's quite hard and feels about the size of a pea. I'm not happy.:td

Chris, one thing that comes to mind is that maybe you're trying too hard, and thus, you're using too much pressure, bad angle, etc. And I can see where it makes you angry so then you try even HARDER to get that sucker shaved...which probably makes it worse.

Leave your chin alone for 2 days (if you can get away with that, maybe do it on the weekend), and then take it easy--lighter strokes, always conscious of the right angle.)

For now, keep your chin moistened with Thayers Medicated or similar so that it will heal.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice, YSD. Actually, I haven't used my straight for about 4 days now. What turned out to be a nasty case of razor burn which produced a lot of ingrown hairs on my chin (I'd never had that problem on my chin before so I wasn't sure what was going on). I'm back to an electric which gives a terrible shave. I do have a vintage razor coming from Lynn Abrams any day now which I will strop up and get back to shaving with.

A Feather is very much like a DE. You need virtually no pressure for a decent shave. Remember the Stop guidance previously given. There is no need to tear up your face. Stop at the first sign of pulling or anything uncomfortable.

Lynn

What turned the corner for me on bumps and ingrowns was using an alum block. That made all the difference in the world for me. Also if you are having to use pressure to get results your blade isn't sharp enough. Like Lynn says, "it should glide".

Yay for sensitive skin, right? I found that pressure and angle are directly related to how bad my face burns with alcohol. As long as I keep it light and at a decent angle, I can have BBS and splash rubbing alcohol with zero burn. Something you might try is reducing the amount of strokes you're taking. Overshave is a real thing that can cause bad skin reactions. Another thing is just practicing your technique and really paying attention to what works vs what doesn't. It used to take me the three strokes like you're doing to achieve BBS, now I can get right on the edge of BBS with 2 passes WTG.

The reason I say that is for a while, I kept trying ATG on my chin/neck and would get similar results as yours. Smooth as anything, but it would burn like hell and give me more pustules than I could count. Now, as long as I stay extremely steady and watch the pressure, I get extremely smooth with no burn.

I have a junior version of this, this morning, no rash but I can feel the burn. Tried to do a XTG pass. Too aggressive and the blade is still too dull for a nice XTG pass.

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Originally Posted by RobertFontaine

and the blade is still too dull for a nice XTG pass.

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I know somebody that can fix that for you. :D

I'm sure but I'm still stubborn.

My edge today is much better than my edge yesterday.
Some day real soon now I will say shave ready as opposed to shave possible.

- Bob

... and if I have to explain to my wife that I could have just gotten sharp razors and a strop then I will have to explain

the 3 wapis, 5 ebay specials, 2 double sided leather paddles, swaty, 4k/8k norton, chinese 12k, 3m paper, green paste, hone holder, dremel, 100+ hours of pissing about...

Yup, I could have purchased a couple of nice custom razors and had sharpened.

Darn good thing I'm having fun. Hopefully I will get bored shortly after I have 3 sharp razors in my bathroom. :w

- Bob

My rule of thumb, if it feels like I am shaving, my blade needs sharpened. My beard lays vary flat, to get a good close shave I have to go against the grain. I have been trying a couple different techniques, so far what works best for me is one pass with the grain to shorten, then one pass against the grain for that baby smooth cut that lasts all day. No problems yet.