Thread: Shaving hairs that grow very close to skin

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

It's a sad fact but when your beard grows parallel to the skin and sort of has a groove that it lies in, if you shave it so close that you can't feel it afterwards (as in ATG) it really is below the skin surface and with that now sharply angled tip (shaped like the tip of a hypodermic needle) the hair can catch the skin as it grows and pierce it with the greatest of ease, and thus become an ingrown hair. The only way to avoid it is to either have the hair permanently removed or not shave it so close that it gets cut off below the surface of the skin. Well, either that or teach yourself to enjoy ingrown hairs! Personally, I'll skip the ingrowns and focus on neat and tidy, BBS be damned in those spots. Oh, and having my beard permanently removed would be a cruel way to curb my RAD.

Christian

This sounds the most sensible to me. Also ties in with my experiences.

I laugh now when I had my first perfect atg with a straight and minutes afterwards I was typing away a thread of joy and wonder on here for all who'd read it.

A few hours later I was itching and looking like I had nettle rash, lol!

Originally Posted by welshwarrior

I use shampoo and conditioner on my beard whilst I shower.

Reset your skin? What does this mean? Cold water closes pores, but i find alcohol dehydrates my skin.

you are correct. of course cold water closes pours but what i'm talking about is an aftershave (which i use) or straight alcohol tightens up your skin and reverses the effects of shaving cream, soap, or what ever else you put on your face which your skin absorbs and holds. without going into the biochemical reaction and osmosis process as it pertains to balancing chemical levels on either side of the cell wall. believe me there is more to it than cold water just closing pours. This process allows your skin to naturally oil and hydrate itself. if alcohol dries out your skin (mine too, i don't use it because of that and the smell) try an aftershave lotion or something for sensitive skin and moisturizing balm. Nivea and Gillette work well for me. i promise you will notice a positive difference!

if you are not using anything after torturing your skin with a sharp piece of steel, that could be at least part of the reason for irritation and in grown hairs. you've got to finish the process and reverse the effects of the alkaline.

KZ speaks with words of wisdom here. I also have similar
beard growth on my neck, and I usually do 1 WTG and 1
XTG pass here (well, everywhere). Consider that having
a neck full of redness and irritation looks many times
worse than a slight shadow, and your co-workers are un-
likely to rub your face to check your shave throughout
the day.

- Scott

Originally Posted by speed_pigeon

you are correct. of course cold water closes pours but what i'm talking about is an aftershave (which i use) or straight alcohol tightens up your skin and reverses the effects of shaving cream, soap, or what ever else you put on your face which your skin absorbs and holds. without going into the biochemical reaction and osmosis process as it pertains to balancing chemical levels on either side of the cell wall. believe me there is more to it than cold water just closing pours. This process allows your skin to naturally oil and hydrate itself. if alcohol dries out your skin (mine too, i don't use it because of that and the smell) try an aftershave lotion or something for sensitive skin and moisturizing balm. Nivea and Gillette work well for me. i promise you will notice a positive difference!

if you are not using anything after torturing your skin with a sharp piece of steel, that could be at least part of the reason for irritation and in grown hairs. you've got to finish the process and reverse the effects of the alkaline.

I use kiehls ultra facial moisturizer post shave.