Thread: Irritation issues...

I'm still experimenting after a year, and at times a bit frustrated with the whole thing. Too bad I can't grow a beard. But, I read one of Lynn's posts about how the beard recedes after ten minutes or so after a shave. I noticed this yesterday. I had made one pass WTG and it felt like I could do a bit more. So I re-lathered to do another. It was then I noticed some irritation from the Musgo Real cream, but I pressed onward. I ended with a close shave which lasted all day but I had some redness and irritation immediately afterward. Yes, I had been getting some close shaves for four consecutive days. I am always mindful of pressure and angle.

I know part of it may be the cream even though I haven't had a problem with this one before.

Am I making my first pass too close?

Should I make a second pass with water only, like one web site, Razor Central, says?

What about this beard retraction stuff?

It makes me wonder if I can stop after one pass or am I going too close on the first one.

I would say try shaving with one pass only with the same cream and see if iritation continues. A shave won't look THAT bad with one pass and you can see if it was the more passes or the cream that caused irritation.

I remember reading that a slight layer of skin comes off when you shave. Perhaps it was the 4 consecutive close shaves that built up to you having irritation. Maybe sensitive skin is taking more than one day to recover. If that's the case maybe try alternating one day one pass shave, next closer shave.

Redness and irritation can also come from an allergy, and such a reaction can occur at any time, even if you were using this cream without any problems since many years. Maybe you should try another cream.

Another tip could be not only to try to modify the pressure, or the angle, but also different pressure in keeping the skin tight - maybe you are stretching it too much.

I usually only do 2 passes WTG - this gives me a clean and smooth shave, but not that Baby butt smoothness (for that I have to do a ATG passe, but sometimes, if my skin is "tired" or if I don't stretch my skin enough, it can give me small irritations in the area of the neck... I have strange spots with whiskers growing in every directions); but I guess it is ok. And remember that if your skin looks peppered, it is not because you didn't shave properly, but maybe only because you whiskers are tough bastards like mine and can be seen when cut at the skin level.

My last tip is to maybe use some pre-shave oil; for me it made wonders (I am using T&H, AOS, The Gentlemen's refinery or The Body Shop monoi oil). But all those are made with natural ingredients and thus could be comedogenic... be also careful if you have any allergies.

Hope you'll be able to increase the quality of your shaves.

Thanks guys, both good tips!

There are times when I feel like I'm chasing my tail, as it were.

Shaving for me is constantly teaching life lessons, especially for a type A like myself.

Accepting anything less than BBS goes against my grain. Pardon the pun!

But, alas, my skin has set my limits and I must relax and enjoy the process I guess.

Maybe I'll say something stupid but... maybe your razor/razors is/are getting sub-par? I've have the same problem lately and found out that (though my skin is sensitive) the razor I was using was in need of a little touch-up... I guess a few laps on a barber hone will only do some good to the edge?
My 2 cents...

I agree with the advice you've already received. I would also pay attention to your expectations - I know, I've been harping on this a bit lately, but in my experience, I can get a little too aggressive in my shaving. What was a good shave a year ago is now sub-par and this can lead to over-doing it. Sometimes you have to get back to fundamentals and go for a comfy shave instead of a close shave. If you do this, I've found the closeness will come on its own.

Jordan

I have run across some strange stuff in my short time shaving. I use Tabac which is a lanolin based soap and I really like it. I then got Mitchell Wool Fat because I heard how good it was and it to is a lanolin based soap. I was cruising along and had some really bad days with razor burn. I am allergic to almost nothing but the MWF was giving me a case of a really red face that felt like razor burn but I noticed it was red in places that I did not shave, like my upper cheek. I can not figure out why because it doesn't have alot of smell to it. I had to get rid of all of it, can't use it at all but at least I still have Tabac which is not all bad.


Take Care,
Richard

Further to the posts made by people more knowledgeable than I, here are some observations:

1. I tried Musgo Real once. Hated the scent, and did not like the lather. You might want to consider trying a sample from another brand. Personally, I am addicted to Castle Forbes but that is a personal preference.
2. This should be laid out in detail in the Wiki, but a combination of proper preparation (I could not live without my Castle Forbes pre shave), skin stretching, and a properly honed razor is key. This Wiki entry has the full thing in a nutshell: What Every Beginner Should Know - Straight Razor Place Wiki
3. I have found after shave treatment to be important, too. My alumn rock, in combination with Dr. Hauschka cosmetics and Castle Forbes after shave balm have reduced my skin irritations to almost zero.

Mind you, I am not being paid by any of the companies mentioned above, and will readily agree that human skin varies wildly. Therefore, do not take any of the above as a recommendation, but rather as personal observations. Hope they help, nonetheless.

fpessanha, not stupid, legit. I am using a newly honed (by one of our honemeisters) razor. Could be it's too sharp?

jnich67, thank you. I think I am expecting perfection each shave and that may very well be the problem.

riooso, I've become more suspect of certain soaps/creams of mine. The more I use them when I'm slightly raw is when I really notice it.

BeBerlin, I love my CF and I don't think I have an issue with that one.

Thanks to all so far, very good points all!

I just read something in Milady's Standard Barber Textbook that made me wonder if I'm stretching too much.

Just wondering, after shaving, but before you apply any after shave lotion, are you cooling your face down and closing up your pores with a cool wash cloth?

I found that if I skipped this step, not only did the after shave lotion burn like a blow torch, but I usually had irritation for a few hours afterward.

Just a thought.

~Robert