Thread: The sneaky kind of irritation?

Every so often, with no apparent reason, after a nice close 3 pass shave WTG / XTG / ATG...

Has anyone ever gotten a great shave overall only to find that later in the day or the next morning, the growing hair under the skin just irritates the face/neck entirely? Im not referring to post shave redness or irritation...post shave, everything feels and looks great...

As if the great shave only lasts for just enough time to make your day, to then see redness and tiny little areas of irritation as the new hair comes in...???

Any solutions to that?

Thanks.

I haven't had that problem. It sounds like you are on the verge of getting razor bumps. Maybe you need to aim for a less close shave? That would suck, I know.

I have had the opposite happen. After shaving I can often feel signs of stubble if I rub hard enough ATG. But a few hours later those areas seem even smoother, as if the stubble has retracted. Go figure!

I think the solution here is to avoid going ATG. I myself cannot shave
directly against the grain; if I do, the result is as you have described.
I don't get in-grown hairs per-se, but they are clearly irritating the
follicle as they are growing back at an angle.

Skip ATG for a week and see how it goes! You may find your technique
improving on getting a great 2-pass shave.

- Scott

I experienced this once on my neck and seemed to eliminate it with a shallower cutting angle possibly leaving a "less pointy end" on the remaining hair? Something to play around with...

Now and then, I do find that I get some white bumps a day or two after the shave, even if everything feels fine. In an attempt to counter this, I have been applying my Nivea aftershave balm at various times, such as before I head out in the morning or before I go to bed.

I haven't been able to figure out the source of the delayed irritation, but the extra balm does seem to help.

Originally Posted by Rajagra

I haven't had that problem. It sounds like you are on the verge of getting razor bumps. Maybe you need to aim for a less close shave? That would suck, I know.

I have had the opposite happen. After shaving I can often feel signs of stubble if I rub hard enough ATG. But a few hours later those areas seem even smoother, as if the stubble has retracted. Go figure!

That's quite normal as your skin and hair dry the skin resumes a more relaxed position (shaving and post-shave treatments makes your skin taught) and your whiskers dry out and retract (as the water they've absorbed evaporates thus leaving them less elongated (hair is a bit longer when wet, esp. beard hairs)).

You should drop one or both of the secondary passes. Instead, concentrate on maximizing the effect of the first pass and do a touch up on any areas that need it.

I haven't experienced that but I found early on with DEs that I get irritation immediately following the shave if I do a third pass. I do a WTG first and then a second pass combining XTG and ATG depending on the area. Hope you find a solution to the post shave irritation.

I get this too, right under my chin. I just go very lightly under the chin. and do two WTG passes in that area. A quick lather and a few swipes then I am ready for the ATG. The extra WTG pass seems to aleve most of the problem.