Thread: Itching 12 Hours After A Shave

So, I get a 12K and some CrO about 4 weeks ago to serve as an addition to my normal 1K/4K/8K progression. I have been using the 1K/4K/8K progression for some time and have been getting great shaves, but I wanted to see if I could get better. I strop up the razor after the CrO and after a shower, and normal prep I proceed with my shave. Everything goes well, I shave closer than I have in months on the WTG/XTG passes that I make, and am very happy. Around 5:00pm I start to get some itching around the jawline and the chin area.

The next morning I shave with the same razor as it shaved nicely the day before (I normally do a WTG and a XTG pass and touch up where needed). The itching was still there a little bit from the day before. After the shave the itching went away, and around 5pm agin the itching came back again. Keep in mind I have been shaving for awhile with a straight razor, have not changed my soap/AS/prep that previous to this has not given me any trouble. The only change to this point is the 12K CrO progression that I have now added in to the honing progression.

I start the third day and the itching is really bad (I would have not shaved but being in the Marine Corps I have to shave everyday in order to go to work). I think at this point that it is cutting so close that the hair growing out is what is causing the itching. I also think that maybe it is possibly overhoned. I switch to another razor the next day that I have had no problems with in the past, and is in my progression. This one has not been put on the 12K or the CrO. To be gentle on my face I do a WTG pass and leave it at that. A couple of days goes by and everything is fine. I pull out the first razor and again have the same problem as I had before. I lay off the first razor for a couple of days and stick to the second one, and everything smooths out again.

At this point I take the first razor and put it back on the stones and bypass the 12K and just do 20 passes with the CrO. It saves well, and I don't have the itching like I have had in the past with the 12K in the progression. It also doesn't seem as sharp as it was before and takes more time/passes to get a BBS shave.

Now I have been shaving with both of the razors that have come off the 8K then hit on the CrO for a week and have not had any problems.

I got a Dovo 6/8 special razor from SRD (nice razor BTW) because I wanted a new toy, they were on sale, and I wanted something honed by Lynn. I break it out the day after I got it for my morning save. I do the same routine that I do every day (shower, create later in my dirty bird scuttle with the same soap that I have been using, wet face, soap up, bla bla bla) and then shave with the razor. It cuts nice, feels really sharp on the face, and I am happy. I end up having the same problem that I had with the first razor that I put to the 12K and the CrO. At around 5 pm I get this terrible itching. For the last couple of days I have not used that razror and have stuck to a WTG pass only with my other razors and the itching has gone.

Now that I have expalined all of this in a very lengthy post, has any one else had this problem? Any solutions/recommendations on what it may or may not be?

Thanks in advance for your help.

When I first started shaving with a straight I would get a fair amount of itching also at the jawline. It was annoying enough to give me the urge to claw at my face but not a huge deal. I've since concluded that for me the rare occasion I get it now is when I've shaved whiskers to under skin level enough where they're growing ingrown. That's the itch. I'm either coming at those whiskers at a wrong angle, wrong direction or too much pressure, not enough skin stretching. IME it's not due to one specific issue.

Chris L

The other thing I'd add is asking whether or not you use any form of astringent in addition to AS? I use both an alum block right after the shave after I've rinsed my face with ice cold water (leaving my face wet for the alum block), then I follow with Thayers "Alcohol Free" Witch Hazel. Both the alum and the Witch Hazel are astringents and reduce to almost eliminate burn or ingrown hairs you might have.

I also agree on what AusTexShaver said about a finely honed razor requiring almost no pressure. Shaving with such a razor so lightly is actually a pleasant sensation during the actual shave, more of a light soft brushing sensation on the face.

From your description it sounds like a classic case of razor burn to me. I'm guessing that the razors you honed yourself were not as sharp as the one done by Lynn (or as sharp as most of the true honemeisters like them) and you compensated by using more pressure. This is a fairly common thing and even I'm guilty of doing that inspite of a couple decades of experience so don't feel too bad. When you then transferred that technique to a sharper blade you scraped the hell out of your face.

A real no BS shave ready blade requires almost no pressure so I'l recommend trying again and working on your technique. If that doesn't cure your itch it could be your blade is a little on the "harsh" side and a few laps on the CrO should smooth it out. Using a shave balm also helps...I'm kind of partial to Trumper's Skin Food.

Sharp AND smooth is a very elusive goal and you just have to experiment to find the magic combination that works for your face.

Semper Fi

I'm not familiar with it, but it sounds like a closeness issue. I think it may be the regrowing of the hairs that tickles your pores.
Sharper razors generally shave a little closer.
You could try experimenting a bit with your post shave routine, and see if that changes something. An alum block is the first thing that comes to mind. I run it over my face after a thorough cold water rinse, and leave it on while drying the razor, rinsing the brush, etc... Then I rinse with lukewarm water and apply a good after shaving balm.
Either way, I suspect this will take some searching for the right personal recipe.

Good luck,
Bart.

Hello all,

As you can see, this is my first post at SRP, and I am a true beginner to straight razor shaving, with a grand total of 3 partial shaves under my belt (no applause, please). However, I have wrestled with the twin demons of irritation and ingrown hairs for many years. To minimize razor burn and ingrown hairs, I follow a few rules that may be helpful to others, as well.

Before I get to them, I'd like to say "thank you" to everyone at SRP. Thanks to this remarkable community I am well on my way to becoming a straight razor user, and I've already managed to irritate my girlfriend by purchasing a Wapi, a vintage razor, a strop, and Lynn's how-to video.

Now, about my hard-won rules and methods for the elimination of irritation and ingrown hairs:

- I wash my face with a natural, fragrance-free soap before shaving. I don't think it helps to soften my beard any more than rinsing with hot water or a hot towel wrap, but I believe that it helps to clean out some of the bacteria and oil that might otherwise be worked into my skin by the razor.

- I try to use shaving creams with no (or very minimal) added fragrances and mostly natural ingredients. I don't think the brand matters as much as the contents, but I've had good luck with unscented/natural creams from Gentlemen's Refinery, Maine Shave, Nancy Boy, and several of the English companies. I try to keep away from creams and soaps with harsh ingredients that might cause allergies or dry my skin.

- I use a light touch with my razor, and generally shave with or across the grain. I only shave against the grain in areas where the hairs lie perfectly flat against my face. This gives a very close, but not BBS shave -- a price I'm willing to pay for the elimination of burn and ingrown hairs. Just as an FYI, I started shaving with a DE razor after a dermatologist mentioned that multi-blade razors can pull facial hair and cut it below skin level, which leads to ingrown hairs and irritation. So far, straight razor shaving is as good, or better, than DE shaving with regard to irritation and ingrowns.

- After shaving, I do not rinse my face with cold water, and I do not apply any astringent products (alum, alcohol, witch hazel, etc) that might close my pores. I rinse with warm water and then wash my face (again, using warm water) with a natural soap. This helps to clean out any lingering shaving cream and whatever else might t encourage irritation and ingrown hairs.

- After rinsing and washing my face in warm water, I use straight jojoba oil as my aftershave. It only takes a few drops, and jojoba has antibacterial properties that seem to help keep my face free of irritation. Jojoba does a great job of moisturizing without clogging or closing pores, and as a side benefit, it's very inexpensive when compared to any packaged aftershave (leaving more money for razors).

- I also try to keep my razor very clean. With a DE, that means changing blades after two shaves, and with a straight it means carefully cleaning the blade with alcohol and/or soap before and after a shave.

At any rate, I hope these are of some help. Either way, I want to repeat how happy I am to have found the SRP community, and how grateful I am for the tutorials, knowledge, and friendly atmosphere. I'm sure I'll have a lot of questions as I continue learning how to use and maintain my straight razors, and I look forward to interacting with the other members at SRP.

Paul

I like to go to BBS as often as possible, and frequently get mild razor burn. Does not show as redness or visible irritation, but does itch after a few hours. Sounds like your issue. I found a solution! L'Occitan After Shave Balm. A tiny dab of that nice smelling cream, and I smell good and don't get the itching anymore. I have quit using any aftershave after I found L'Occitan. Works for me!

I get the itching sometimes and have found that the hair growing back after a really close have is trying to break through the skin. I use a bump stop liquid and after about an hour it is gone. It is not because of razor burn for me. I will guess that you have a really, really tough beard. I mean the type where the hairs grow fast and are shooting up copper wire strength hairs. Try the bump stop after work and see if the itching goes away, I will bet it will.


Later,
Richard