All's well until it starts to grow back...
I’ve been shaving with a straight razor for about 3 months now. The improvement is immense; however, I still have plenty of perfecting to do.
Things I know:
The razor IS sharp. I’m using a very light touch at 30 degrees. My prep is very extensive. I’ve read up on nearly all of the literature posted for download on the site, and scoured hundreds of previous posts.
My shaves have been getting better and better; and my skin irritation has gone down significantly (especially compared to the electric or mach3 I was using)… but it’s still there. And so are the in-grown hairs!
I first shave with the grain, then against – and I’m careful to note the changing directions of my hair, and I move accordingly… stretching the skin all the way. If I don't shave against the grain, I cannot get a close shave. I can’t get a perfect shave with a straight razor just yet, but can get most areas, and finish with a touch-up with a mach3. Once I’m done shaving, my face looks pretty good… doesn’t look too irritated; it’s only a few days later that it starts getting annoying – when the hair starts to grow back..
Under my lip and on my neck, I get little white-head pimples JUST while the hair is growing back after being shaved; and they go away 3-4 days after the shave. I think this has something to do with cutting the hair the wrong way, and having it grow back all mucked up. After this, I have tons of in-grown hairs.
I've been exfoliating everynight to remove dead skin, and moisturizing (because I have very dry skin), but it hasn't been taking care of it.
What should I do?
I’ve got sensitive skin and thick curly hair… forgive me!
Re: All's well until it starts to grow back...
I've been str8 shaving for about the same time, so I know exactly what you mean.
I have fair straight hair, so ingrowns have never been a problem, but my skin is extemely sensitive, so irritation has. iwas a DE shaver for a long time before that, and I learned something that made a big differenc for me. In a three pass shave I do with, across and counter-grain. I treat the first 2 s set ups, not trying to get a close shave but only to get down to a light stubble. I do it with light , flowing strokes and not going back to any spots.
The third pass is the serious one and I use an even lighter touch than the other two. Now I'm trying to get close, but I still don't worry too much about the trouble spots. I still try not to go over spots, except for the ones I know I have to. This way I can finish the shave with little or no irritation and I can touchup the trouble spots without pain.
I still have a problem getting the sides of the neck below the jaw with a str8, and I clean up with a very aggressive DE, barely touching the skin. That area is definitely the most sensitive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tchaikovsky
I’ve been shaving with a straight razor for about 3 months now. The improvement is immense; however, I still have plenty of perfecting to do.
Things I know:
The razor IS sharp. I’m using a very light touch at 30 degrees. My prep is very extensive. I’ve read up on nearly all of the literature posted for download on the site, and scoured hundreds of previous posts.
My shaves have been getting better and better; and my skin irritation has gone down significantly (especially compared to the electric or mach3 I was using)… but it’s still there. And so are the in-grown hairs!
I first shave with the grain, then against – and I’m careful to note the changing directions of my hair, and I move accordingly… stretching the skin all the way. If I don't shave against the grain, I cannot get a close shave. I can’t get a perfect shave with a straight razor just yet, but can get most areas, and finish with a touch-up with a mach3. Once I’m done shaving, my face looks pretty good… doesn’t look too irritated; it’s only a few days later that it starts getting annoying – when the hair starts to grow back..
Under my lip and on my neck, I get little white-head pimples JUST while the hair is growing back after being shaved; and they go away 3-4 days after the shave. I think this has something to do with cutting the hair the wrong way, and having it grow back all mucked up. After this, I have tons of in-grown hairs.
I've been exfoliating everynight to remove dead skin, and moisturizing (because I have very dry skin), but it hasn't been taking care of it.
What should I do?
I’ve got sensitive skin and thick curly hair… forgive me!