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I've neen shaving after my showers to make sure that the hair is nice and soft. Use a good lather when shaving, and use a good skin conditioner afterwards. Is there anything that can be done say in the preshave to alleviate the problem of the razorburn?
Yep, reduce the pressure and be sure your angle is proper.
I would suggest you use less pressure with the blade against your skin.
Use a light touch and your burning should go away.
You are using a real straight razor and not a disposable straight correct? Also one that was professionally honed? Unless you rolled the edge stropping?
Tell us exactly how you're shaving. What direction(s) are you going with the razor and how much are you stretching? What type of razor are you using?Quote:
Originally Posted by flyfishingta
Typically initial razorburn is either from going against the grain, and/or having the blade at too high of an angle. Also, if you're just starting with a straight you might find that your skin needs a little more healing for the first few shaves.
+1 on the previous advice. The problem rests with your technique. Reduce your pressure. Let the razor do the cutting and simply let your hand guide it on your face while it does its job.
As above, a light touch and proper angle is critical. In addition, the razor needs to be properly honed. Did you get your razor from a reputable vendor or is it something you got off of ebay?
Utopian touched on something that I was going to mention: the sharpness on the razor. A dull, or dulling, razor can be just as responsible for irritation as anything else these gentlemen have discussed.
I will just say that I experienced very bad razor burn for approximately my first month of straight razor shaving. I think the thing that helped the most for me was reducing the amount of pressure I was using. This is not a mach 3! Try to just gently wipe the hair off of your face and that is probably still too much pressure.
Also, I think it might also take a little while for your skin to acclimate to the Straight Razor.
Listen to all the other advice and keep at it. :gl:
If you haven't discovered it already, avoid strong aftershaves like Clubman after an irritating shave. Their bay rum will make you feel like you're using boiling oil. Ogallala bay rum or good old Witch Hazel worked well for me in the early days.
Well, in all honesty Clubman Bay rum can burn after pretty much any kind of shave... :)Quote:
Originally Posted by leadduck
+1 on all the above,and dont go over and over the same area on your face and apply a balm ( Trumpers skin food ) after you shave to put out the fire.
+1 on all the advice given so far. In addition, I will recommend a razor that is not only sharp, but well stropped. I have a Butcher Bros 1/4 hollow that requires at least 50 passes on leather before she's all lined up. But after all that stropping, I swear it feels like a butter knife on my face only the whiskers are getting mowed flush. I just love the sound as they give up the ghost as they whisper- "Shhhhhhhh!"
+1 to all the advice already given (especially avoid shaving the same area multiple times & applying to much pressure). Try a menthol type cream like Proraso or C.O. Bigelow. I find that these creams contribute to less razor burn (YMMV). See JimmyHAD's signature line, as it has some excellent advice about pressure (or lack there of). Don't give up and keep at it!
definatly have to remember to keep the pressure off the strokes. I think thats the biggest problem I'm having right now. Also, I'm not using any aftershave cause right now it feels like a blowtorch on my skin afterwards. I'm stropping about 50 strokes, and its nice n sharp when I'm done.
Avoid ATG passes as well, those can really irritate the skin. Thats something I learned from a barber at Trumpers, never shave ATG.
Witch Hazel afterward works great. I personally don't use anything other than Thayer's Witch Hazel Astringent with Aloe Vera.
Also pay attention to the pressure you are using while stropping, it also needs to be light and the strop tight. It all comes with practice and you will get a hang of it fast. :gl:
I think a good XTG works just as good but the ATG makes a noticeable difference once you get use to doing it properly, according to most. I only use very light ATG passes on my neck, mostly because I can not get the XTG pass down there. Angle is too weird for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stubear
Where is the razor from?
not to sure where its from. bought it at an antique shop a few months ago. It can pass the hair test, and doesnt seem like its pulling at all when I shave. I just get a very sore face afterwards, like I tried to shave without the use of soap. very irritable.
I've bought antique store razors that would pass the HHT, but I would still hone it. Use an eye loupe or some form of magnification and see what that edge looks like, my guess would be not very mirror finished or smooth.Quote:
Originally Posted by flyfishingta
I'd advise sending it out for honing. The burn is probably from too much pressure and with a properly sharp razor you won't need this. have you shaved with a shave ready (ie sharpened by someone who's good at it) before?
Quote:
Originally Posted by flyfishingta
flyfinshingta;
All the guys have given good info. The only thing I would answer re: razorburn for any shaver is....ready? Get some Pampers Sensitive Baby wipes. You can buy a small pack for a few bucks. It has Benzocaine + Aloe in it which will reduce the pain associated with razor burn. If they are good enough for the BsB then they must be good for BBS. Think about it. Think, think, think about it.
MIke:)
Try using cold water--as cold as your tap will run--for the whole shave.
I struggled for a long time with razor burn with my DE. I've had little trouble with a straight. It took several things to resolve my burn problems. Shave before showering. Although the showering will hydrate your whiskers, the showering can soften your skin too much which makes it much easier to irritate it. The Proraso Pre/Post cream really helped me too. ATG on the first or second pass usually is too soon for me and can burn the skin.
+1 on Correct angle and light presure and bare in mind using a straight razor exfolates your skin, so if your skin is new to straight razors keep your passes down to a minimum. I would also recommend alum for post shave treatment, its very effective
How does the blade feel as it cuts? Does it feel rough? It is possible that you have slightly rolled an edge and if your stropping is not up to snuff it will cause some problems. It si something to look into if the above suggestions do not help. It is easy enough to find a rolled edge if you know what you are looking for.
Take Care,
Richard
FWIW --Quote:
Also, I'm not using any aftershave cause right now it feels like a blowtorch on my skin afterwards.
I've been using a moisturizing cream ( H2O "Body Butter", but any thick moisturizing cream should work) after shaving. It really "calms down" any burning skin.
I think that alcohol-based aftershaves, or witch hazel, would just make things worse.
Charles
PS -- I suspect that the cosmetics manufacturers have discovered MEN !!! I also suspect that there's no difference between the "men's line" and the "women's line", except the choice of fragrance. I'm going to try some "Body Shop" moisturizer next.
In addition to all of the advice given, which is spot on, you have to remember that it takes quite some time for your skin to break in - and that can take 4 - 6 months. And that is something you are not in control of.
I foud that there was a magic day where my pressue, angle, lather build, prep, stropping and skin break in all seemed to magically come together at once and voila - no more razor burn or other bad things.
Forget "reduced pressure," try for no pressure at all. Let that razor barely touch your skin and that is it. Pressure doesn't help straight razor shaves, it impedes them. Pressure is so ingrained in us by using disposables that its hard to get over.
I also agree that you should send it off to get properly honed. Look under the member services section of the classifieds for someone near you.
While I also recommend less pressure, I also want to emphasis holding the razor firmly. Too light pressure+loose grip+stubborn whiskers=cuts. You don't need to really grip hard on the thing, but just put enough of a grip to keep it secure.
ya Im not really using any pressure at all. just setting the razor on my face, then letting it slide down my face. for the last few days though its been getting better. I think alot of it was technique. but, its also time for it to be sharpened as well. think its time to send em off to get a good honing, n see how it goes from there
Hi Fly. I'm getting the hang of str8 just recently and read on the boards for razor burns or sensitive skin I started using Nivea. They have several choices for aftershave. No alcohol no sting and restores nutrients and vitamins for your face.Quote:
Originally Posted by flyfishingta
Definitely go light on the blade. That was on of my discoveries after it finally sunk in!
Some of the nivea balms have alcohol, read the ingredients on the box. Found out the hard way. I have all the nivea products now and can say the extreme comfort is the best, get it at cvs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zorro
As for the burn, pressure as lots have said. For me blade angle was part of it, also I tried out buffeting. Seemed to help me.
Brian
Man and His Razor
If the razor was bought in an antique store, there is a 99.99% chance that it is not shave ready. So while all of the previous advice should be taken very seriously, it is all moot unless the razor is honed by a professional and is truly "shave ready."Quote:
Originally Posted by flyfishingta
I used to get razor burn when i first started a few years back. There were 3 problems i found. 1. My razor was a bit duller than a true shave ready edge. 2. I was not using a proper angle and a bit to much pressure. 3. I was not making and applying lather properly. However, I found that even with a bit dull of a razor and using improper pressure/angle, i was able to avoid razor burn by applying pre shave oil right after i got out of the shower about 5 mins before i shaved. I hope this helps.
If I can share my 'newbie' experience (I'm still on the learning curve!), I completely concur with the comment on not shaving the same area several times. I think it's a natural tendency for the newbie to dwell too long for several strokes on the same area. I force myself to do no more than one repeat stroke if any. Rather, I re-lather and take a little longer to go over a spot.
The other thing (for me) was to go back to 'sensitive' type soap and cream. I had been using one that contained camphor and that did NOT agree with my skin at all. I developped a rash that could pass for razor burn. Lasted three days... horrible!
As far as stropping... I don't know... my Thiers-Issard 'how to' manual tells me not to strop that often. I have shave a few times now with minimal or no stropping, and quite honestly, those were the best and easiest shaves I've had in a long time.
Anyway, good luck!
I don't have much to add regarding prevention of razor burn. Everyone else has done a good job of that. What I can tell you is that a good antibiotic ointment will go a long way in the healing process.
I've been enjoying Thayers aloe/cucumber witchazel. It has no alcohol and is very cooling and soothing.
That's interesting about the TI instruction not to strop as much. I've heard their blades are of harder steel than most; I wonder if it just needs less stropping or if there's some other reason.
No pressure at all, just let the weight of the razor do the work. Also make sure your angle is right. That fixed it for me. :soapbox: