Few unshaved hairs... Thick beard, sensitive skin

Hello all, and sorry if this has gotten asked before, but I did a search and couldn't find anything about it. As you can see, I'm new to this forum, as well as a newbie to straight razor shaving
I've become obsessed with straight razor shaving, I've got really good tools and have spent a good amount of money on lather, pre-and-after-shave oils/balm, I've also spent a couple of hours reading about it, watching videos and what not.
It has been about a month or so that I started and I've been trying to be very patient as I have thick curly hair and very sensitive skin, and I know that practice makes it perfect. In the beginning I was getting severe skin burn to the point where next day my skin was completely scabbing. I've managed to get a lot better at that, although I still get a little bit, but far better than at first.
One issue that I can't seem to figure out is why some specific hairs, I'm talking about 1 on the cheek for example, or like 5 hairs in the chin and a few on my neck will not shave no matter what, no matter how many passes I do, these specific hairs just don't get shaved.
My beard grows in several different directions and it is pretty thick, may be this is the problem?? I really hate to think that that is the problem and that my skin is not suitable for straight razor, cause I'm loving it, and I hope this is not the case. Any of you ever had this problem and were able to figure it out? I would greatly appreciate if anyone gave me some tips. Cheers!!

hey.. welcome to srp!

ofcourse read the wiki.. but with proper stretching, angle, and pressure.. you'll be able to get everything.. a flat surface is important.. so spent some time figuring out how to stretch you face to create the best surface possible..

and by pressure.. i mean.. lack of it.

cheers and keep up the good work.

DanLupo11,

Welcome and hello from Hastings :)

I have exceptionally tough whiskers, and they grow in oddest of patterns, particularly on my neck.

I used to be obsessed with getting BBS every time, but as time has gone on and wisdom has been acquired, I now settle for whatever the shave gives me - comfortable wins over BBS every time.

I have a patch on the left side of my neck, which always gets red & irritated if I am not careful. In this patch the hairs grow in all directions so there is not 'WTG' direction to initially shave in.

I have concentrated in getting the maximum out of the beard prep - wash skin with soap for two (2) minutes, apply lather made from over-fatted shaving soap (e.g. Cella) and 'personal lubricant' (e.g. KY Jelly), and rub in the first coat of lather for a minute. Apply more lather and leave for four (4) minutes.

I also shave in these 'awkward' patches, with the blade almost flat against my skin, and use the very minimum of pressure.

These actions, and also targeted stretching, have minimsed the redness I get on these patches :)

Good luck !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

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Originally Posted by DanLupo11

...My beard grows in several different directions and it is pretty thick, may be this is the problem?? I really hate to think that that is the problem and that my skin is not suitable for straight razor...

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:eek:A skin type or beard that a straight razor not be able to handle! You blaspheme! :D

Practice will get you there mate, practice and patience.


Mick

The first thing that popped into my mind was "Is the razor sharp enough?" irritation and missed hairs can be a symtom of an edge loosing it's edge.

I also have some wild hairs that defy full removal but even with 2-3 passes there I don't get the irritation, granted I've been doing this a while and I'm used to it. Some of this only comes with time. Your face gets used to it and your skill increases every time.

Insure your edges are top notch and take your time. Maybe send off one razor to get pro honed and see how it works against your own edges... Did I read anything about your honing skills... crud can't remember... Anyway Patients, one month is still starting give your skills a chance :)

First of all thanks for the rather quick reply. Quite impressive as I'm a member of several other forums that people don't seem to care as much to reply, this tells me people here love their straight razor as much as I'm loving mine so far :)

Victor, I think that's exactly what it is, I'm not stretching my skin right at those spots, cause towards the end of my last shave, I somewhat was able to get a closer shave w/ a better stretching in those annoying hairs!! But than to get that good stretch, it was only possible when no shaving cream was on my face, this is first for me to see the spot, and second to get a good grip to pull the skin. Does this sound right?

Phatman, that's also what I did in the last shave. The right side of my face didn't look as good as the left side, but instead of doing a 4th pass I just stuck with it and I think that is the reason I got way less irritated. I'm indeed that type of person that always persues the "best," and sometimes wanting that just turns out to not what I originally wanted :-/

In regards to the prepping and what not, I think I'm in the right path, I always do it after the shower. I bought some good european shaving cream and after shave (Trumpers), a good pre-shave oil (I think) from The Art of Shaving store, as well as a Thiers Issard straight razor, which came actually extremely well honed, but may be I haven't honed enough since I got it? (more below)

MickR, thanks for the motivation, that tells me I'll figure it out sooner or later, I needed to hear that!! :)

DwarvenChef, now that I'm really thinking, I really don't know if I'm honing it properly. Cause now that I'm remembering about when I shaved the first few times, I didn't get as much razor burn as these last ones. I'm only using a well rated strop (bought on amazon.com and had great reviews), but now I'm wondering if I'm doing it enough, as I do it about 15 passes back and foward on the leather side only (I warm up the blade under hot water??). Than another 15 times or so after I'm done shaving, perhaps not enough?? As I saw some people mentioning here in these forums, they do as much as 60 times. I guess I need to do some more reading (I've literally done about 10-15 hrs already!!) in the wiki. Meanwhile I truly appreciate all your replies, but getting some feed backs and now knowing it really is just a lack of experience and that the straight razor WILL shave any skin type, only motivates me even more to not give up. Cheers.

I will have to say that once you get more into it you will start to notice how your beard is growing. I had the same issue on my neck area. I have finally figured out how to shave my neck to get rid of all the hair and with very little irritation. What works for some does not work for others though as all beards are different. Stretching like others said makes a big difference as well. Just keep with it and one day it will all come together and it just clicks.

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Originally Posted by DanLupo11

In regards to the prepping and what not, I think I'm in the right path, I always do it after the shower. I bought some good european shaving cream and after shave (Trumpers), a good pre-shave oil (I think) from The Art of Shaving store, as well as a Thiers Issard straight razor, which came actually extremely well honed, but may be I haven't honed enough since I got it? (more below)

MickR, thanks for the motivation, that tells me I'll figure it out sooner or later, I needed to hear that!! :)

DwarvenChef, now that I'm really thinking, I really don't know if I'm honing it properly. Cause now that I'm remembering about when I shaved the first few times, I didn't get as much razor burn as these last ones. I'm only using a well rated strop (bought on amazon.com and had great reviews), but now I'm wondering if I'm doing it enough, as I do it about 15 passes back and foward on the leather side only (I warm up the blade under hot water??). Than another 15 times or so after I'm done shaving, perhaps not enough?? As I saw some people mentioning here in these forums, they do as much as 60 times. I guess I need to do some more reading (I've literally done about 10-15 hrs already!!) in the wiki. Meanwhile I truly appreciate all your replies, but getting some feed backs and now knowing it really is just a lack of experience and that the straight razor WILL shave any skin type, only motivates me even more to not give up. Cheers.

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For clarity, did your razor come from The Art of Shaving as well? If so, then I recall that their razors come sharp, but not quite shave ready, and if you're having to use any pressure to cut the hair then I think it would be in your best interest to either send it to a professional to assess and rehone, or see if there's an SRP member or mentor near you to see in person.

Also, when you're taking the razor to a strop, that is stropping -- you're realigning the edge to keep it keen. Honing is taking the razor to a stone in order to remove metal and sharpen. Big difference to us when a new shaver says "I've stropped my razor" or "I've honed my razor".

+1 on having the razor professionally honed. Even if you have a good edge right now, it will be worth every penny! Additionally, I IMHO I would suggest using more laps when stropping. A few guys here told me that I needed to be doing at least fifty on the leather, and it really made a difference. Rubbing the strop before use also helped.

At any rate, good luck and keep us posted.

I agree with MickR. Practice and patience will get you there. I've been at it for about 7 months, and can get a great shave if I take my time, but my chin is still tough, and where my neck meets my chin. These areas have hairs that grow in a variety of directions in a very small space, and have hard angles to adjust to.

Each shave I get a little better. Finding ways to stretch the skin so the hairs stand better up better, and finding the way to get the proper angle is the key. Using really really short strokes also helps.

Chasing those pesky missed hairs can be a surefire path to irritation. It can be alleviated by several methods mentioned here: prep, stropping technique, shaving technique, post shave treatment and a very sharp razor. All combine (with experience and practice of course) to lead to a great shave. But yes, sometimes it is best to call it a draw and be satisfied with the shave you have instead of putiing up with the irritation and pain.

I'm going to follow your guys suggestion as my razor will not do the hair thing (cut it) by just touching across the edge, no matter what. So I really think I might have messed it up stropping when I was first trying to learn it. Anyhow, I found a few professional sharpeners in the area that do mostly knives, but have many barbers reviews on their site as well stating they do very good job with the barber's tools. I can't wait to get this going properly. Thanks again.

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Originally Posted by DanLupo11

Anyhow, I found a few professional sharpeners in the area that do mostly knives, but have many barbers reviews on their site as well stating they do very good job with the barber's tools. I can't wait to get this going properly. Thanks again.

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My advice: unless you know for a fact that they have extensive experience with straight razors, STAY AWAY FROM THE KNIFE GUYS! Barbers tools (scissors, clipper blades etc) and knives are very different beast when it comes to honing compared to SR`s. My concern is that these guys will `hone`your blade for you, it won`t be shave-ready and you`ll be wondering what happened.

I only say this because it`s happened before.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

My advice: unless you know for a fact that they have extensive experience with straight razors, STAY AWAY FROM THE KNIFE GUYS! Barbers tools (scissors, clipper blades etc) and knives are very different beast when it comes to honing compared to SR`s. My concern is that these guys will `hone`your blade for you, it won`t be shave-ready and you`ll be wondering what happened.

I only say this because it`s happened before.

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I have been thinking of that. Great advice as I was going to go there tomorrow morning. Thank you!! I didn't want to mail my razor in as I want to use it :rant: but I also bought a DE to diversify a little bit and have not tried it yet. I guess this is the perfect timing!! I got a private msg about specific straight razor honers as well as someone posted here earlier a link with a few recommendations for different honers. I'm gonna take a look at all of them!! Thanks again,
Cheers