Toughen Neck For Straight Shaving?

Hello All,

I really (now) love shaving. I want to shave everyday and I want to go for BBS everyday. Problem is that while I am shaving pretty much every other day WTG and a little ATG my neck is still quite red and blotchy. It takes the full 48 hours for the redness to leave my neck. Cold water shave helps but still not enough to go everyday or ATG.

My prep is good and I my razors are sharp. I do need to work on my pressure but I want my skin to toughen up! Should I just shave every day until I am forced to rest? Can I scrub my neck with a washcloth to toughen the skin?

Any ideas?

Thank you,
--Shoki

Hey Shoki,

I used to think like you - if you only "condition" ie abuse your face that the skin will somehow become robust and blemish free. Unfortunately this is not true. You've been doing this now for what, nearly four months? That's plenty of time for your skin to become accustomed to SR shaving, or at least as tolerant as it will be (assuming proper technique is being used).

It sounds like you've got sensitive skin. For some, including myself, everyday shaving is not possible. I've never been able to, no matter what type of razor I use. I've just accepted it, which is alright as I've never had a job where I've had to be clean shaven on a daily basis.

I would recommend not going ATG on those sensitive areas at all, unless it's a special occasion or something. XTG should be plenty close for 90% of shaves or more. Don't worry, it's not just you, there are many of us who are in the same boat. It's just not worth the irritation and pain.

Have you tried some alum block after shaving ? Still using light pressure,and dont go over and over the same spot. Alot of people shave until they dont hear that buttering toast sound,and thats not needed. Shaving with a straight is like grilling a steak.After you take the steak off the grill,you let it rest for 5 min. Just like your face, after your done shaving, let it rest for 10 min then check for BBS!!! Or like Ryan 82 said may be the problem.

Thanks for the advice. I am sure you are right. That said I cut myself fairly bad at about a month in. I took a month off switching to DE's. I almost quit but that 1 first wonderful straight shave had it's hooks in me. (So there is still hope) ;)

It is so funny really. I used to shave as little as possible. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. 1-Pass North to south with a plastic 2 blade disposable. I never got a good shave. I had no idea of my direction pattern.

Now with my straight I am doing a single pass North to South 3 times a week and it feels amazing. I do a little clean up XTG and these shaves are indeed much better than what I was accomplishing before with canned cream and and disposable razors.

I have had a few near BBS shaves and I want that every morning. or at least as often as possible. Somebody coined the phrase "faceturbating"... This is a serious condition.

Thank you,
--Shoki

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nessmuck

Have you tried some alum block after shaving ? Still using light pressure,and dont go over and over the same spot. Alot of people shave until they dont hear that buttering toast sound,and thats not needed. Shaving with a straight is like grilling a steak.After you take the steak off the grill,you let it rest for 5 min. Just like your face, after your done shaving, let it rest for 10 min then check for BBS!!! Or like Ryan 82 said may be the problem.

---

I am not that good yet. I seem to notice the spots I have missed when i am dressed and out the door. I always think I got everything but I always seem to miss a small spot or two. Again that said these shaves are way better than what I was doing before straights.

What do you guys think of this prep? I don't do it this way but I have been thinking of it.

Hot Shower
Cold rinse
Pat Dry
Super Hazel
Alum Block
Cold Lather
Shave

The idea is to close the pores as much as possible before shaving?

Thank you,
--Shoki

you ever break in a pair of boots by soaking them in a bucket of water? it works fine..

but try wearing a pair of boots for 15 years and then compare the two..

i tell you my friend.. you can tell a difference.. pretend you're obie and caress your hollywood face.

You might try applying some Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Shave Cream
before you lather up. Rub some on to your face and neck for a
couple of minutes. Don't rinse it off, but then just lather over it.
Do this for the first pass only.

Rinse with cold water between passes, and re-lather.

A little after-shave balm instead of an alcohol based AF might help, too.

Works for me.

Paul

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vthomlinson

you ever break in a pair of boots by soaking them in a bucket of water? it works fine..

but try wearing a pair of boots for 15 and then compare the two..

i tell you my friend.. you can tell a difference.. pretend you're obie and caress your hollywood face.

---

Victor,

Can you please extrapolate?

Thank you,
--Shoki

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shoki

Hello All,

I really (now) love shaving. I want to shave everyday and I want to go for BBS everyday. Problem is that while I am shaving pretty much every other day WTG and a little ATG my neck is still quite red and blotchy. It takes the full 48 hours for the redness to leave my neck. Cold water shave helps but still not enough to go everyday or ATG.

Any ideas?

Thank you,
--Shoki

---

I went through the same phase, wanting the perfect shave everyday and was putting up with irritatation for a day or two afterwords. Then I decided to hell with perfect and just concentrated on close but irritation free. Surprisingly enough after a while of that, perfect shaves started to appear and the irritation disappeared. Just relax and dont try to force results and it will probably all come together. I do find that a thicker lather helps a bit on my neck, it is harder to keep the razor moving cause of the stickiness, but delivers more cushion(I use creams mostly). Also it seems the schything stroke helps a lot with closeness.

I shower, pat dry, rub cold lather in with my hands, let sit for a bit relather, shave and relather with each pass, then rinse with hot water add aftershave. I will usually do a WTG, and a XTG. Sometimes a WTG and two opposing XTG passes. Very rarely do I do a WTG, XTG, ATG shave except for special occasions.

Shoki,

The hair on my neck grows every which way; particularly a patch on the left side of my neck.

It is impossible to get a true WTG pass on this patch, and I always get some degree of irritation there when shaving.

What I ended up doing was using a safety razor to make an initial pass in the direction of 'least resistance' on this patch - this turned out to be a left to right horizontal pass - something that could not be done with a straight !

I then relather the patch and shave face 'normally'; this has worked well for me.

I would check the direction of the whisker growth on your neck; you could also try a very light WTG pass with a safety razor on your neck before proceeding with the straight to see if this reduces the irritation.

Good luck !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

i'm just saying buddy.. use a light touch and over time your face will adjust and get used to the straight edge.. give it time.

++1 on all the advice the guys are giving you.Alot of Newbs tend to overthink the whole process.I did it too starting out.Pressure is the key to all of this.And as it's been already said before,the whole BBS thing comes with time.some can get more BBS than others. I also have noticed my face feels smoother after about 10 min.Don't get obsessed with glass mirror smooth as you will only frustrate yourself.Good things come with time my friend.:gl::tu