Thread: Do you get razor burn?

Originally Posted by commiecat

My skin gets irritated if I go ATG. I've found that I can get an excellent -- and more importantly, comfortable -- shave by just going WTG and XTG. Closeness is nice and if your skin can handle ATG, go for it. Do not sacrifice comfort for closeness, though.

same here. wtg then xtg. i'm all about comfort.

It may surprise you what a difference the right shave soap/cream can make.

A good sharp blade, good prep and the lightest of touch and I don't have problems with it. The only time I've had a problem through soaps/creams are with those containing sandalwood, one (Taylor's) used to begin burning before I even put the blade to my face. If you're absolutely confident of your technique and products then perhaps your skin is just too sensitive for the ATG pass.

I have to confess that I always want to have the BBS'est shave possible, and ATG is one of the only ways for me to get it. I have medium beard and use lot's of face prep to help reach my goal. I do get razor burn from it sometimes, but any really good after shave balm will help and shaving every other day is good also, as a mater of fact with a really close BBS I don't get beard back in less than 2 day's any way!!

Welcome to straight razors, with time you'll love if.

tinkersd of SRP

I reckon it's all been said, but I will say I got the lightest of light razor burn recently, when I tried a four pass shave. I think I wouldn't have had any burn, if I had have just lightened my touch, knowing that I was going to be making an extra two passes to my usual WTG/ATG combo.


Mick

Your description sounds like it's about "power" i.e. "submission." The light touch will actually cut better. The more you press on the skin, the more the angle of the hair is changed for a poorer cut. I'm learning the lighter the touch, the better the cut. I don't get much razor burn, and what little I do get, the alum, Nivea Balm, and Bay rum relieve quite nicely.

I got nasty razor-burn when I started out with straight-razors because I was still learning how to sharpen. After two or three weeks though, the burning stopped. Never had it since.

I don't even think Iv'e had a good shave unless my face is burning at least some. After shave balm help cool that.
If I do my job right I don't get significant beard growth again for a couple of day's. I like to get my dimes worth[or euro, depending were your from]

tinkersd of SRP

+1 on shave oil, it can help a little and make that shave a little smoother. Also, a good stretch while staying light handed is what works for me.

Originally Posted by AlanII

.. those containing sandalwood, one (Taylor's) used to begin burning before I even put the blade to my face.

To me this may suggest you are allergic to sandalwood eo?

Str8, I think that was Alan's point.

Somewhere here on SRP, there was a great thread that talked about razor burn and what causes it. Basically it comes down to pressure and angle. If you're experiencing razor burn with a blade that is truly up to snuff, it's because of too much pressure and/or too steep of an angle. Some guys with tougher skin might be able to get away with the pressure you're using, but apparently you cannot (neither could I).

For me, my hair at the jawline grows from chin to ear, and this was the most important part. One, when I'm thinking I have a habit of rubbing my hand over this area, and a stubbly feeling isn't good. Two when wearing a collared shirt, a coat, or a hooded sweatshirt this stubble literally wears away the fabric/lining and gets irritated just in the course of the day as I turn my head from side to side. And if all that wasn't enough, these same whiskers were the ones that my wife complained about when she'd touch my face. They have to go.

I'd get burn if I tried ATG directly, and if I tried it after three passes WTG/XTG/XTG. So, since I had studied the growth pattern already, I began to modify my strokes. My WTG pass in this area is a modified XTG, cutting at an angle that's about halfway between WTG and XTG. My XTG passes are modified about halfway between XTG and ATG. I go over this area with the first X/ATG modified pass from one direction, and the second X/ATG pass from the other direction. The result is BBS without a true ATG pass, and NO razor burn. For me, because of the growth patterns of my hair this was very natural to get into. WTG on my cheeks flows seamlessly into XTG on my jawline. By slightly angling the stroke I still get a WTG pass on my cheeks, but the modified W/XTG pass at the jawline. This may not work for you. It all depends on your growth patterns.

Peace,