Thread: Growth in all directions?

Originally Posted by Ryan82

You said that you got some irritation with other shaving appliances, but weren't really clear what's happening when you use a straight razor. Are you experiencing irritation or just a shoddy shave?

If it's a closeness issue then you have to play with skin stretching and shaving direction. If the issue is irritation the culprit can be shaving direction, beard prep, edge deterioration, bad angle, too much pressure etc.

IME shaving with a straight has cut down on ALL irritation with one exception: shaving ATG at the very bottom of my neck. I'm guaranteed to get ingrowns if I do that.

Interesting point Ryan. Since I started straight razor shaving and going ATG on the neck and under the jaw, I have not experienced any ingrown hairs. However, I did have ingrown hairs when I shave with a multi-blade disposable. Moreover, on my way work, I got to thinking about this morning's shave (which went quite well) and how my beard grows in different directions, I may have some fuzz or "sandpaper" left over, but I figured, unless someone is stroking my face or really looking close, I am clean shaven. But in the grand scheme of it all, no ingrown hairs from trying to get an ultra close shave.

I've never had an ingrown hair, and I'm feeling a little bit "left out". I've shaved with cartridges, DEs and now straights, and I'm having no luck at all getting an ingrown hair. Is it my prep, my technique? What am I doing wrong?

Originally Posted by ace

I've never had an ingrown hair, and I'm feeling a little bit "left out". I've shaved with cartridges, DEs and now straights, and I'm having no luck at all getting an ingrown hair. Is it my prep, my technique? What am I doing wrong?

Ace,

Apparently unbeknownst to you, you have been able to do what the most experienced of straight shavers have been able to master, and that is training your whiskers to grow in a planned and particular direction, thus enabling you to shave W, X, or A the grain at your choice.

Originally Posted by pmburk

Interesting point Ryan. Since I started straight razor shaving and going ATG on the neck and under the jaw, I have not experienced any ingrown hairs. However, I did have ingrown hairs when I shave with a multi-blade disposable. Moreover, on my way work, I got to thinking about this morning's shave (which went quite well) and how my beard grows in different directions, I may have some fuzz or "sandpaper" left over, but I figured, unless someone is stroking my face or really looking close, I am clean shaven. But in the grand scheme of it all, no ingrown hairs from trying to get an ultra close shave.

Good to hear things are going well for you

It took me awhile to realize the source of my neck irritation, which will affect an area about 1/2" wide from the bottom of my beard line up, where my whiskers grow straight upwards before turning sideways towards my ears. Since these whiskers grow flat to my skin it is very easy to cut them below skin level when going ATG, and always ends with ingrowns. At first I had to rule out technique, and eventually had to concede that that is the way my beard grows. Like you said, no one is likely to notice except you or some one rubbing your face.

In the end it sounds like you've reached the goal: being able to appreciate a comfortable shave as opposed to a ultra-close painful one

Originally Posted by Ryan82

In the end it sounds like you've reached the goal: being able to appreciate a comfortable shave as opposed to a ultra-close painful one

Thank you sir!!

Amen to that!! I used to get hung up on those areas and irritated my skin and realized that I am frustrating myself. I'm suppose to enjoy straight razor shaving, not get ticked at it!! I learned to relax, focus on my technique, stretch the skin, and take it slow and easy. At least the hairs in those areas are reduced and again, unless I get really up close to a mirror, I cannot see those hairs. My wife said she has seen improvement in my skin tone since I started straight razor shaving. I'm a happy straight razor shaver!!

Originally Posted by ace

I've never had an ingrown hair, and I'm feeling a little bit "left out". I've shaved with cartridges, DEs and now straights, and I'm having no luck at all getting an ingrown hair. Is it my prep, my technique? What am I doing wrong?

I feel your pain. I've never had one either.

I stretch the skin on my neck as little as possibe. I find that when I do strethc, the shave feels BBS, but only when the skin is stretched. Relax it, and I feel stubble. This is against everything I've seen others post but that's how it is. I guess I just have a weird beard.