Quote Originally Posted by Ryan82 View Post
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.