Thread: Effing Razor Burn.....Suggestions please!

Originally Posted by THG

You know what I've found... Pulling the skin tightly isn't always best for me. Especially under the chin, I get a much better and much more comfortable shave when I put my head/neck down and make the pass with my razor. I had exactly the same problem until I started doing this.

I just tried this and found its made a huge difference, the skin on my neck is tighter to begin with so it stays in place fine, such a difference.

See, I'm only using the merker DE razor on my face and top half of my neck, where all my hair grows down. I get a GREAT, close shave without razor burn. On my neck, I use the straight razor and that's where I get the burn....

Originally Posted by groovyd

First off, don't shave at all for a week. Give your face a chance to fully heal at the expense of a week of growth. Second get a brand NEW Fusion cartridge and use a high quality super market can cream like Aveeno Therapeutic Shave Gel (for sensitive skin) which has no allergy causing ingredients whatsoever unlike many of the traditional soaps and creams have.

AVEENO® THERAPEUTIC SHAVE GEL

Then take a hot shower and at the beginning of your shower shampoo and then apply conditioner to your beard and leave the conditioner during the length of the shower, rinsing with hot water only at the very end. Step out and lather up the aveeno on your face with your fingers NOT the brush. Give it a very light WTG ONLY shave with the Mach Fusion vibrator OFF and NO stretching of the skin. Rinse with warm water and apply a splash of regular thayers witch hazel. Let it set for a few minutes while brushing teeth and then rinse with cold water. Apply some basic Nivea after shave cream.

If this shave causes ANY irritation whatsoever I think you are better off growing a beard. I am fairly confident following this exactly will solve your problem.

Groovyd, with all due respect....been there, done that. The Mach Fusion is one of the most highly marketed razors in the shaving world. I've done that exact process, grown a full beard, showered, shaved with the Fusion. Too many blades. It causes me the most irritation. Also, I can't get a good grip on my neck right after the shower, my neck and hands are too moist.

I'm trying to figure out ideas to reduce the redness on my neck, even if I shave very carefully with a straight razor. It's been 3 years of this... :-/

Originally Posted by mcgyver74

GroovyD speaks wisdom, one other thing, if you can get away with it, also try shaving every OTHER day..... It may be that your skin just doesn't tolerate every day shaving, there are some who simply cannot, I don't know exactly why but I would guess it is because shaving removes a layer of dead skin cells also known as exfoliating and your skin may not replenish those cells fast enough...but that is just a guess,,, the fact that you mentioned electrics give you burn as well would seem to support this...

....Have you ever had a professional shave? And I don't mean from some barber who only does a shave every few months, I mean from a pro who shaves people every day? Did that give you burn?

Professional straight razor shaves are some of the best ways I treat myself. I go to four different barbers in Los Angeles. Three are high end and one is more of a dive spot, all of them give me great shaves with no bumps. It's something I'm doing wrong, and I've tried to copy their every step. It must be my technique some how....

Also, I work in a business that requires a clean cut face (unfortunately). If it were up to me, I would shave twice a week...

Originally Posted by roughkype

I've read through the thread and see all the points I'd cover, but here they are again as things that have worked for one man...

Cold water shave, start to finish.

Aveeno product is a good suggestion. I've never used their shaving gel but am a big fan of their unscented body wash and lotions. Very nice stuff.

Shave less frequently.

Shave at night, so your skin can recover while you sleep instead of having to go out and deal with changes in temperature, humidity, etc.

I really like Thayer's cucumber/aloe witch hazel. It has no alcohol, and I keep it in the fridge for a nice cold splash at the end of everything.

Milder facial soap for your pre-shave face wash.

Groovyd's last point about drying the blades is good, and I'd suggest doing something to sterilize them between shaves as well. A boiling water rinse, maybe. If you leave debris in there, even if there's soap mixed in with it, SOMETHING will make a living from it and be spread over your face next shave. That's another plus of using a straight... nowhere for yucky critters to hide.

Good luck. I lived with angry skin for many years, and all the stuff I've summarized/repeated here has brought peace.

Best wishes to you.

I want to try the cold water shave, but am hesitant because won't my skin not be soft unlike hot/warm water on the skin? Also, is this after I take a shower? I've had difficulty getting a good grip on my skin after the shower. Do you wait 10-15 minutes after your shower to shave or just pat your face and neck dry?

Also, I ordered Thayer's Superwitch today and went to an Art of Shaving and bought an alum bar. The alum bar I'm going to use tomorrow for sure because multiple people, it seems like, have sworn by it.

Also: try different soaps and creams.
I tried several soap, and most gave me really irritated skin. Especially hard soaps do this.
I now use Taylor of Old Bond street, St James collection shaving cream.
That has made a world of difference, and it is why I never use anything else.

Originally Posted by jawman

I want to try the cold water shave, but am hesitant because won't my skin not be soft unlike hot/warm water on the skin?

I think that's the whole point

Originally Posted by jdto

First off, there's no such thing as "opening and closing pores" in your skin. People say that all the time and it's simply not true. The pores are not operated by muscles and don't have the capacity to open or close, though they can appear larger when they are irritated or contain a hair follicle or oil-producing gland.

Knowledge marches on.

See how my hair grows in all sorts of directions? How would you recommend I go bout this?

Look up Mantic59's clip on Yooutube called advanced shaving techniques, I have the same issue, blade buffing and J-hooking does the job for me.