Thread: Frustrations

So I have been biding my time on here for a little over a year now. Reading up, seeing everyone's advice, and troubles. Why post about it when each person's problems really aren't that different from the next guy. Just a little patience and reading goes a long way in educating a person. I love the advice of skipping days between shaves. Wish I could do it. But the job requires me to shave every day. I have found that no matter what, my chin will always be an area of trouble. I have tried the new fangled razors, straights, safeties, every possible combination of the three. I have gone through just about every combination of shaving soaps and oils and aftershaves that I can afford and think of. I have tried WTG only, WTG + ATG, WTG + XTG. I keep having some ingrown hairs and infected hair follicles. I have had the razors sent off and honed, I have swapped safety blades after 1 or two shaves. None of it seems to work. I only get to shave with a straight once or twice a month now due to time constraints.

Probably the first thing you need to do is straighten out your skin before you can expect a good shave.

Often times when someone has used every conceivable means to shave and still has issues there is something fundamentally wrong with the way they wield a razor. It may be angle or pressure and they don't realize it and just reinforce the bad habits over the years and things just get worse and worse.

Hopefully you aren't just posting to get selling rights. That ain't cool.

I too am a new comer to straight razor shaving - and have and going through the 2 steps forward and one back. I suggest taking it very slowly - shaving that is - and do wtg. I was/am a DE shaver as well and I finished my shave with my DE. I kept progressing and finally got to WTG ATG and XTG with the straight. All but some neck and the upper lip wiskers (XTG) were good and I finished with the DE. I am now back to going WTG with the Straight finishing with my DE. Two steps forward one back. I need to get control of the XTG again. Just do your cheeks with your straight - build your technique and confidence. Results will come - then go and then come back. Just my 2 cent advise.

If you haven't already, you might like to look at this thread, which may give you some more clues
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...in-how-do.html
Also IIRC there is a useful 'face map' in the WIKI that can help you to find out in which directions the hair grows and, therefore, could assist with getting a better shave.
I hope this helps

Out of curiosity, what type of razor were you using previously, and were your shaves close or at least acceptable?

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Probably the first thing you need to do is straighten out your skin before you can expect a good shave.

Often times when someone has used every conceivable means to shave and still has issues there is something fundamentally wrong with the way they wield a razor. It may be angle or pressure and they don't realize it and just reinforce the bad habits over the years and things just get worse and worse.

(...)

Totally agree. And I'd like to add that it takes time, and I mean "time". You won't find out what suits you best by trying one different thing after another. And don't forget that for some people due to the type of skin or whiskers or anything else, it is impossible to get a bbs shave without skin irritation.

Originally Posted by ras4jeep

So I have been biding my time on here for a little over a year now. Reading up, seeing everyone's advice, and troubles. Why post about it when each person's problems really aren't that different from the next guy. Just a little patience and reading goes a long way in educating a person. I love the advice of skipping days between shaves. Wish I could do it. But the job requires me to shave every day. I have found that no matter what, my chin will always be an area of trouble. I have tried the new fangled razors, straights, safeties, every possible combination of the three. I have gone through just about every combination of shaving soaps and oils and aftershaves that I can afford and think of. I have tried WTG only, WTG + ATG, WTG + XTG. I keep having some ingrown hairs and infected hair follicles. I have had the razors sent off and honed, I have swapped safety blades after 1 or two shaves. None of it seems to work. I only get to shave with a straight once or twice a month now due to time constraints.

Try switching up your shave routine and shave in the evening instead fo morning. This will probably give you a little more " quality" time with your technique and razor...

If I go for a three-pass shave between my chin and lower lip, I know I'll end up with a little acne crop in that zone. One or two passes and I'm OK, and one pass there will get me out the door and presentable enough... so I've given up on getting that area as clean-shaven as it can be. So I'm just reaching an equilibrium between my razor and my skin.

You might consider a beard where the trouble is worst. A lot of classic beard shapes, I now realize, just match zones that are a pain to shave with a straight. A well-trimmed beard may be what your skin really wants there.

Everybody is a little different. My chin area is the hardest to get smooth, but fortunately, I don't have breakout problems. I've found that the grain on my chin runs from my jaw line to the center. The only way I get it smooth is to very carefully stretch and shave from the center out toward my jaw line. If you haven't already, you might try "mapping" the grain in your chin area.

Have you tried alum? That might help with the breakout problems. Good luck.

Shave on

1+ on the above advice, pick a set of razors and exuipment stick with that and work on your technique, slowly shave by shave you will in time learn what works and what doesn't no magic pill for this one mate, just practice and more practice.

IMHO, that is, ..............tinkersd.