Thread: Sensitive skin + coarse beard. Is shaving with a straight everday possible?

I have more sensitive skin and a very course beard. I had some of the same experiences for my first week. Over time I got better at shaving and stroping so my razors were more comfortable to shave with. Also I changed shave creams. I found blue beards, or now it is called dreadnought to help me a great deal. Also different razors give me a much different feel to the shave and produce less irritation. Keep with it and experiment. There are lots of options to try. I love the shave an now I have much less irritation than I have ever had with those old cartridge junk.

Ya I am in the sensitive skin piano wire beard club myself.

What I have found that works for me so that I may be presentable every day is to shave at night and alternate straight razor and DE. I find that the DE keeps me looking good (in the eye of the beholder of course) while letting my skin rest enough to go again the next day.

One week? what you need is tinture of time,rivive this topic in about 5 mos,after shaving every day.

I shave every other day on average, same affliction as you: sensitive skin coupled with a tough beard. If I skip a day there is no irritation. Some men just can't tolerate daily shaving and must accept it. My best advice to you is not to push it. Shaving daily for the sake of it and dealing with the irritation and pain will not "toughen up" or condition your face for the future. If you find it's just not happening for you the best bet is to skip a day to let your face heal.

I've never used one of those shavette razors. A real straight, properly honed, may give you a whole different experience though.

Edit: I used to shave every 2 to 3 days with a disposable because of irritation. I shave every day now, primarily with a straight, and occasionally with a DE.

Thanks again guys,

Yes, I agree. Its going to take more time. I'm wondering if my skin is only moderately sensitive. I can usually shave everday with just about anything including carts. I'm just on the steep part of the learning curve with the straights. I'm loving the climb though.

Ryan

Many great points already made but two that stand out to me are, that with 1 week in, you can't really judge what your straight razor shaves will be like 6 months from now and if you can shave every other day, instead of every day, that will make a big difference in relieving sensitivity.

Dr. Chris Moss once posted, IIRC, that he thought shavers of a hundred + years ago did 1 pass and called it good. I was really glad to read that because it gave me the idea to do that on some days. I even may skip a day just to rest my skin for another day. Anyway, as time goes by our technique improves and our shaves are like night and day from what they were in the beginning so hang in there.

Originally Posted by ryan2022

I can usually shave everday with just about anything including carts.

Well, ya left that part out of your OP....

In that case it's a matter of technique, razor sharpness or both. If you can shave daily with other razors, especially cartridges, your skin isn't sensitive; straights, when used properly, will shave more gently than any other type of razor. Keep at it and your technique will improve to the point where daily shaving (for you) is possible.

You don't say what you're using for lather, or for pre-shave treatment.

As an experiment, get some glycerin (or Astroglide), and add a small spill (more than a few drops, less than a teaspoon) to your lather bowl when making lather.

And before lathering, rub a little pre-shave (olive oil, almond oil, grapeseed oil) over your beard.

One of those might help with the sensitive skin -- they give better protection against the edge of the razor.

I think you're right about needing a very sharp blade. I find it difficult to get a straight razor as sharp as a new Feather DE blade. So (based on _my_ experience), using a replaceable-blade "shavette-style" razor might be your best bet.

And on this learning curve, "a week" is no time at all.

Charles

+1 to shaving at night; I can only do that in the summer. Cold water shave is also helpful. You've mentioned pressure; that's critical. If your razor is properly sharp, you should remove barbs when you only aim to remove lather. Try a pass with a butter knife to see how gently you can squeegee your face, then try the same pass (over fresh lather) and the same pressure with your straight. That's all it should take. If you set your pressure aiming to clear heavy beard, irritation is inevitable.

On difficult spots, like the front of and beneath the chin, I do light-pressure buffing strokes across or diagonal to the grain. That gives me the close shave without the angry skin.

My post-shave is Thayer's aloe/cucumber (no alcohol) witchhazel, which I keep in the fridge for summer shaving. Makes my skin very happy.

Best wishes. And yes, mere time and practice will make all this work much better for you.