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I can't get my neck to be burn/bumps free. I waited for them to clear up, shaved and it was great. I shaved the next day, and it was not as great. Shaved today - horrible! I guess I'm using to much pressure, but it really doesn't fell I do. A lighter touch and razor jumps on my skin. Is it possible my beard grows to slowly for a daily shave?
Any help is welcome!
Thanks,
Omri
I don't shave daily. About every third day.
It normally takes 30 shaves for everything to come together. Your face has to adjust, your skills have to improve, eye to hand coordination gets better, stropping, making lather, and so on. Don't be impatient, it truly gets better...just look at how many members there are here and it's growing daily. Lets start with your straight shaving every other or third day as mentioned above.
Tell me about your razor, was it pro-honed? Tell me about your stropping. Tell me about your lather... We will get you thru this.
Patience is key, I guess, and I should have elaborated on my original post.
I've been wet shaving for about two years. I started with a Shavette, and had to stop for a week after every shave. The past few months (6 - on/off, 2 straight) I've been shaving with a SR. It's a professionally honed TI 5/8 "Super Gnome", which I strop at home (the honing is not more than a month old, and the blade shave just wonderfully).
My prep and post are OK (hot shower and face wash before, Alum and ASB after). I get a nice BBS with three passes (WTG, XTG, ATG), but the sides of my neck are abused after just one.
The hair does grow in a different direction there (diagonally downwards, with the jawline) and I'm shaving it straight down (which is like shaving XTG on the first pass, I guess). Could that be it? I just can't find a position or a hold with which I can get the right direction.
Imomri,
It sounds like we're cut from the same cloth. I've been using straights and DE's for the past couple years, though I took a 5month hiatus and grew a full beard in hopes that letting my whiskers grow out would train them to grow out instead of back into the skin.
Shaving the beard off, my neck looked better than it has since I was a kid. The next day not quite as good. The next day worse. It's been two weeks now and my neck looks about the same as it used to.
My hairs on my neck grow in a circle. From chin to adams apple they grow down, but they turn and grow toward the back of my neck, and then turn up toward my ear, making it all but impossible to do a WTG/ATG pass except directly under my chin. I shave one pass down, then one up. For parts that's WTG, XTG, and ATG, and then the second pass is ATG, XTG, WTG respectively.
I can't say I'm happy with it yet. BUT, I can say that you should have NO razor burn from the passes you're making. Once you get razor burn you need to let your skin recover before you shave again, but if you're using the right angle and pressure (mainly pressure) you should get NO razor burn. This is a part I have to continually remind myself of or I'll easily give myself razor burn. Aim to just wipe away the lather and NOT touch the skin. If you're razor's truly sharp you can wipe the lather away with ultralight pressure, and when you wipe the lather off the blade it will look like there's pepper in it. You face may not look as perfect as you'd like, but working in this way I can literally do 5 or 6 passes without getting burn...2 gets me a DFS, but if I'm feeling OCD that day I can touch up areas multiple times without getting burn.
So far as bumps go, I've got little to offer. Skin that gets severe razor burn will draw into bumps as it heals. These have taken up to a full week for me to get rid of, and you really can't get a good shave until they're gone. (Otherwise you get razor burn on your razor burn!)
My neck has demon whiskers that curl in and cause bumps. Those I can't seem to get rid of. But wet shaving (whether straight or DE) has gotten rid of my razor burn and associated bumps and ingrown hairs.
Hope it helps!
Peace,
Jim
You have to have a sharp blade and use very light pressure at the right angle, just as Jim said. If my blade is getting dull I have a tendency to lean into it more with added pressure to compensate. That is usually good for a burn. A blade that skips could be a little dull or the lather is a little dry, maybe a little of both. Nothing wrong with re lathering a dry area, I sometimes have to being a slow shaver. You really need a good slick lather to allow the blade to glide along.
Bob
You may just not be able to shave every day, or not shave ATG in that area. I am still very much in the learning stage (just had my 7th straight razor shave), and today I did two WTG passes with some XTG strokes here and there, and it was the most comfortable shave I've experienced yet. I don't think I'm going to go ATG anymore. Especially if I want to be able to shave everyday (which who wouldn't when you're doing it with a straight razor?!).
I guess it may depend on what kind of skin you have and how sensitive it is. I do a 3 pass shave every morning with little problem with irritation. If I hone a razor I may do a 3 pass test shave in the evening too to test it.
Bob
Are you allergice to the product you are using. It may not be your razor/technique/skin soley. If you use your soaps and creams do you break out even if you dont shave. May be worth a shot. I know people who are terribly allergic to lanolin.
That was how my neck reacted when using a mach 3 before i switched and i couldnt shave more than every other day.
My skin tends to be on the sensitive side so i only use unscented products and am very careful that my prep is the same each time i shave.
but with a straight razor i can do 3 passes on my neck daily without any issues. the hair on my neck grows E-W so WTG and XTG are very difficult to pull off, at least they are for me, so my three passes are ATG but using short strokes i get DFS
you may also want to try stretching the skin in different directions to find what works the best for you
Can I throw something out there, that may create a discussion. Have you tried a shaving oil or Prorasso Pre-shave cream? When I first started, I skipped this pre-shave prep and I got razor burn, but not as bad with my Mach 3. Since then, I am mostly burn free.
The other thing might be an allergy. I have an allergy to lanolin, which is present in MWF and a few others.
If you're getting burn the problem is too much pressure; if you're getting bumps you're shaving ATG and cutting hairs under skin level. The simple answer is to lay off the pressure and to eliminate ATG in problem areas, respectively :)
What stands out for me is the fact the you had a great shave and then it got worse after shaving daily. This tells me that you might not be able to handle daily shaving, which isn't uncommon at all. In fact I fall into that category as well, despite having a fast growing beard. Once your skin heals try shaving every other day and see if it helps. I'm thinking it might.
One question: were you able to shave daily with your previous type of razor?
My neck was always trouble. Flat sideways from left to right ear. I shave the jawline up completely. Dry the upper face then lather the neck. I use the dry upper face to stretch the stubble up so you can get to it. Practice the stretch before to see which way lifts it the most. If you lift it enough you could get a good shave going xtg. And that might be enough for you. I've gotten to where I do 2 atg on the neck. Wtg and xtg still left me with a lot of stubble. So I don't bother with the on the neck. You will know what you can or cannot do. I'm not suggesting you hurt yourself. It works for me. I also use a pre shave on the neck.
I have the same issues.. I just stopped going against the grain. Now it feels fine and my shave is still smooth... Nothing states you HAVE to go ATG.. Try it .. Cheers
Yep. Today was my first shave without going ATG and I think I'm sticking with it from now on. I think it's just better for some people to not go ATG. I now know I'm one of those people.Quote:
Originally Posted by Katan2212
I second that. Since I stopped shaving ATG my skin has improved a lot, particularly in the neck and chin areas. It just isn't worth the hassle of trying to get a short-term BBS against the relative long-term discomfort and unsightliness after shaving ATG.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chreees
For what it's worth, my early experiences of daily shaving were brutal. Burn and bumps galore. It took time to get used to the pressure. That got rid of the burns, then I dropped the ATG and after some time I added it back in now and then. As time has passed I have become more experienced and my face has gotten used to it. Now if needs be I can shave every day and if needed can go ATG to a BBS. What I'm saying is, fore it just took time for it all to fall into place.
Geek