Thread: Prone to ingrowns

Originally Posted by bbshriver

I'm also prone to ingrowns, and find that one thing that helps is to "brush" my face with a toothbrush or similar stiff bristle brush before and after a shave.. this helps to dislodge any stubble that gets stuck under the skin...

Now, that's something I haven't tried! Thanks for the tip, I will try that.

Originally Posted by New2CutThroats

That's what I had heard as well. And we've probably all seen the graphic adverts that show the first or second blades doing the lifting while the last does the cutting, but I wish there was an actual video (instead of company propaganda) that actually shows the blades doing this to the hair, because I find the mechanics of it all, hard to believe. (ie, the 1st and 2nd blades "lifting the hair")
I'm a skeptic, what can I say? I just think those blades damage the skin so much, because I am not only prone to ingrowns, but those multi blades cut me frequently. I have had a styptic pen long before I even started reading about straight razors. What I'm not a skeptic about: multi blades are crap! Period.

I know this sounds crazy, but here is an experiment I did a long time ago.

I took one of the 3 blade safety razors and towards the end of its life removed the last blade. Then I ran the razor over my arm hair to see what would happen. It cut hair but I could feel it pull and stubbles were left. Then I did the same thing with just the first blade in. It, of course, cut hair higher up and pulled at the same time.

Now, if you take your straight and lay it flat on your arm, raise the edge up 1/8 to 1/4" and pull the blade across your hair, you will feel it pull the hair when it cuts. If you put the blade flat again and pull it across the hair, you will not feel it pull but it will cut the hair smoothly.

I don't know if this proved a darn thing, but all I can say is it convinced me to get away from the safety's and go to the straights.

I haven't had a problem with ingrowns since, so I have to believe it works. JMHO

Ray

There are a couple of useful posts on this topic in the Razors forum. I'm an absolute novice with this SR stuff so take anything I say in that context.

My ingrown problem has been a lot better since starting to use a straight a few weeks ago. I've always had a problem with ingrown hairs. On the couple of occasions that I've used a cartridge to shave ATG my face has broken out in a sheet of ingrowns that caused pain for a week or two. As a firefighter I have to shave so I just went exclusively WTG with a cartridge which left me with frequent bumps.

Since starting with straights I've had only the occasional ingrown. Because I'm enjoying shaving so much I've begen to shave every day instead of only on my work days. At first there was some irritation, but whether it be due to adaptation of the skin or improved skill I'm not suffering any irritation these days.

Here's what I do--
I do not use brushes or other abrasives to free the entrapped hair. It is my highly unqualified opinion that such irritation only makes the problem worse. My understanding of ingrowns is that they result from the hair being cut so short that its end sits below the rim of the follicle. When the hair grows it grows into the side of the follicle instead of through the opening. Though not a doctor, I do have some basic understanding of physiology. One of the body's stock responses to to abrasions (brushes, exfoliating scrubs) is the inflammatory response. This includes swelling of the affected area. This would, I propose, raise the rim of the follicle higher relative to the hair, putting one at risk for more entrapments. I trust that the razor will exfoliate enough.

I do remove entrapped hairs. I found very pointy tweezers at a local health food store. I use the tweezers to gently pull the entrapped hairs free.

I follow the standard beard prep advice (wiki ect...). I use AOS shave cream (unnecessarily expensive, see other postings for alternatives).

I use two passes. One WTG and one XTG. Though I'll probably never get a BBS shave this way I've found that after only a few weeks in I'm getting a closer shave than the mach 3, with fewer ingrowns. I use a buffing motion on the second pass with careful attention being paid to coming at the hair from 90 degree no matter what the random direction.

Immediately after the final stroke I hold a cold washcloth to my face in hope of shrinking the size of the follicles before the hairs can slip inside.

I finish with an AOS shave balm (again, you can certainly find cheaper high quality alternatives).

So far it's great. The main downside has been a negative impact on my wallet as I have started pursuing ever more razors.

BTW, the best thing I've done is read this forum compulsively. It's been a great help, so thanks to all the posters.

I wet shave mayb 2 or 3 times in my life before giving up entirely and using electric razors until 8 months ago when I learn all about straight razors.

Here has been my experience: the closer the shave, the more likely I'll get ingrowns, usually around my mouth and on my throat just above my Adam's Apple. My hair is different on the right side of my chin, thicker, but I wouldn't consider it barbed wire.

I recently tried two things simultaneously that have resulted in the occurrence of ingrown hairs greatly diminishing. Further experimentation will be needed to determine which but I have my hunch...

I've been using a jojoba based preshave oil (homemade and commercial, both work just as well) to soften the skin before I shave, not so much to soften hair. Then I go through the prep, shave routine, the same after shave stuff I've been using. Then when it's all said and done I splash just a bit more jojoba oil on the trouble areas, sometimes the whole beard area. I'm talking a drop or two, no big fuss here. I do this every time after I was my face as well, usually instead of a 'moisturizer'.

My hunch is, MMM is correct about the formation of ingrowns. What the jojoba does is moisturize and lubricate the skin without irritating it. Scrubs and exfoliants and salicylic acids make (my) skin go into over time and produce more oil, more white heads. The jojoba gives the skin a break and keeps the oil levels normal. So when the hair grows back out of the follicle, the skin is soft and pliable, more likely to 'slide' the hair up and out the way it's supposed to go.

Jojoba is nice because it most closely mimics human sebum, absorbs quickly and is relatively thin. Other oils might work just as well for your chemistry.

MMM-

Also good advice... as I think has been mentioned a few times each face/beard is different, the brush thing seems to help me a lot... but for some it could make things worse.. just something to try.

Also, I'm trying this stuff... was highly recommended by a style guy on another website.. just got it yesterday so not enough to say if it works or not
Barc Bump Down

Originally Posted by MMM

Here's what I do--
I do not use brushes or other abrasives to free the entrapped hair. It is my highly unqualified opinion that such irritation only makes the problem worse. My understanding of ingrowns is that they result from the hair being cut so short that its end sits below the rim of the follicle. When the hair grows it grows into the side of the follicle instead of through the opening. Though not a doctor, I do have some basic understanding of physiology. One of the body's stock responses to to abrasions (brushes, exfoliating scrubs) is the inflammatory response. This includes swelling of the affected area. This would, I propose, raise the rim of the follicle higher relative to the hair, putting one at risk for more entrapments. I trust that the razor will exfoliate enough.

Honestly, I am prone to ingrowns as well and I find that a Straight razor and good skin care following the shave is the best thing for it. Recently I had to resharpen my razors and I got lazy and decided to just use the DE Safety razor for the week, big mistake! Ingrown hairs X3. Sharpened up the Straights and am ingrown free again. So remember, Straights, then GOOD skin maintenance afterwards.

Billy

+1 on keeping the razor sharp. When playing with my disposable straight blades, I use the blade directly without the holder to see how it takes care of one or two hairs that care to stick themselves out 24 hours after a BBS shave. The blade just cuts the hair off at skin level. Sometimes if the skin has a little extra around the pore opening, you get a little weeper, but a cold water rise always closes them up and they are a non factor. A small weepers or two seem to happen to me on every shave and since I go for great BBS shave everytime out, it comes with the territory. Again, a simple rise and they close up and are not noticable anymore.

Therefore, the M3 design is to pull hair up, cut, then drop the hair back into the pore. Some pores will not like this as they close up very easily, thus you create an ingrown hair situation or razor bumps. When first shaving with a straight, I would easily get 3-4 weepers. Most of this was a few pores with a little extra on top that got cut along with the hair. Although I looked a little ugly with the weepers, the cold water rise closed them up quickly and I was amazed at how fast this worked.

So my conclusion is that the straight razors cuts very close to the skin, but avoids cutting below the skin. Much of your success relies on face preperation, technique, and having a sharp blade. Since I shave and get great BBS results every time out (WTG, XTG, ATG), once in a long while an ingrown hair develops, but they work themselves quickly since they were not cut so far below the skin and they don't create an ugly spot. This never happend with the M3 as the ingrown hairs were deeper and got ugly and took a long time to run their course.

The investment in straight shaving was well worth the effort and cost.

I hope all newbies keep with it and gain the success that I have gained. SRP is great and there are so many good people to help you.

Pabster

I'll just throw this in here quickly- some causes can include viral and/or bacterial infections. Pores can become blocked by simple things such as shaving oils or the wrong aftershave/moisturizer. Also, using an exfoliating scrub daily, as good as it sounds, can often aggravate the situation. Cetaphil facial cleanser is gentle and GREAT for sensitive skin. Check out these links for more info:

Ingrown hair - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pseudofolliculitis barbae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Folliculitis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia