Thread: Razor Burn... educate us!!

Wasn't really sure where to post this, so I just settled on Beginners. If this is incorrect, please feel free to move it to a more appropriate area.

So, razor burn. We've all gotten it. I am particularly prone to it, especially on my neck on both sides, parallel to adam's apple below ears. In fact, my interested in straight razors is a direct result of my quest to beat the burn. I have tried almost EVERY commerical product, aftershave balm, lotion, technique, razor and cartridge (1, 2, 3, 4, .....12 blade system) to avoid this painful and unsightly problem. All in vain. I believe that a straight razor with proper technique might finally allow me a cure, and the ability to shave more often than once every three days without feeling like I did so with 20 grit sandpaper topped off with a salt and an alcohol aftershave ...... but only time will tell.
I would like to initiate a discussion as to what actually causes razor burn. I dont know if there is a definitive answer to this, but I have my theories, as I am sure alot of you do.

I dont think that razor burn has anything to do with the hair, or how it is cut (directly at least). I personally think that razor burn is caused by the relationship of the blade across the exposed skin IN BETWEEN the hairs, on over the skin once hairs have been removed. In essence, even if a razor is dull and pulling, I dont hink this would cause razor burn... however, if a razor is dull, and requires several passes to smooth out stubble, razor burn develops, and worsens with each pass over the now tender skin. If we all used one pass and called it done, I dont think razor burn would even be an issue... but you wouldnt have smooth skin beacause I dont care how sharp your blade is, you will not get a clean shave with one pass.....
So the question becomes the balance between creating a smooth shave and eliminating skin irritation. I think this comes down to balde angle (in theory). finding the appropriate angle that chops hair, but doesnt scrape off layers upon layers of skin with each pass.

This, of course, is just MY theory.
I'll turn it over to you guys.

It's really very simple. It's caused by the action of the blade over your skin. But more specifically if you use the wrong angle and/ or apply too much pressure. With folks starting out with a straight it can be due partially to you skin being accustomed to the new shave method. Certain strokes seem to bring it on like ATG. Also doing too many strokes over the skin can bring it on as can using a dull razor.

Of course added to the mix would be individual skin sensitivities and skin conditions.

I've never found any product that really neutralizes or prevents severe burn. Probably the best product I've found is the Thayers medicated Witch hazel.

+1 with what TBS said. Also what I suggest is to let your beard grow out a couple of days and see what directions your hair grows because you may think you are going WTG but infact you could be doing an ATG pass. Personally my hair grows from down and towards the ears on my cheeks, straight towards the ears along my jaw and just under, and up and towards the ears at the bottom of my neck. So with all these different directions I had a tough time getting good shaves when I started. Now I Know that for my skin which can be sensitive I can only do 2 pass that are a hybrid WTG and a hybrid XTG pass.

i also used to have razor burns and tried all the products out there until i discovered straight razors. With time i learned and developed my method for shaving and now i have clean shaves that i would say are around 80-90% BBS without a hint of razor burns.

anyway,,,,,, this is what i would do

wash your face with as much hot water as you can (if you shave before showering like me)
lather for a minimum of 5 minutes on face not in a bowl

(cream or soap is up to you,,but please tell us in your posts what do you use for lather)

sacrifice on the BBS ( its ok ),,,dont go ATG as much as you can.

shower after in order to remove any residued oil,,alcohol,,,or anything that is human made on your face :P:P:P:P

after the shower wash with cold water. avoid contact of materials such as whool close to the area shaved...and finally......hope for the best,,trial and error will get you there
what wouldnt get you there,,,,,mach 3 ,,gilette ,,goo in a can and all that

good luck bro

yeah, even before playing with straights my shaving experience has improved quite a bit by really working on my preshave routine, and by learning how my hair grows.
The condensed version of my routine is:
Shower, wash fase with preshave face wash (in shower), work conditioner into facial hair (while in shower), rinse, get out, presoak brush, get lather going, splash face with more hot water, apply lather, let it sit while I get my razors out, do my stropping.. ect. , with hot towel wipe off first lather, splash again with hot water and re-lather, do first pass (with grain), rinse, re-lather, do second pass (x-grain), rinse with hot water, re-lather, do third pass on not-so-sensitive areas, rinse with hot water, apply hot towel, rinse with cold water, apply cold towel, apply afershave balm (nivea for men/sensitive skin), once that dries apply cocoa-butter lotion (I love that stuff!!)

I shave my "face" every day and get "everything" (including neck) every other day (to keep irritation down), but am hopeful that ONE DAY, I will be able to shave all of it every day with comfort.

Starting tomorrow I will be adding some sort of oil to my preshave routine (probably baby oil) in between the shower and the first lather. I will try that for a few weeks and see if I have any improvement.

Thanks for all the tips guys. I am really interested in you theories on what causes razor burn, in the hopes that the cause could be used to sort of reverse-engineer a solution (i.e. razor burn is caused by friction from the blade against skin - thus the solution: skin needs more lubrication). barring that, I will just continue what I have been doing, as it seems to be helping quite a bit.

An I correct in thinking that razor burn is not the result of hair tuggin?... i.e. you can have a shave where the razor is tuggin a bit, but still be free of burn afterwards? Not that mine is doing that, I am just trying to look at this in a cause/effect manor.

Razor burn is caused by the friction of the razor against your skin causing the hair follicles to catch on fire. It's science.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Razor burn is caused by the friction of the razor against your skin causing the hair follicles to catch on fire. It's science.

Wasn't it The Fonz in Happy Days who said "I wondered where the smoke came from"?

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Razor burn is caused by the friction of the razor against your skin causing the hair follicles to catch on fire. It's science.

No No....it's not fire,how absurd. It's an electrical Micro charge.Where did you go two skool ?

Originally Posted by Nightblade

No No....it's not fire,how absurd. It's an electrical Micro charge.Where did you go two skool ?

Actually, you're both wrong. Everyone knows that your pores and hair follicles are mini volcanos and dragging the razor over them causes them to erupt. The redness you see is actually the lava spreading under your skin.

As was mentioned before,cartridge razors are just harsh to begin with.I suspect once you start using a straight,things should get better for you as it will teach you to go slower and be a lot more lighthanded.Not saying you don't have sensitive skin to begin with,but this might be your answer. Just in case and not saying this will do the trick ,but Al's shaving makes some wonderful Balms that you might want to try later on down the road and also Mitchells wool fat shaving soap is very very good srtuff.It has lots of good lanolin in it which is really good for sensitive skin.