Thread: Razor burn?

I can irritate my skin with a course washrag. However my favorite brush is an Omega boar with the backbone of a T-Rex. If you're face lathering, try using a bowl. Try another brand of soap or go to a cream. I use to think I needed all kinds of prep, but here's what I do now in my routine. Wet brush ($20 boar brush...I have $200 silvertips collecting dust), load up brush with Tabac, splash face with cool water, face lather, shave, done. Oh yeah, Nivia makes a great post shave balm, it also serves as an after shave and skin lotion, and it's available everywhere.

Also, one thing I don't think anyone has mentioned yet...

While you've gotten some very, very sound advice here (change soap/cream, change brush, etc.), the only way to know for sure is to change one variable at a time. So, for example, on your next shave change the amount of water in your lather. Then change the soap during the shave after that if the irritation still persists. If that doesn't help, change the brush on the next shave. Continue on in this fashion until you single out and eliminate the variable causing your discomfort.

I know I have not taken my own advice and completely switched my prep on a couple of shaves and paid dearly for it. Once I resumed my normal prep and just changed or tweaked a certain variable, I have noticed the feedback my face gives me is much more reliable about what's working and what's not.

We have a tendency to jump the gun and move really fast in changing our routines when something doesn't work for us, but we should approach this the same way in which we shave... slow, methodical and steady.

You had to learn to slow down for your shaves, now learn to slow down for your prepping until you have it tweaked to that perfect BBS shave with no irritation that leaves you faceturbating all day long.

pressure and/or wrong angle are great contributers to razor burn. When You're tensed, which -as a beginner - You normally are, chances are high, that too much pressure is used. It just comes with time and confidence. A dull or not perfectly sharp razor also leads to more or less automatically use more pressure.

If You have bad razor burn, I would recommend You skip one day or two (I know, that's not easy) to let the skin calm down completely. Even if You don't feel it in the morning, the skin might be more sensitive and You might end up with a burning face, although You might have changed the right parameter. For me a day off works wonders if I need a "reset"

Ok, looks like it's a one day sabbatical and then my new shave soap and after shave balm should be here at about that time. Dug up some skin lotion last night my wife uses that smelled terrible but was full of skin saving ingredients. After using a little of that everything seemed to return to normal. I will take a systematic approach the next few days and then beat my badger brush into submission. hehe. Thx everyone.

Originally Posted by Steelystan

Dug up some skin lotion last night my wife uses that smelled terrible but was full of skin saving ingredients. After using a little of that everything seemed to return to normal.

Another tip... I use this when I get razor burn to help heal it faster. I wait a day between shaves, and each day put some on before I leave for work and also as I'm getting into bed at night. Works like a charm. Combined with my Nivea aftershave balm, it can't be beat.

Stan, did you say what soap/cream you were using?

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

Stan, did you say what soap/cream you were using?

I bought an entry level sandalwood soap, ordered some Tabac which arrived today, will give it a try tomorrow.

UPDATES!!! WE DEMAND UPDATES!!!

Nah, seriously though, how did everything go with the Tabac? I'm actually curious to try some myself...

The Tabac is working better than my previous soap, lathers nicely, shaves are smoother, skin feels better. I attribute better shaves to more experience as time goes on. The last couple of days I've also added some Thayers aftershave along with some Nivia aftershave. I especially like the Tabac, see no reason to look any further for shaving soap. Further encouragement is coming from both my razors, seems my stropping has not ruined them up to this point. I've received great service from SRD supplying me with all the goodies.

Glad to hear it!!

You are definitely correct that experience is another variable to eliminate when experiencing poor shaves... I know every time I shaved at first I became more aware of pressure, and eventually did some hair growth mapping to find what was truly with and against the grain. Also, since everyone is a bit different, I've started learning more and better ways to stretch my skin to avoid irritation and get a closer, smoother shave as well.

Just keep on keepin' on... sounds like you're doing fine!