Ouch!

[theshankleton]

Hello,

Ive been a lurker and now I have joined:)

Tonight I shaved like a real man for the first time. My tools are:

Merkur Future on No 1 Setting
Proaso Shaving Cream/Soap
Merkur Blade
Super Badger Brush
Alum

I couldnt get a brilliant lather so I need to keep practising, a few nicks here are there, and I was shaking when I was shaving my neck...:001_rolle However the shave was incredible.. I took my time and used N-S passes on the face and neck. I wont go back to my Mach3

But...

My face is pretty red and it stings.. What would cause this? Would it be the brush as Ive never used a shaving brush before? Ive used the Alum block.


Any tips from you pros would be most welcome.:)

[Queen of Blades]

Welcome to B&B!

As for the redness and stinging, you may be allergic to something in the Proraso.

[Dinder1]

Welcome.:001_smile
Cheers, DJ.

[TraderJoe]

My face is pretty red and it stings.. What would cause this? Would it be the brush as Ive never used a shaving brush before? Ive used the Alum block.


Any tips from you pros would be most welcome.:)

My guess is that its a merkur blade/futur combo causing the sting, with too heavy a "touch" on a new face...working on the lather will help with this.

btw welcome to B&B :badger:

[scarface]

As Joanna stated the redness and the stinging could be caused by an allergic reaction to some ingredient in the Proraso.

Take a bit of the Proraso and rub it on your elbow and leave it on for about an hour. See if a reaction occurs. If it does then bingo it's the Proraso.

Another problem could be applying to much pressure on the face with the razor. Remember the Futur is a heavy razor let the weight of the razor do the work. Use ZERO pressure and you should be fine.

Welcome to B&B.

Cheers.

[Aky007]

Welcome to the Badger and Blade, and congratulations on making the switch.
How much pressure and how fast were your strokes? I have found that if i apply just a bit too much pressure or shave to fast it gives me an irritated face. It could also be that you migh be allergic to something like mrs chefchris says. The Merkur future does not need pressure while shaving because of its weight. Thats one of the main reasons i like this razor

[theshankleton]

Hi,

Many thanks for the replies. I really need to work on my technique, very slow passes I used.

Which saving cream/soap is best to avoid potential skin reaction? Trumpers?

Is there any shaving videos available on youtube?

[Jim]

Welcome!:biggrin:

[Queen of Blades]

Hi,

Many thanks for the replies. I really need to work on my technique, very slow passes I used.

Which saving cream/soap is best to avoid potential skin reaction? Trumpers?

Is there any shaving videos available on youtube?

Shaving video? YouTube? No. :sneaky2:

Someone else can post a link for you. Sorry.

[Leisureguy]

You might give this a try (http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522960/2982478.htm)---the travel size would be less, but it's almost the same price.

[BGog]

Mark's awesome youtube shaving video's are here:

Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjhIy9rgWQU)
Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4ezJNJfygw)
Part 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPLfCyGMm9o)

Enjoy!

P.S. Whats with the frowny face Mrs. Chefchris? Don't like Mark's vids? or youtube in general? :tongue:

[Queen of Blades]

Mark's awesome youtube shaving video's are here:

Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjhIy9rgWQU)
Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4ezJNJfygw)
Part 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPLfCyGMm9o)

Enjoy!

P.S. Whats with the frowny face Mrs. Chefchris? Don't like Mark's vids? or youtube in general? :tongue:

It isn't a frowny face. It is a "sneaky" smilie. An attempt at humor. :001_smile

[geoff]

I found the Classic shaving sandalwood made my face and neck in particular very red for an hour or two.

I know it was the soap as I had the same redness farther down my neck were I don't shave, but did get soap.

The HoneyBee coconut soap works fantastic and doesn't cause redness for me but YMMV.

-Geoff

[av8or234]

Welcome welcome!

I just started this about 3 weeks ago and won't go back, ever, I'd rather grow a beard. I went from Muck3(no typo), to Fusion, and now to a FUTUR. My first shave ended much like yours. When the B&B'ers says NO PRESSURE on this DE stuff, LISTEN. Even when I thought I was applying little pressure it was still too much. Slow isn't everything, NO pressure on the face is. At least that is what I have found. Years of the cartridge type razors have resulted in much bad technique which now must be "unlearned". Keep at it, you'll do fine!
:badger:

[ouch]

I thought I saw the Bat signal.

[rtaylor61]

theshankleton (do you have a first name?),

Figuring this out is easy, but it takes time. Let's start with your mention of the N-S pass. This is my pet peeve. Have you determined the growth pattern of your beard? You know..."shankleton, shankleton, how does your beard grow?" I'd bet my retirement that your beard does not entirely grow N-S! What you want to focus on is "with the grain" shaving. Spend a few minutes stroking/massaging your unshaven face, and learn which direction your beard grows. Then, shave "with" the grain. And stop. After a week or so, toss in the "across" the grain pass. Eventually, you will be ready for the final "against" the grain pass. Your face needs to adjust to your new shaving tool. And you need to focus on blade angle and technique. Add all of this up, and you'll be getting incredible shaves. But, if you stick to the old N-S type effort, your face will pay the price. You've spent a lifetime getting bad shaves. Getting great shaves will not happen overnight. And remember. Each pass is used to "reduce" the stubble, not eliminate it. So for the first week or two or three, your shaves will not be perfect, but you will be headed in the right direction.

Randy

[theshankleton]

Hi, My name is steve and once again a big thanks for your input here. Before I found this place and as a 28 year old man I did not realise that people take shaving as an art form.. The redness is still here today almost 24 hours on and my neck is raw and sore..

Randy,

My beard ( face ) is NS. I run my finger downwards, it feels rough. Now my neck... I run the finger NS.. It feels rough. I check again.. S -N its smooth..

The merkur is scary for me when I shave my neck. I think thats first timer's syndrome though!

What Im concerned about is the blade pressure. I wasnt digging into the skin and felt I was using the merkur's weight. But how can I tell Im applying the right amount of pressure?

[Ashe]

Try to hold the razor with the tips of your fingertips, firmly enough to not slip the razor, but softly enough so that you can't add any additional pressure.

Kyle once posted a perfect thread with photos about this technique while using a Merkur HD. While not necessary the same type of razor, I think by reading the thread and looking at the photos carefully, you'll find exactly what you need to know to apply the right amount of pressure.

If you're applying too much pressure you'll feel it on your skin, both during the shave, while lathering up again and certainly after the shave (both during the alum rub and after your AS etc). You simply need to hold the razor at the end of the handle with your fingertips and let the razor "weigh" down on your face under a good angle. Once it starts cutting beardhairs, you'll notice that no additional pressure is needed.

Can someone post the link to Kyle's thread? I can't seem to find it easily..

[ada8356]

It's tough to describe the proper pressure.

However, a few things to think about while you are shaving:

*You aren't taking the whiskers all the way down in one pass. You are doing a gradual reduction. So when you finish one with-the-grain pass, you will not feel completely smooth. This is the correct way.

*Sound. Listen for the sound of your whiskers being cut... it's a scaping/popping sound... another sign you are doing things correctly.

[ada8356]

Here is the POST (http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4018) that Benjamin (Ashe) was referring to.:smile:

[theshankleton]

Well, I had another shave tonight..

Here is what I did:

Showered, and used the shower head to spray hot water all over my beard. While I was in the shower I had my bowel and SBH brush soaking in hot water.

Ditching the proraso, I used Trumpers Rose Shaving Soap. It created a much better lather, but not as good as what Ive seen/read on here. ( This needs to be worked on! )

Using the Merkur and trying the fingertips on the bottom of the handle technique, I had a superb shave on my sides/cheeks/moustache using N-S passes

However, my chin and neck...

The noise of the blade meeting beard scrape got louder to my ears, and it was starting to get sore. So I stopped with the Futur and used a Fusion as I am still apprehensive of shaving my neck. I cant seem to get the technique or confidence.

I was using N-S passes on my neck before I used the Fusion, and it was sore..

But my neck beard is N-S rough when I touch it when unshaven.

So, Its getting better, so any more tips as I progress would be great!

Well, I got most

[Scotto]

Well, I had another shave tonight..

Here is what I did:

Showered, and used the shower head to spray hot water all over my beard. While I was in the shower I had my bowel and SBH brush soaking in hot water.

Ditching the proraso, I used Trumpers Rose Shaving Soap. It created a much better lather, but not as good as what Ive seen/read on here. ( This needs to be worked on! )

Using the Merkur and trying the fingertips on the bottom of the handle technique, I had a superb shave on my sides/cheeks/moustache using N-S passes

However, my chin and neck...

The noise of the blade meeting beard scrape got louder to my ears, and it was starting to get sore. So I stopped with the Futur and used a Fusion as I am still apprehensive of shaving my neck. I cant seem to get the technique or confidence.

I was using N-S passes on my neck before I used the Fusion, and it was sore..

But my neck beard is N-S rough when I touch it when unshaven.

So, Its getting better, so any more tips as I progress would be great!

Well, I got most
This is clearly the problem. :eek: :lol:

[htownmmm]

I went from Muck3(no typo)

Thats the best name I have heard for a multi blade yet! (Good one Tom :wink: )

Welcome to B&B! resistance is futile- you will be assimilated.

Marty

[htownmmm]

While I was in the shower I had my bowel and SBH brush soaking in hot water.



The new wetshaver strikes again!!!!!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


Marty

[theshankleton]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


OOPS!!!

I meant.. bowl..

[theshankleton]

3rd shave tonight. My neck is red raw with no cuts.

I know it takes time, but Im frustrated here. Perhaps if I use S-N passes on my neck?

Im holding the blade right, but maybe its my shave technique? Please help!

[rtaylor61]

3rd shave tonight. My neck is red raw with no cuts.

I know it takes time, but Im frustrated here. Perhaps if I use S-N passes on my neck?
Im holding the blade right, but maybe its my shave technique? Please help!


Go back and re-read my original response. Based on your reply, to shave with the grain on your neck, you should be shaving the neck in a S-N direction. Remember, forget the "directions", and focus on with, across an against the grain. If possible, give your neck the day off from shaving.

Randy

[theshankleton]

Thanks:) I will try the S-N pass on my neck.. In about two days time I will report back. Hopefully I wont have slit my throat..


;)

[Skyguy]

I think you've about got the answers! To me, putting pressure on the razor is probably the most obvious possibility because if you're used to a cartridge-type razor -- which you are -- you're used to using pressure to make the cuts. But when DE or straight razor shaving, that's a no-no. Let the weight of the razor do its thing for you and resist adding pressure until you get a feel for things. It may take a few shaves, but it will be worth it. Trying for a BBS (baby butt smooth) shave the first time won't win you an award, so take your time and take it easy. Keep us posted on your progress, and stop that shaking! This is fun!

[theshankleton]

I really dont think i have the knack for this.

Another shave: baby smooth skin on my face Apart from neck and chin due to the following reasons:

1. Neck. By using the images on this forum as a guide to handle a razor, I could not get any sort of cutting angle/plus Im scared of cutting myself bad here by doing S-N passes.

2. Chin. My chin hair started to hurt as I shaved.

Yet again this cheat went back to his Fusion to finish off the shave. Yet again my neck is red.

:(

[TraderJoe]

1. Neck. By using the images on this forum as a guide to handle a razor, I could not get any sort of cutting angle/plus Im scared of cutting myself bad here by doing S-N passes.
:(

Build up the confidence a bit...Don't be afraid, try to enjoy it more and don't be nervous. You will get good results, but it will take time.

[theshankleton]

I am trying my best. I enjoy using the merkur future on the 'confident' parts of my face. If only there was a shaving video!

[TraderJoe]

I am trying my best. I enjoy using the merkur future on the 'confident' parts of my face. If only there was a shaving video!

I think that if you get really comfortable using the Futur on your cheeks, you'll eventually get a feel for the razor and its "sweet spot" (which is correct angle to hold it) and the neck and other hard parts will fall into place. For me, I didn't get good results on the neck until I found the sweet spot, and did skin stretching.

[rtaylor61]

Try reading this (http://www.shavemyface.com/gallery/profile.php?uid=182)! You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader, as it is a PDF File.

Randy