feeling the "burn"

[JMP]

Shaving with brush/soap for about a year now, and have been shaving with a DE (merkur HD) for about a month now. So far, I have tried a feather, derby, merkur, and personna blade. One thing that I find with any blade is that even when I try not to use any pressure and shave slowly, when I am done I feel as if a very thin layer of my skin (i have pretty sensitive skin...) has just been sliced off. I rarely get a nick, maybe 1-2 per week, but even so, as soon as the after shave balm (i use nivea) hits my face, I get that burn, and my face feels pretty raw. Using the same brush/soap, a sensor excel, and the same ASB, I don't get that raw, burning feeling. Is this normal with DE shaving, or is this more likely a blade angle or lather problem? I might try running out and getting some KMF as I hear it lathers well....currently I have been using col conks almost exclusively.

[natchez]

If your ASB has no alcohol there should be little if anything that feels like a burn. Sounds like a bit too much pressure or too aggressive a blade angle, or some combo of the two. Then again, you possibly could be reacting to Nivea. Try a new balm, a good one is the Anthony Logistics for Men ASB, $19.50 at Sephora. This balm has benzocaine which might help your skin not feel a burn.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[mattbikes1]

if your asb has no alcohol there should be little if anything that feels like a burn. Sounds like a bit too much pressure or too aggressive a blade angle, or some combo of the two. Then again, you possibly could be reacting to nivea. Try a new balm, a good one is the anthony logistics for men asb, $19.50 at sephora. This balm has benzocaine which might help your skin not feel a burn.

Good luck and keep us posted.

+1

[ang_81]

If your ASB has no alcohol there should be little if anything that feels like a burn. Sounds like a bit too much pressure or too aggressive a blade angle, or some combo of the two. Then again, you possibly could be reacting to Nivea. Try a new balm, a good one is the Anthony Logistics for Men ASB, $19.50 at Sephora. This balm has benzocaine which might help your skin not feel a burn.

Good luck and keep us posted.

+1

+2

Welcome to B&B

[shamus]

Welcome to Badger and Blade. It might be your method of shaving. As someone has stated, too much pressure or the wrong blade angle. Do you shave right after a hot shower? You might want to try heating your face with a warm/hot washcloth before shaving instead of the shower routine. The warm cloth, if used on your face a few times and reheated in the hot water in the sink each time may soften up the beard instead of a soap shower. Some people might have a tendency to over scrub their face in the shower and then with a shave afterwards....flare up big time.

You might also want to try getting some KMF to add to your lather bowl. I usually put about a half of a squirt on the tip of the brush after loading up with the shaving soap. Work the lather for a while and you'll have plenty of real slick cream to work with. The KMF adds a lot of moisturizers and slickness to the shave puck soap when mixed in the bowl. It only takes a little to make a lot of lather. Another suggestion might be to use a little bit of WH instead of the balm after your shave. You can purchase some WH without alcohol if you want to try it. I have found that it clears up any kind of razor discomfort after shaving and now I use it after every shave. I usually mix mine with AS lotion to help with the aroma of the WH. Let us know how you make out.

Tutti Frutti, cheers

[JPM]

Looks like some good advice above, so I'll just say welcome to B&B.