Would the skin get used to it?

[pesa]

Hi guys,

I just started shaving using straight razor for the past one week. Been doing it everyday since then and although I had a nick on the first day, I managed to get a baby bum smoothness on my cheeks by going across and against the grain. I've been wet shaving using disposable razor for the past 15 years and never had such smoothness with similar passes. Three days later, I'd say I have the same great result with the rest of the face area (except the upper lips).

My only concern about shaving with straight razor is the post shave sensation on the skin. The aftershave helps sooth the sensation but I never had the same problem with disposable razor before. Is it more of the sharpness of the razor or I just need to improve my techniques? Would the skin get used to it and the sensation will be less if I keep on at it? Do share your thoughts on it and please suggest ways that can help. Thanks

[gash]

The sensation is called 'razor burn.' Straight razors give me less razor burn than any other razors. After a while, your technique will improve. Then, you will get only a little razor burn or maybe no razor burn.

[drathgeb]

I also get a bit more razor burn than I ever did with a cartridge razor. My technique is much improved so I am thinking my razor is not as sharp as it could be.

[rimmini]

First, Grasshopper, ATG passes are advanced technique. They leave yu smooth but the odd angle leads to bad razorburn among the unitiated (at least it did for me til I got it right). It takes some time to get the ATG pass down. I would suggest trying ATG passes every third shave or so till you get used to it. Now your question.

The bad news is NO your skin does not get use to it... but heres the good news!!!!

There are two causes of burn in using an SR. A dull blade which requires more pressure to cut the hair, and poor technique where the angle of the blade and the hand pressure cause the razor to dig. They are both fixable. Make sure your razor is sharp, keep it stropped and hone it when needed. Next, TAKE YOUR TIME. Use short strokes and concentrate on using very light pressure letting the blade do the work.

Hope this helps

[Doc226]

Pressure, pressure, pressure-the more you use the more burn

I rarely go ATG, my usual shave is WTG, XRG x 2

AS help.

[paco664]

i have been using a straight for a long time i still get razor burn on my neck from time to time.... it is from pressure...

and i only get it when i am in a hurry.... slow down... its not a race *(this is what i tell myself)....

[O.G.]

Oddly enough I only get razor burn if I dont go ATG. My hair grows in so many directions that if I dont have a 4 pass, yes, 4 pass shave I get random irritation. I had been trying to do a two pass but I started having breakouts. I switched back to the 4 pass and then BAM it went away, my skin became clear and BBS. I think if I go for visual I will go for a 1 pass shave and call it a day. Hopefully this next comment will help: Think of the Straight rasoir as a skimmer, try not to feel it on your skin much at all, and focus on having the correct angle to remove the lather. When you go ATG, when your ready, a very shallow angle is needed so that it cuts under the hair not allowing it to whip back. If you do find that you need to bare down for the rasoir to cut its getting dull and either your stropping needs work or the edge does. Beware the warning signs and make subtle changes quickly. I expect that your technique will get better with this advice.

[SliceOfLife]

Very good advice. And why people who call razors "too sharp" are to be scoffed at. "This razor is too sharp" means "My technique needs work".

[deezyrocks]

I noticed when I first started shaving with a straight a few weeks ago I was using way to aggressive of an angle and always had some degree of razor burn. I didnt even notice i was doing it. Since then I brought the spine of the razor closer to my skin and have had much better results.

[Kentos]

Very good advice. And why people who call razors "too sharp" are to be scoffed at. "This razor is too sharp" means "My technique needs work".

I'll tell ya my BB Damascus Kamisori and Takami white steel Kamisori are preeetty close to being too sharp. I can't get any other of my razors to get that way. I say that because if I skip every other day my skin is happy and I actually have some stubble to shave. Shave everynight and whew my WH spiked with extra 95% isopropyl stings a bit, not to mention there isn't much to shave away. No long lasting irritation tho.

TBO if I HAD to shave everyday I might tone down the edge a bit( maybe skip the tomonagura slurry on the jnat?), or I would stop short of BBS, and do a 2 pass WTG/XTG and skip ATG.

Don't get me wrong, I love a super sharp edge, but the edge needs to match the skin needs to match the technique. It is hard to have a satisfying ATG upper lip pass on a less keen blade tho.

So yes, those two can get a little to sharp for my technique.

[shakin_jake]

surprissed, no one mentioned this but, you may also be using too much blade angle...try keeping the spine of the razor closer to your skin to lower blade angle. Too much blade angle will cause razor burn. it's all about using a deft touch

I would think a master of the straight razor could get BBS using somewhat of a dull straight razor, by using various techniques to get the edge to cut successfully, like pulling off a scything stroke all around, pulling your skin with your free hand to get the whiskars to stand up, thus enabling them to be cut easier, all w/o using any pressure whatsoever


Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

[SliceOfLife]

So yes, those two can get a little to sharp for my technique.

Yeah, but a guy with a less aggressive* technique wouldn't find it too sharp. Generally sharper razors let you involve the skin less in the shave. Eventually a razor will theoretically be so sharp that the hairs static inertia itself will allow a razor to cut it without putting any pressure on the follicle AT ALL. So sharpness is always better in theory. The problem is our techniques develop in a way where we balance the pressure put on the skin based on how sharp our razors are... and when we get a razor sharper than our technique is capable of handling, we start cutting into the skin, causing excess irritation and even nicks. If we were perfectly able to recognize and compensate for the sharpness of our razors, I put to you, that the concept of "too sharp" would become irrelevant. In that vein, I believe rather than putting an edge aside as "too sharp" it is our responsibility to accept our failings and develop our technique to allow the use of that edge.

Of course keep this in mind. A lot of people calling an edge "too sharp" are likely being polite or optimistic about an edge that they hesitate to call inferior. For instance, the first time I shaved with a 30k shapton edge, I said "too sharp for me". Until I'd played around and inspected it a lot against some other edges I used, I didn't realize that I actually was encountering a problem of the particular razor with that edge, not accepting an edge beyond a certain point. So while I called that edge "too sharp" because I was so confident that while the shave was uncomfortable for me, it couldn't be that a pro-honed shapton 30k edge wasn't sharp enough, I neglected other variables and calling it "too sharp" was a polite way to say I didn't like the shave.


*Best term I can think of for the idea here

[professorchaos]

You'll get better, your skin will get used to it and soon you'll be giving advice to the n00bs.

I find that straight shaves tend to dry the skin out more than other forms of shaving. Post shave moisturization is critical, especially if you use alum and aftershave.

[SliceOfLife]

You'll get better, your skin will get used to it and soon you'll be giving advice to the n00bs.

I find that straight shaves tend to dry the skin out more than other forms of shaving. Post shave moisturization is critical, especially if you use alum and aftershave.

Really? Hmm. I wonder if it's just that it takes longer, and the soap sits on your face longer. Most shave soaps aren't exactly moisturizing.

[Shmu]

Really? Hmm. I wonder if it's just that it takes longer, and the soap sits on your face longer. Most shave soaps aren't exactly moisturizing.

+1
I've found that my face is noticeably drier when I go to lather for a second pass because it's taken so much longer.

[professorchaos]

Really? Hmm. I wonder if it's just that it takes longer, and the soap sits on your face longer. Most shave soaps aren't exactly moisturizing.

That's what I've always thought to be the cause.

[Kentos]

That's what I've always thought to be the cause.

I would agree the scraping of the skin with a straight tends to squeegee out the moisture, along with the dead layer of epidermi, from your face more than DEs. I use Proraso and MWF, which is quite moisturizing IMO.

[TonyJ]

....Is it more of the sharpness of the razor or I just need to improve my techniques? Would the skin get used to it and the sensation will be less if I keep on at it?

Yes, sharper is better. As sharp as possible but without losing smoothness.
Yes, you have to improve all the time your technique. Focus these things; angle, balance, slide, buffing, stroke, weight, pressure, prep work, lather, growth direction, 1 hand or 2 hands, stretching (not too much, not too little), using different parts of blade, hand position, handle position, relaxing face muscles, relaxing your body, breathing

My skin likes much more when I shave every day instead of keeping day or two break. Day or two break will make my hair feel tougher.

[pesa]

Thank for all the useful advice guys...will try to focus more on the angle of the blade this time...I'll update on the result later.

At the rate I'm going now, I'll probably need to get a new aftershave...would the one without the alcohol be better? Any advice on that?

[pesa]

Just had another shave...This time I used my previous technique on left cheek while reducing the angle of the blade and the amount of pressure on the right. I find that on the right, it does reduce the burn as I go along but at the same time I need more passes to get the same smoothness as on the left....and after having more passes, it does adds up to the burn altho not as bad...interesting finding nonetheless...