Why is one side BBS? The other side bumps/cuts/reds?

**philian2** · 10-27-2008, 11:23 AM

I have been DE shaving for about a month. Recently I decided to do XTG/ATG ( I've been doing this for a week along with WTG). One side of my face is looking great, but the other side is looking HORRIBLE. I mean it really looks bad. I have 3 cuts and I just can't believe that I did that.
I use a Merkur HD, Walmart blades, and Burt's Bees Shampoo as a lubricant. Don't get mad, it REALLY is slick. Do you think maybe that side just needs more time to get used to shaving???

**Etoyoc_Rebmos** · 10-27-2008, 11:59 AM

I and some other members have noticed that we get a better shave on one side of our faces than the other. I can't say that this is the norm; however, it was an observation that some of us had made. Out of curiosity, is the rougher shave on the same side as your dominant hand? I have found that my left side of my face gets a better shave and I am right handed.

I know it doesn't help much... I am just curious.

I would assume that your blade/razor combo are not to blame as much as the fact that shaving the other side of your face takes different hand/arm angles and will take a little longer to learn. If you are getting bumps/cuts, it sounds like a case of too much pressure and/or not being as careful with the angle on that side.

**Abdiel** · 10-27-2008, 03:01 PM

I'm right handed and generally get a better shave on my right side. Just keep working on your technique and the sides will even out

**philian2** · 10-27-2008, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by Etoyoc_Rebmos

I and some other members have noticed that we get a better shave on one side of our faces than the other. I can't say that this is the norm; however, it was an observation that some of us had made. Out of curiosity, is the rougher shave on the same side as your dominant hand? I have found that my left side of my face gets a better shave and I am right handed.

I know it doesn't help much... I am just curious.

I would assume that your blade/razor combo are not to blame as much as the fact that shaving the other side of your face takes different hand/arm angles and will take a little longer to learn. If you are getting bumps/cuts, it sounds like a case of too much pressure and/or not being as careful with the angle on that side.

Yeah, that's actually true for me! I'm right handed and my right side is the trouble side! I'd like to think that eventually my face will "toughen up."

**jpkunst** · 10-28-2008, 01:54 AM

Originally Posted by philian2

Yeah, that's actually true for me! I'm right handed and my right side is the trouble side! I'd like to think that eventually my face will "toughen up."

It used to be the same with me. However, your face won't "toughen up", your technique will get better. I consciously tried to use an even lighter touch on the right side of my face than I did on the left side for a while and the problems cleared up.

**Dharion** · 10-28-2008, 02:02 AM

Yeah things will likely get (much) better when you concentrate more on the angle and light touch. How bout trying to use real lather? It doesn't need to be expensive! ($10 for a cheapo starter brush and $3 for real soap)

**scottish steve** · 10-28-2008, 02:52 AM

I'm surprised you haven't got a brush yet. You should get a brush and some soap...I'd try Kent to start with, only if you're ok with lanolin...its terrible if you're not. I think you're probably just getting away with things on the one side and your poor technique shows up your poor prep on the other. I'd also think about getting better blades

**philian2** · 10-28-2008, 11:50 AM

yeah i certainly want to buy a badger brush, but where could I get an inexpensive one? are there any stores that carry good ones? I'd perfer to buy in store rather than online....

**Kenrin** · 10-28-2008, 12:13 PM

walgreens carries a VDH brush and soap (deluxe is best) for cheap if you really want to buy in-store.

**uberlegit** · 10-28-2008, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by philian2

yeah i certainly want to buy a badger brush, but where could I get an inexpensive one? are there any stores that carry good ones? I'd perfer to buy in store rather than online....

Crabtree and Evelyn Best Badger

Their Best Badger will run you $35 and is highly regarded -- budget or not. They seem to be out of stock online... don't know what the situation at their store would be, but they do list a number so you could call ahead.

Also, I absolutely adore my Rooney size 1 style 1 in super. It was my second brush and worth every penny of the $75. I haven't tried anything "top tier" but the consensus is that it is a fantastic value for a "luxury brush".

**scottish steve** · 10-29-2008, 02:55 AM

Since a super-badger'll last you at least 5 years, its not a lot of money to invest in an activity you do every day. I've never tried a boar brush, but no-one seems to slate them much and you can get a good one of them for around $20 I think. The thing is, prep's not just about putting some "lubricant" on. Its about changing the whole texture of your skin and beard to prepare for an unusual and invasive procedure. The hot towels, Pre-Shave-Oil and soaping-up isn't just making a meal of things for the sake of it...its really important. It also can become a small meditation....time to yourself that you don't get in any other part of the day. Half the time my skin feels better after a shave than before!

**MJB** · 10-29-2008, 03:15 AM

The angle and focus based on handedness is one explanations.

Grain patterns may be another. My face is pretty typical in terms of the grain--however--under my jaw on the right (yes my dominant side)--there is no rhyme or reason to the grain. In fact, I suspect the dominant pattern is such that my first pass in this area is caudal-cranial (down to up) but the method shaving chart instructs the opposite. I am quite convinved that it is the opposite on the left side. My solution is several gentle passes in every imaginatble direction in this area. My chin is also a bit unpredictable and receives the same treatment.

**Slack** · 10-29-2008, 06:13 AM

I am in the same boat when it comes to my right side being good and my left less than good. It took me a while to master an ATG pass that resulted in my current minimal razor burn no-nick state. Basically what it came down to was paying close attention to how I would shave on my dominant (right) side and then mimicking those actions on my left even if it meant doing one stroke on the right then doing one stroke on the left etc. I noticed that I was applying more pressure to the side of the razor closeness to my mouth when performing an ATG stroke on the left side. I chalk this up to reaching across my face. At one point I did try switching hands as some people here suggested but it didn't help me.

**silverneedles** · 10-29-2008, 07:44 AM

caudal
cranial
:O
doc?

**Leon** · 10-29-2008, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by Slack

I am in the same boat when it comes to my right side being good and my left less than good.

Actually one small part of my right side of my jaw line is the only area on my face that I still have some trouble from time to time. And the strange part is that I'm a "righty", not a lefty...

**cvac** · 10-29-2008, 08:34 AM

I had the same problem when I was using cartridge razors and still have it to some degree since I've been using a DE (I'm a newby). However, I have never cut the left side of my face with a DE and irritation I got from cartridge shaving is disappearing (along with bumps) since I've been using the DE.

Personally, I would invest in a decent shaving brush, even if you have to get a boar brush or synthetic brush. Some members have even had good luck with the $10-15 Tweezerman brand badger brush. That might be something to look into. Second, get some decent, real shaving cream. Kiss My Face cream in the pump bottle is about $7. I used some this morning and performance seemed to be on par with the more expensive creams I've tried. I can't imagine that the shampoo is providing the right amount of protection for you. A good, properly lathered cream will provide cushion for your mistakes on the left side of your face.

Have you tried other blades? I know nothing about Walmart blades but based on the two brands I've tried thus far (Derby and Crystal) there is a noticeable performance difference between the two. Sampler packs aren't that expensive and you might find something that works better for you than the Walmart blades.

**sehrgut** · 10-29-2008, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by philian2

Yeah, that's actually true for me! I'm right handed and my right side is the trouble side! I'd like to think that eventually my face will "toughen up."

That's the way it is for me as well. What it comes down to is that you need to develop different muscle memory for each side to maintain a consistent blade angle. I'm getting much more consistent as far as left-versus-right goes these days . . .

**philian2** · 10-29-2008, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by cvac

I had the same problem when I was using cartridge razors and still have it to some degree since I've been using a DE (I'm a newby). However, I have never cut the left side of my face with a DE and irritation I got from cartridge shaving is disappearing (along with bumps) since I've been using the DE.

Personally, I would invest in a decent shaving brush, even if you have to get a boar brush or synthetic brush. Some members have even had good luck with the $10-15 Tweezerman brand badger brush. That might be something to look into. Second, get some decent, real shaving cream. Kiss My Face cream in the pump bottle is about $7. I used some this morning and performance seemed to be on par with the more expensive creams I've tried. I can't imagine that the shampoo is providing the right amount of protection for you. A good, properly lathered cream will provide cushion for your mistakes on the left side of your face.

Have you tried other blades? I know nothing about Walmart blades but based on the two brands I've tried thus far (Derby and Crystal) there is a noticeable performance difference between the two. Sampler packs aren't that expensive and you might find something that works better for you than the Walmart blades.

I once had a Col. Conk boar brush but it was a very unpleasant experience.

I know what you're thinking about the whole shampoo thing, but I've got to tell you, today I discovered the trick. See if you put shampoo in your hand, without lathering it that much, it's very slick. So I just put some on my face and don't lather it, so it's still in gel form, and I'm telling you, it's SLICK (it has vegetable glycerin in it)! The main reason I use it is because it's all natural, and I'm big on that.

When I first started I was using Merkur blades. They SUCK! Once I tried the blades I'm using now I was impressed. The other day I was so fed up with my irritation that I actually went and used a Bic disposable...it turns out I actually cut my chin! It made me realize how great DE's really are. I'm never giving up.

Originally Posted by MJB

The angle and focus based on handedness is one explanations.

Grain patterns may be another. My face is pretty typical in terms of the grain--however--under my jaw on the right (yes my dominant side)--there is no rhyme or reason to the grain. In fact, I suspect the dominant pattern is such that my first pass in this area is caudal-cranial (down to up) but the method shaving chart instructs the opposite. I am quite convinved that it is the opposite on the left side. My solution is several gentle passes in every imaginatble direction in this area. My chin is also a bit unpredictable and receives the same treatment.

I can totally relate. My neck is like the RAINFOREST. No matter which way I go the hair doesn't wanna budge! But you're right, gentle works, although I find the first pass is usually not very gentle, but subsequent passes are...

**cvac** · 10-29-2008, 11:51 AM

Well that's too bad about the boar brush. Anyway, it looks like your sold on this shampoo thing, however, there are many types of reasonably priced glycerin based shaving soaps and all natural shaving creams out there, as I'm sure you know. I believe the KMF cream may be all natural.

The Bic sensitives aren't bad, but they are so light, lighter than some other disposable razors, even - which makes them kinda tricky to use, I think.

If part of your face is torn up, try to rest from shaving for a few days. Maybe look into putting some Neosporin or something on those cuts and irritated spots of your skin while you're at it. Regardless of what type of razor you use, shaving over an irritated patch is only going to create more irritation if you don't let it heal.