New to DE-shaving with sensitive skin, could use both technique and gear suggestions

[mcrew]

Thank you for the long explanations!

Really, unless you have a skin condition that requires the care of a dermatologist, I would do the following:

Well, gravity alone doesn't work well for me, so I say: use a light touch.

Which (to me) means using just enough pressure to get the razor to cut your whiskers. If you press as hard with a DE as you do with a 5-blade cartridge razor, you will most certainly cut and irritate your skin.

I don't think i have a condition, i didn't think it had to so "sensitive" before i could be a problem.

Partly, but the fact you are doing okay on your cheeks but struggling on your tough areas suggests that maybe you need a bit more aggression and sharpness too. In your shoes I would:

- Focus on preparation. Just washing the face isn't really enough if you have tough growth. I like to spend at least 4 minutes in the shower with the warm water running down my face before I shave. For me, that's enough that I can physically feel the stubble softening when I run a hand over my face.

- Consider sharper blades. You don't say what you are using. Feather, BIC CP, Gillette Silver Blue, Gillette Permasharp are all solid sharp blades.

I tried to edit my original post to say which blades i have tried and have more of. I made this response as well further up:
king c. Gillette, some that was packed as a “gift” in my delivery. Can’t remember which ones. (I know I should I have noted that now). And I bought feathers platinum coated while the hi-stainless double edge came with the razor.
To my understanding, from what i read on the B&B forum and on reddits wicked edge, feather blades should be really sharp right?
Ignoring under the chin and cheek bones, as that seems to be my technique that is the only problem, i still feel like i dont get along with the razor for my more coarse hair on the chin under the mouth and under the nose.

I tried a long hot bath, making the bathroom steam up before shaving. I used the foam i have and a brand new feather hi stainless platinum coated blade. When i got to the coarse hair, it feel like hitting a stop button. And no matter how i twist and turn the razor. It requires a relativly lot of force and preassure where i can feel the hairs getting tucked on or the blade digging into the skin for it to move. Or i have to go so light that it is mostly gravity moving the blade, and it doesn't really cut anything.
I feel like it shouldn't be so hard compared to the cheeks to get the right angle here. But wtg, atg or going sideways it just seems to get stuck or shave just the tips of the hairs.
Here from how I understood it, getting another razor (not necessarily more agressive) that works bettor for my face, skin and hair, is what i should look for? Or should i just try more blades?

 

[mcrew]

Your neck issues can be solved with a thicker blade, like an AC. The Roumulus cuts through neck hair like mad. And you should get in on my giveaway. I will waive the 3 month requirement for you.. It curves due to the two pivots and it uses a single DE blade. Using it for pass 1 then later passes with DE/AC is a good combo.

If you will do that, then i will enter. Thank you

 

[CdnShaveGuy]

I also have sensitive skin, got two Hensons and they are my least favorite. I have a Leaf Twig which I find better, but I would go with a Gillette Tech or SuperSpeed. They are more affordable and great shavers, specially for beginners. Don’t go heavy buying really nice/expensive razors and soaps until you are sure you like the hobby

Interesting comment about the Henson. I have Henson’s “Mild-est” (least aggressive) razor and with a sharp blade (Feather), using a light touch accompanied with really good/slippery lather, I get a great (daily) shave with no irritation. So much so that I rarely need an after-shave splash/balm just a face moisturizer for my very dry skin.

Just goes to show that “one man's razors’ boon is another man's bane”.

 

[SRLNY]

You're getting a lot of information here. FWIW, my journey to smoothness and lack of irritation was mostly just time and practice. Primarily, I had to learn to stop pressing the razor head/blade into where I was shaving -- to let the razor head do the work and not try to force cutting hair. A light touch, where you instinctively know where the hair is and where you skin begins is the ultimate key. Getting that light touch does take time, of course.

Otherwise, what also clicked for me was not using the sharpest blades I could -- because when I pressed them into my skin they cut, nicked me. Sharp yes but not overly so (I've come to prefer Gillette Silver Blues for quite some time; lots of folks start with Astras). I, like some others here, also found a mild razor with a neutral blade gap to be intuitive. So perhaps the Henson (I came to love a Haircut & Shave N075 but that's expensive).

Finally, as for brushes, I'd recommend a synthetic one. A G5C knot can be quite cheap and work really really well.

Good luck. The main thing is to keep at it! The end result was -- for me -- vastly better than cartridges and ingrown hairs and irritation along my neck.

 

[CdnShaveGuy]

A henson AL13 mild is also a good idea to get your feet in the water. It was my first and because of the neutral blade gap its very beginner friendly. Also a merkur 34C is a great starter razor. Those are two razors I have used as a beginner and I have been able to use top tier sharp blades in them without fuss. Proraso is great for a beginner soap aswell as pacific shaving co shaving cream. I started with both of those. I got a synthetic badger brush from target but you are in europe so I have no idea what they have there. Any synthetic brush is good for beginners I suppose. My best friend started with a weishi from amazon and said it works for him and my father started with a wilkinson sword DE razor and still uses it i think.

I have a Simpsons Trafalgar T2 Synthetic brush and its been great, not overly expensive and, should be easy to acquire. They have plenty other (overwhelmingly number of) options as well.

 

[Odinarcade00]

I have a Simpsons Trafalgar T2 Synthetic brush and its been great, not overly expensive and, should be easy to acquire. They have plenty other (overwhelmingly number of) options as well.

Thats a good brush. If I did not have Three PAA brushes I wouldve got the simpsons t3 already lol

 

[tropic]

Welcome to the community! You've already received a ton of advice, so I'll just bullet some of my newbie $.02 below.

• A Henson AL13+ or AL13++. It's mild as milk, it's very forgiving, and it's pretty efficient in spite of it. I think it's a great choice to quickly achieve close, non-irritating results, with a drawback being that you might outgrow it fairly quickly. An AliExpress alternative I like is the Yaqi Ghost--a smooth shaver with good efficiency and a higher performance ceiling than the +/++. The 90 is the more efficient model, but the aluminum 70sb is a capable razor at about half the price of a Henson.
• You'll find that lather is a huge part of achieving excellent results. You might want to use a quality canned shaving cream until you're happy with your shaves. Then you can fall down the shaving soap rabbit hole.
• Pre-shave prep. I tend to avoid any sort of pre-shave regimen, but even I notice a huge difference in shaving ease when I've recently had a shower. You might want to **** an ear when the pre-shave preppers speak.

FWIW, my journey to smoothness and lack of irritation was mostly just time and practice. Primarily, I had to learn to stop pressing the razor head/blade into where I was shaving -- to let the razor head do the work and not try to force cutting hair. A light touch, where you instinctively know where the hair is and where you skin begins is the ultimate key. Getting that light touch does take time, of course.

I think this is worth reading twice. Have fun.

 

[jartrue]

Welcome

 

[The Blackadder]

Interesting comment about the Henson. I have Henson’s “Mild-est” (least aggressive) razor and with a sharp blade (Feather), using a light touch accompanied with really good/slippery lather, I get a great (daily) shave with no irritation. So much so that I rarely need an after-shave splash/balm just a face moisturizer for my very dry skin.

Just goes to show that “one man's razors’ boon is another man's bane”.

Yes, I know. I tried for a year with a Henson Mild and Medium, and even when the angle is set, it just doesn’t work for me. I feel as if the blade drags and tugs instead of cutting, regardless of prep and lather quality. The Super Speed just works, no problems whatsoever

 

[NickCutlip]

Welcome to the forum !!

 

[gpjoe]

...my journey to smoothness and lack of irritation was mostly just time and practice. Primarily, I had to learn to stop pressing the razor head/blade into where I was shaving -- to let the razor head do the work and not try to force cutting hair. A light touch, where you instinctively know where the hair is and where you skin begins is the ultimate key. Getting that light touch does take time, of course.

Bingo.

Otherwise, what also clicked for me was not using the sharpest blades I could -- because when I pressed them into my skin they cut, nicked me. Sharp yes but not overly so (I've come to prefer Gillette Silver Blues for quite some time; lots of folks start with Astras).

Double bingo.

I, like some others here, also found a mild razor with a neutral blade gap to be intuitive.

Trifecta.

Finally, as for brushes, I'd recommend a synthetic one.

I was going to suggest this as well. The Razorock Plissoft synthetic brushes are very soft, and can be had for 10 bucks. It's not my favorite brush, but could certainly be my only brush.

 

[Odinarcade00]

Welcome to the community! You've already received a ton of advice, so I'll just bullet some of my newbie $.02 below.

• A Henson AL13+ or AL13++. It's mild as milk, it's very forgiving, and it's pretty efficient in spite of it. I think it's a great choice to quickly achieve close, non-irritating results, with a drawback being that you might outgrow it fairly quickly. An AliExpress alternative I like is the Yaqi Ghost--a smooth shaver with good efficiency and a higher performance ceiling than the +/++. The 90 is the more efficient model, but the aluminum 70sb is a capable razor at about half the price of a Henson.
• You'll find that lather is a huge part of achieving excellent results. You might want to use a quality canned shaving cream until you're happy with your shaves. Then you can fall down the shaving soap rabbit hole.
• Pre-shave prep. I tend to avoid any sort of pre-shave regimen, but even I notice a huge difference in shaving ease when I've recently had a shower. You might want to **** an ear when the pre-shave preppers speak.

I think this is worth reading twice. Have fun.

I like pre shave oil and or pre shave soap. I find it adds an extra layer of protection and glide just incase I make the wrong blade choice or if the blade is duller. Plus I like washing my face with the preshave soap too.

 

[Jim in NZ]

Welcome aboard, mate!

If I could give one piece of advice, it would have to be to start with a middle of the road razor (DS Cosmetics, King C Gillette and Yaqi are all fine choices - I love my $10 Yaqi Mellon open comb razor and $20 Viper boar bristle brush) and a sharp but smooth blade, like Wilkinson Sword or the cheap as chips FlyDear from AliExpress. Be diligent with your pre-shave prep, and shave with only that combination for about 6 months before changing razors or blades. If you just do that, you will have removed so many variables that confuse and complicate what should be a relatively simple activity. You'll develop your technique to the point that you can make an informed decision as to whether you'd like to explore a more aggressive / efficient razor, or a more gentle one. Chances are that you'll become quite happy with the setup you have.... our grandfathers only had a fraction of the shaving gear to choose from that we have available to us, yet they did fine!