Guys, any of you have extremely sensitive skin when shaving?

FivePoint.0 said:
Best thread I've ever started. Thanks everyone! I just ordered a Merkur HD 34C(blade included). I REALLY hope this helps. I'm SO tired of looking like Freddy Kreuger after I shave. The ingrown hairs a couple days later. The skin irritation, not only right after I shave, but the following days. It all sucks! I have a very coarse beard. Hope I don't cut the crap outta myself!
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I went down this same path of Razor Burn and nothing helping. It sucks because everyone's skin is so different. What I would do if you can is let the beard grow for about a week so your razor burn can heal. Here's what I did:

Let my facial hair grow for about a week while applying moisturizing lotion and Bump Stopper-2. Best product I've found for razor burn out there.

After a week, use clippers to cut as close as possible without fully shaving. I use hairclippers without a guard and it cuts to where it looks like I have five o clock shadow.

Then I used a safety razor to finish the shave with Taylor of Old Bond Street Sensitive Skin cream, and it was like a knife through butter on my face. No irritation, no razor burn. Followed it up with lotion and that's how I shave every day now, and I have had zero irritation since I started using a safety razor and that shaving cream. They sell the bump stopper-2 at Walmart(4 bucks or so), and I got the shaving cream on amazon. It has lasted me for about 1.5 years now. You need so little to get a good lather going. An alum block is great for stopping small cuts/irritation as well.

I hope your find the relief you're looking for! I hated shaving before because it was so painful at times and my skin was so sensitive. Now it's a lot like detailing for me in that I have a routine and you know when you've done a good job. Plus with a brush and safety razor it's actually pretty fun/relaxing in the morning.
 
Heisenberg said:
Then I used a safety razor to finish the shave with Taylor of Old Bond Street Sensitive Skin cream
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Thanks for the info! I just bought the shave cream with a pure badger brush. How do you use these together? :dblthumb2:
 
Awesome thread. Was actually researching this online yesterday after re-reading the shaving post here from around Xmas. Will probably swing by the west coast shaving brick and mortar store this weekend to check out some options. This thread has helped a lot.
 
FivePoint.0 said:
Thanks for the info! I just bought the shave cream with a pure badger brush. How do you use these together? :dblthumb2:
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Some people prefer to lather in a mug/bowl, some lather directly onto the face. Wet the brush thoroughly in warm water, fling the water into the sink so it's damp. Then just swirl the brush around in the shave cream container a bit. Then just whisk it in the bowl or around on your face until it gives you a good lather, and spread it around.

Here's a really good video on the different techniques. It only takes a minute, and I do it right on my face because the lather is usually warm and it helps soften your whiskers.

It's like using a foam gun for your face! :xyxthumbs:

How to Lather a Shave Cream - YouTube
 
FivePoint.0 said:
Thanks for the info! I just bought the shave cream with a pure badger brush. How do you use these together? :dblthumb2:
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Soak Badger Brush in hot water for about 3-5 minutes.

BE AWARE: a new badger brush will smell like a wet badger. No joke. It takes a week or so for the smell to go away completely as the shave cream and rinsing remove the oily smells.

Hold brush over sink and remove excess water by dobbing it straight up and down, eyedropper movement style. You don't want a dry brush, but remove excess loose moisture.

Take a dollop of shave cream a bit larger than a pea and put it into the bottom of a large coffee mug. I use one that looks like a soup bowl with a handle. Mix it with the badger brush using a circular whisking type motion and an up and down pumping motion to work air into the foam. If the foam is too thick and doesn't lube well, add a bit of water. If there's too much water in the mix, you can actually see the individual bubbles in the shaving cream, add more cream to balance it out.

Making shaving cream fresh is kind of a skill unto itself. You'll get it down.

Some folks don't use a mug, they actually just make it in their non-dominant hand. I usually do that when traveling, so as not to have to pack a breakable mug.


When you first start shaving, go as light as you can and make more passes. I think the first time I was so scared of cutting myself I think I went too light and had to make like 8 passes. Eventually, you learn how to manipulate the razor better.

If your face feels hot or a bit irritated after the shave, that's the first indication you went one too many shaves on the actual blade itself.

The tip about letting the current razor burn heal for a week before starting this journey is excellent, as is the one about NOT shaving against the grain, especially on the neck line. You're going to learn very quickly the direction the hair on your face grows.

Also, when safety razor shaving, you'll notice that what feels a bit rough on a hot face won't be rough at all when you put the aftershave on, so you don't have to keep going after that very last bit of rough.
 
If I shave too often, say twice a day, or consecutive days...I get razor burn.

If my razor gets dull, I get razor burn.

If I go too long between shaves, I get razor burn.

If going too long between shaves that I have to use electric clippers to shorten the beard before shaving, I get major razor burn.

The only way to keep from getting razor burn for me was to shave every-other-day, with the right razor, the right shave cream, and rinse the blade with cold water while shaving.

I think the cold water rinse has done the most for eliminating bumps after a shave. I quit aftershaves and lotions long ago. I do occassionally use a shave balm, Nivea brand from wal-mart. However, it's not like a lotion more like a white aloe that completly soaks in. Put it on thick and leave it alone to soak in on its own.
 
aim4squirrels said:
I too use the Nivea balm. Very good stuff.
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Yes sirreee...

My mom used to spend big money on stuff at the shopping malls for me. All of it used to sit unused in my cabinets after finding it greasy or burning the heck out of me. She put me onto this Nivea balm stuff last year at Christmas time after noticing my dad liked it so well. Heck, I even put it on my entire face...forehead, ears and all. For me, this Nivea balm was like Burt' Bees lip balm...nothing better for dry skin.
 
So most of the solutions have been mentioned above but I have some that I've used with great success in the past.

Use an exfoliating scrub a few times a week. Ingrown hairs are caused by the hair not being able to pierce through the skin and as a result curling up under the surface of the skin and getting infected. Every day dead skin cells accumulate on the surface making the surface of the skin 'thicker" and more difficult for the new hair follicle to pierce through. Exfoliation removes the dead skin cells and makes it easier for the hair to pierce through. I use ClarinsMen Exfoliating Cleanser.

Now the next thing is a very, very cheap product called Vaya Smooth. I have no idea whether it is available to you guys in the US so I've checked and the active ingredient is salicylic acid. It comes in a little roller type applicator. You just roll the ball on the areas affected the razor burn/ingrown hairs, endure a 30s stinging sensation and no more ingrowns at all!

Thanks to this combination and using high quality shaving gear I haven't had an ingrown or shaving issue in years.

Edit* Quick google search found this: Magic Shave Bump Rescue Spot Treatment at Walgreens. Looks to be the same thing as Vaya
 
Thanks for everyone's help!! This has been an eye opener!!!

:props: :dblthumb2: :props: :dblthumb2: :props:
 
My son sent me one of these double edge safety razors for my birthday Amazon.com: Edwin Jagger De89lbl Double Edge Safety Razor Chrome Plated Lined Detail, Chrome: Health & Personal Care It was like "back to the future" as these are the type I learned to shave with.

I was a little aprehensive, but totally amazed at how comfortable and close a shave it produced compared to the disposable multi blade razors I'd been using for years. It took me a few shaves to get the process down, but was well worth it.

Using the Derby blades that came with it I'm getting a much closer shave that lasts a day longer so now I can shave every 3 days rather than every other day---with none of the irritation caused by the disposables.
 
Mark, do like me and don't shave your face! That is the easiest way to avoid irritating your skin.

I do shave my head though, just not my face ;) Head Blade for my head
 
I am going to try these tips/techniques/products/advice on my CHEST and see what happens! LOL



In all seriousness, an excellent thread. Mark, you are the man for starting it!
 
Interesting thread! I've suffered from what most of you have for several years. I shave my head as well. I've seen a dermatologist for this issue (as well as rosacea). I have chemical sensitivity as well, so can't have scented products.

I've always used 5 bladed blades (Gillette fusion pro glide). He suggested getting rid of those and use the single blade like some of you use. He also suggested Aveeno mens shave gel with colloidal oatmeal. I must say, this stuff is amazing! Lathers up very nice.

Since making these changes, my symptoms have greatly reduced. He mentioned I could buy much more expensive shave butter/lather but there isnt much gained over Aveeno. I strongly suggest you guys take a look at the Aveeno product line. Some really good stuff, including the shave gel.
 
Sounds like a combination of using a store bought cartridge razor, canned shaving cream, technique and/or using hot water for prep.

I highly recommend this razor:
Edwin Jagger DE89 Double Edge Safety Razor, Chrome

Extremely high quality and is perfect for those shavers who want to try DE safety razors. Not aggressive so you won't have to worry too much about nicks and cuts. Cartridge razors are the most common cause of razor burn. And having four and even five blades increase irritation and ingrown hairs. Not to mention the fact that cartridges are so dang pricey these days!

And as for a shaving cream, try these:
Proraso Shaving Cream Soap, Green Tea & Oat, 150g Tub

Taylor of Old Bond Street Shaving Cream Bowl, Sensitive

And, of course, you will need a brush to apply the shaving cream:
Omega 10049 Professional Boar Shaving Brush, Black Handle

Handle comes in three different colors; red, white and black. Boar's hair brushes are stiffer than their badger counterparts but infinitely more affordable. You don't want to blow a whole week's paycheck on a brush. You want to save some so you can buy more car care products, right? LOL

Shaving technique:

You won't be able to get a 'Baby Butt Smooth' shave with the first pass, so you'll need multiple passes. First pass should be 'With the grain'. Second will be 'Across the grain'. And lastly, and only if absolutely necessary, 'Against the grain'. Shaving against the grain is one of the most common causes of razor burn and nicks. Always use this as the last resort, to finish up any areas that you missed with the previous two passes.

Prep:

Most people use hot water to soften the beard and help open the pores. However, the use of hot water, especially for extremely sensitive skin types, can increase the chances of irritating the skin while shaving. I've read a post on Badgerandblade.com (I can't seem to find that post) where cold water is used exclusively and the reviewer came away with a great shave, but without any of the irritation.

Aftershave:

Proraso Alcohol Free Aftershave Balm, Green Tea and Oat, 100ml

Proraso Alcohol Free Aftershave Balm, Aloe and Vitamin E, 100ml

You'll notice that I'm partial to the Proraso line of products. That's because they're cheap and work as advertised.

Lastly, and most importantly, razor blades:

DE Blade Sampler Pack, Extended

This is a good combination of different razor blades. Since no face is the same, a blade that works for one guy won't work for the next. A sampler pack is the best and most affordable way to find a blade that works for you.

Sorry for the long post, dude. Hope this helps.

Happy Detailing, everyone!
 
FivePoint.0 said:
Best thread I've ever started. Thanks everyone! I just ordered a Merkur HD 34C(blade included). I REALLY hope this helps. I'm SO tired of looking like Freddy Kreuger after I shave. The ingrown hairs a couple days later. The skin irritation, not only right after I shave, but the following days. It all sucks! I have a very coarse beard. Hope I don't cut the crap outta myself!
Click to expand...

Merkur 34C is also a great DE razor. A tad bit more aggressive than the EJ 89 series IMO, but still gives a great shave. My friend, DE shaving is like car care: it's an obsession and very soon your bathroom medicine cabinet will be full of stuff that "you just had to buy and try". LOL
 
I just ordered a Merkur 180 double edge single blade razor along with additional blades, and a new badger brush, can't wait to use it!!!!
 
I have had similar issues Mark with shaving as well until I visited a store called The Art Of Shaving in Las Vegas . I was given the sales pitch about how their product was good for my issues and blah blah blah blah.I purchased the kit with cream , pre shave oil , after shave gel and a silver tipped badger brush. I must admit it has helped a lot with my skin .I shave after getting out of a hot shower , apply the oil ,wait a few minutes then apply the shave cream to my face,shave down my cheeks ,then apply more shave cream and shave up the face, rinse in the coldest water you can handle ,apply after shave balm and your face will be smooth as silk .The products are available online as well as in some cities,just google The Art Of Shaving

Glenn
 
Well thanks to Mark for posting this thread and big thanks to aim4squirrel for all the info.

I now have made a nice purchase of all the items (I think)

Merkur 34c
Edwin Jagger Pure Badger Shaving Brush
West Coast Shaving Stand
Apothecary Shaving Mug
Taylor of Old Bond Street Shaving Cream Eton College
Sample pack of blades extened

Anything Im missing? Let me know!

Looking forward to this great change.
 
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