hello all,
I have been a wet shaver for few years and enjoy it tremendously but have alway been suffering from ingrown hairs and bumps. I have done my home work and tried variety of techniques and tools and routines but havent been able able to fully eliminate the problem. So I’m asking you all for advice.
So here is quick intro on myself and the routine.
I have a very coarse, thick and curly hair.
I do have a beard but to keep it neat, I shave the neck and line it up every other day.
I shave with a straight razor (shavette), I have tried DE with my Mercur 34C, but after improving my techniques I feel more comfortable with straight razor and also it helps significantly with linning the beard.
I use Astra blades and use new single blade every time.
So here is my routine: After a shower, I use Proraso pre shave cream to prepare the area and let it sit while I’m preparing the blade and brush.
I have an Edwin Jager best badger brush and I rotate between the following soaps / creams: Eucris, Tabac, Lather.com shave cream, Nivea shave cream (while travelling)
I start with neck first as I found shaving it first while I have my most concentration gives me better experience. So I do one pass of slight reduction from south to north, rinse the area with warm water, lather up and do another pass of the same direction trying to remove what’s remaining. Small strokes.
My beard in the neck area is growing in all directions therefore south to north is the closest to WTG that I can get.
Then I shave the rest and line up which honestly is a breeze and never had any issues.
After finishing I rinse with cold water, Canadian cold water. Let it dry for a minute.
And finally apply my after shave which I have tried the followings: Proraso balm, Nivea sensitive, Witch Hazel and recently started Tabac which although is alcohol based but it’s not bad. (I only apply one of the mentioned aftershaves).
If I have caught myself then I will use my alum block.
After the aftershave dries out in half an hour, especially if I use an alcohol based one like Tabac, I will use a moisturizer.
That’s pretty much it. I will attach some photos to the post for better perspective.
Any tips or advice is highly appreciated as I truly enjoy wet shaving and want to get rid of ingrowns and bumps.
Is there any hope or should I just accept the way my beard and its growth is?
For the record I live in Montreal, Canada
I have been a wet shaver for few years and enjoy it tremendously but have alway been suffering from ingrown hairs and bumps. I have done my home work and tried variety of techniques and tools and routines but havent been able able to fully eliminate the problem. So I’m asking you all for advice.
So here is quick intro on myself and the routine.
I have a very coarse, thick and curly hair.
I do have a beard but to keep it neat, I shave the neck and line it up every other day.
I shave with a straight razor (shavette), I have tried DE with my Mercur 34C, but after improving my techniques I feel more comfortable with straight razor and also it helps significantly with linning the beard.
I use Astra blades and use new single blade every time.
So here is my routine: After a shower, I use Proraso pre shave cream to prepare the area and let it sit while I’m preparing the blade and brush.
I have an Edwin Jager best badger brush and I rotate between the following soaps / creams: Eucris, Tabac, Lather.com shave cream, Nivea shave cream (while travelling)
I start with neck first as I found shaving it first while I have my most concentration gives me better experience. So I do one pass of slight reduction from south to north, rinse the area with warm water, lather up and do another pass of the same direction trying to remove what’s remaining. Small strokes.
My beard in the neck area is growing in all directions therefore south to north is the closest to WTG that I can get.
Then I shave the rest and line up which honestly is a breeze and never had any issues.
After finishing I rinse with cold water, Canadian cold water. Let it dry for a minute.
And finally apply my after shave which I have tried the followings: Proraso balm, Nivea sensitive, Witch Hazel and recently started Tabac which although is alcohol based but it’s not bad. (I only apply one of the mentioned aftershaves).
If I have caught myself then I will use my alum block.
After the aftershave dries out in half an hour, especially if I use an alcohol based one like Tabac, I will use a moisturizer.
That’s pretty much it. I will attach some photos to the post for better perspective.
Any tips or advice is highly appreciated as I truly enjoy wet shaving and want to get rid of ingrowns and bumps.
Is there any hope or should I just accept the way my beard and its growth is?
For the record I live in Montreal, Canada