Is my face supposed to burn?

[Deepiscool]

Hello,

I'm new to wet shaving. I just got a parker 22r, great design, great weight but because I'm new to wet shaving is my face supposed feel like I have razor burn? I thought wet shaving was supposed to feel good? What am I doing wrong? Can anybody help. I want that feeling every one else has been talking about...you know the really close smooth shave.
Thanks
Willing to learn

 

[techdog]

Willing to learn,

First off, welcome to B&B. After wetshaving for 8+ months let me shed some light on what realities I have come to know. First off, don't expect a perfectly smooth shave in your first couple shaves. Wetshaving requires more skill and technique development that using standard cardridge razors. I'm still trying to figure out the best products and techniques that work for me. And, after months of wet shaving, I have still yet to achieve a perfectly smooth shave. I can get a very smooth shave on my cheeks but my neck is always a trouble spot.

Regarding the razor burn. Make sure you are using very little to no pressure with your DE razor. Use of proper pressure is usually the hardest adjustment to DE shaving. However, if you are experiencing a burning/itching feeling with your soap or cream before you even take the razor to your face you are likely having a reaction and will need to use a different soap or cream.

Make sure you check out Mantic's YouTube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mantic59&search_type=&aq=f

Also consider purchasing a blade sampler pack at westcoastshaving:
http://westcoastshaving.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2&zenid=22ef168576aef8543aa29ca6bf3f73b1

Check out the help for new wetshavers here on B&B:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=71700

Welcome again, and good luck.

 

[Unruhe]

Perhaps you could mention your technique. It's probably an issue of that. Alternatively, it might be a soap issue. How's your lathering?

 

[DSB]

Yes, this should be an enjoyable experience. If it's not, you will need to practice your technique until your skin doesn't complain. Be patient -- it will take some time to work on your blade angle and applying less pressure.

It sounds like you may be applying too much pressure while you are shaving. Remember, the goal is whisker reduction, not illumination. Let the blade do it's job -- you do not need to press the razor into your skin.

You may also want to make sure you are doing your initial pass with the grain -- have you mapped the direction of your beard growth (especially on your neck)?

How many passes are you doing? You may want to stick with two passes while you are still honing your technique: first pass with the grain, second pass across the grain. If that's still causing a burn, I would only do a couple with-the-grain passes for now (until you teach yourself to use less pressure).

There is a learning curve. Practice your passes with zero pressure, and practice using a blade angle that leaves zero razor burn.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

 

[Deepiscool]

Well, I don't use much pressure, I let the blade weight shave for me. I watched a lot of youtube videos and did a lot of studying to figure out different techniques. Could it be that my skin is getting use to the new razor. Also there are spots that are now harder to shave...such as my neck area. I noticed I get the greatest closest shave when I use my electric norelco and then finish with a single blade and I get no razor burn. But if I only use a De razor, that's when I feel the burn. I want to learn to get a close shave with only using the DE. I usually do 3 passes.
Thanks for the quick reply

 

[82R100]

The other dimension to razor control beyond pressure is the angle of the razor head. The most common mistake would be to angle the handle of the razor over too close to your face, which results in the blade edge dragging along your skin instead of slicing the whiskers. This will result in more skin irritation and less effective shaving.

Some people experiment on their forearm so they can see the relationship of the blade and safety bar with their skin surface as the razor is angled over from straight out.

Welcome aboard, and good luck.

- Chris

 

[Gruder]

Welcome, and thanks for sharing your troubles -- we'll get you on the right path soon!

1) Make sure that the blade is tightly secured in the razor.

2) Check the gap between blade and safety bars on both sides of the razor -- are the gaps roughly even throughout?

3) Tell us more about what you're using in terms of cream/soap, and how you go about lathering.

4) What's your post-shave routine?

 

[LagerLover]

I use my electric norelco and then finish with a single blade and I get no razor burn.

Sounds like you may be going against the grain on the first pass. After a day's beard growth, rub your hand around on your face to try to get the grain pattern (See Faceturbate: http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/Glossary).

Make note of the "grain" and try shaving first with the grain , then across, and then against the grain(if you want the BBS shave).

 

[Deepiscool]

1) Make sure that the blade is tightly secured in the razor.

-The razor is tight

2) Check the gap between blade and safety bars on both sides of the razor -- are the gaps roughly even throughout?

-The gaps are roughly even

3) Tell us more about what you're using in terms of cream/soap, and how you go about lathering.

-Currently using the Art of Shaving shaving cream...I want to use soap, but need one to be recomended for sensitive skin. I use a omega badger hair brush

4) What's your post-shave routine?

-Netrogena's mens aftershave lotion with SPF 20 (great stuff) Soothes the burn very quickly

 

[Gruder]

Great. A couple of things come to mind based on your responses:

1) I'd say that successful DE shaving is going to require you to avoid "cheating" with the electric. As you surmise, there are different cutting styles at work there, and your face probably isn't taking too kindly to switching back and forth.

2) AOS cream can be a bit troublesome to lather. Definitely review the lather tutorials on the forum again, making sure that you have the cushiony, thick lather that you need for a successful shave. If your lather is breaking down during your shave, make more. Once you figure out the sweet spot with AOS cream, it does a great job! (BTW, you mention sensitive skin. I'm not certain that AOS cream is advertised as being particularly great for sensitive skin. That could mean two things: 1) the cream itself could be causing problems, or 2) if the AOS cream isn't an issue, you may well be just fine with most shave soaps.)

3) I like to advise that folks listen to their shaves. Take note of the sound the razor makes when successfully shaving a relatively easy area (e.g. a cheek), and try to angle the razor so as to mimic that sound in more difficult spots.

4) What brand of blade are you using? There's an outside chance that could be contributing to your troubles.

 

[don.putnick]

The other dimension to razor control beyond pressure is the angle of the razor head. The most common mistake would be to angle the handle of the razor over too close to your face, which results in the blade edge dragging along your skin instead of slicing the whiskers. This will result in more skin irritation and less effective shaving.

Some people experiment on their forearm so they can see the relationship of the blade and safety bar with their skin surface as the razor is angled over from straight out.

- Chris

Chris speaks the truth. For starters, rest the top of the razor flat against your skin with the razor handle pointing like a hair sticking straight out. Try shaving. Nothing? There shouldn't be. Now tilt the angle of the handle a little from straight out. Try shaving. Keep doing this until you see/hear the hairs being cut. REMEMBER THAT ANGLE. Whatever you do, don't do what you might see on the big screen, with handle parallel to the surface of the face. It's just too painful to watch!

 

[SilkySmooth]

You may want to try skipping any ATG passes until your face heals.

 

[strat1117]

Well, I don't use much pressure, I let the blade weight shave for me. I watched a lot of youtube videos and did a lot of studying to figure out different techniques. Could it be that my skin is getting use to the new razor. Also there are spots that are now harder to shave...such as my neck area. I noticed I get the greatest closest shave when I use my electric norelco and then finish with a single blade and I get no razor burn. But if I only use a De razor, that's when I feel the burn. I want to learn to get a close shave with only using the DE. I usually do 3 passes.
Thanks for the quick reply

You'll get there. It takes some time to really understand what no pressure means, especially if, like me, you are coming from many years of multiblade cartridge use. No pressure is especially important going ATG, and ATG is the only way to get truly BBS, assuming that is your goal. Always think beard reduction, not beard removal.

Just let it happen, don't try to force it, and, eventually, with time, practice and patience, irritation free BBS will come.

 

[ateace]

One other thing you must remember is that your face will require some time to adjust the the DE shave.

Patience is key here. You have a new shaving tool that you must learn to use and that your face must adapt to. Good, comfortable shaves will come and it will all be worth it.