My Experience on The Dark Side

[Duggo]

I went to the dermatologist a while back, because my neck and face were really bad looking from shaving.

What happened was, he told me to shave only with the grain, because "backcutting" as he called it, was causing my micro infections; along with micro razor burn, as my face and neck were always off color. i.e. red.

So, in the 3 and a half years of shaving, if I haven't gotten the technique/angle/pressure thing down yet; I think my opportunities are slim to none at this point of achieving success.

Recognizing that reality, I file this review of my experience from The Dark Side.

The shave is not what it used to be. The DE blades were so smooth and sharp. These (Mach 3 disposables) are just ok. The 3 pack cost me ~$6.xx I haven't paid that kind of money for shavers in years. So, I kept using the first almost 2 and 1/2 months. I know. I know, but I've got to get my money's worth out of these things.

The feel of plastic against your face vs. metal there's just no comparison. There's no emotional attachment anymore. How could there be? a) my shave now takes literally 2 minutes. and b) that's hardly enough time for your emotions to start flowing.

I still use my 2006 B&B Ltd. brush and my soaps, but even so, that is going to make up for lost ground. But that's ok, because, for a 2 min. shave, how much effort are you willing to put in, for an end result that in the absence of an ATG pass, isn't that great.

I think I last shaved 5 days ago. That speaks volumes.

 

[Magruder]

Duggo, this is grim news.

I understand the problem, and I don't have the background to question the dermatologist's diagnosis, but I wonder about the treatment. (Is that the right word? "Prescription" doesn't sound right.)

You could shave with the grain with any razor at all, couldn't you? Why does it have to be a cartridge razor?

 

[Duggo]

He didn't explicitly say no DE shaving; but I do know that with my level of competency, I haven't perfected the art to the point where I could shave with the DE and not get irritation free.

The irritation even shows up after I shave with the CR. I'm fairly certain my technique is lacking.

I'd have to do two passes and with a steady hand. i.e. every stroke on point. That hasn't happened yet. That would be equivalent to a 3 point landing. You know, the ones where you can't tell you've landed. Not easy.

Lucky you though.

 

[Duggo]

Heaven forbid I should be seen by a fellow B&Ber buying a pack of carts. He/she'd think I was a Dark Sider who didn't know any better. (It's only half true.)

But if you have any suggestions, how to get back to the Land of Enchantment. ( Read: improve my technique) Let me know.

 

[michiganlover]

But if you have any suggestions, how to get back to the Land of Enchantment. ( Read: improve my technique) Let me know.

Have you ever tried a Schick Injector? It looks a bit like a cartridge razor, and doesn't have as steep of a learning curve as a DE razor. The head pretty much has a built in angle.

The Schick Injector gives me my closest shave, with the least amount of work; I am found of saying that using one almost feels like cheating.

With the Schick, you wouldn't have to pay high dollar for Mach 3 carts, but you would still get a close wonderful shave.

You can snag nice condition ones off of the B/S/T all of the time, and they are frequently available from antiques shops for less than $10, as they are not as in demand as DE razors.

 

[Slivovitz]

Have you ever tried a Schick Injector?

Yeah, that. Or for that matter, there are probably better cartridge razors than the Mach 3. I had good results recently with the Schick Hydro 3, although it's not going to replace my injectors or SEs.

In my case, with either the injectors or the Hydro (or any other razor for that matter), I have to do some ATG and XTG shaving to get a really close shave. That might not be true for you, though, if you have different beard growth patterns.

 

[dcrosso]

Duggo, You advised that you went to see a dermotoligist for your ingrown hair infection. You do not explain what sort of treatment he prescribed for the infection. He recommended that you only shave with the grain to alleviate the problem. I am not doctor, however about ten years ago I was having the same issues with my neck hairs and under my chin. At the time I had been using disposable razors purchased at Costco and Edge Gel shaving cream. Infections are most of the time caused by bacteria growing in open tissue. Did the doctor recommend washing your face with a good antibacterial soap and application of a antibacterial cream, such as Neosporin or other similar ointment?

To alleviate my condition I started gently washing my face three or four times a day and applying Neosporin onto the infected areas. I was able to heal up the ingrown hairs, but if I stopped the regimen and just tried shaving the old way the infection came back within a few days. I eventually used up the tube of Neosporin and did not have a chance to purchase more. I recalled that I had a tub of Bag balm and started using it, in place of the Neosporin. I found that it worked better then the Neosporin. After using it for several weeks my infections disappeared and seldom came back. I can now give myself a three pass DE shave without any more infections. When I see a folicle starting to act up I wash the area with a good quality hand/facial soap (Tom's of Maine) and apply the bag balm.

Healing my red bumps and ingrown hairs. (Previous posting)

I have been very happy with the effectiveness of Bag Balm in it's ability to considerably reduce redness and inflamation resulting from ingrown hairs. If you wash your face and the infected area with soap and warm water at night, before going to bed and then rub a thin coating of the Bag Balm ointment on the ingrown hair follicle, you will be amazed by the results.

For those of you that are not familiar with Bag Balm, it has been used by the dairy industry for over one hundred years to help heal and stop inflamation on cow udders. It is available in farm supply/feed stores, pet stores and some pharmacies located in rural areas. One ten ounce tin will last you for years and usually sells for $6 or $7 dollars. It is also good for small cuts, scrapes and abrasions on humans.

There seems to be something in the medication, that over the night, reduces the inflamation to the point that I can CAREFULLY shave over the once infected area without cutting off the inflamed/swollen flesh. If you have a severly infected follicle you may want to hold off shaving the area for a day or so, while applying the salve. After shaving apply a dab to the area for healing throughout the day. It has never taken me more then two days to almost completely heal the once inflaimed hair follicle. Continued use, whenever I see any redness, has all but eliminated ingrowns hairs on my face and neck. YMMV

I hate to sound like a commercial, but this stuff really works!

If Bag Balm is not available to you then try some Neosporin antibiotic salve.

 

[Bobtrumpet]

I have been very happy with the effectiveness of Bag Balm in it's ability to considerably reduce redness and inflamation resulting from ingrown hairs. If you wash your face and the infected area with soap and warm water at night, before going to bed and then rub a thin coating of the Bag Balm ointment on the ingrown hair follicle, you will be amazed by the results.

For those of you that are not familiar with Bag Balm, it has been used by the dairy industry for over one hundred years to help heal and stop inflamation on cow udders. It is available in farm supply/feed stores, pet stores and some pharmacies located in rural areas. One ten ounce tin will last you for years and usually sells for $6 or $7 dollars. It is also good for small cuts, scrapes and abrasions on humans.

If Bag Balm is not available to you then try some Neosporin antibiotic salve.

Bag Balm is available at many Walgreen's drug stores in the USA. Their main web site is here.

 

[BladeRunner001]

I went to the dermatologist a while back, because my neck and face were really bad looking from shaving.

What happened was, he told me to shave only with the grain, because "backcutting" as he called it, was causing my micro infections; along with micro razor burn, as my face and neck were always off color. i.e. red.

Backcutting?!...I presume the doc means ATG? If so, I don't think it's the ATG that directly causes the "microinfections"...ATG causes raw, bloody, and/or inflamed skin, which in turn lead to infections.

So, in the 3 and a half years of shaving, if I haven't gotten the technique/angle/pressure thing down yet; I think my opportunities are slim to none at this point of achieving success.

Not true...Opportunities are abundant and your chances are as good as they were 3.5 years ago .

If I were to venture a guess, I would say that you are right; you've been doing things slightly wrong in the past 3.5 yrs...It's most likely technique than product or hardware. Moreover, if I were to keep guessing, I would say you're most probably rushed,and when rushed, we tend to apply more pressure to achieve the desired results in a shorter period of time (but it almost always backfires).

If your technique was right, your skin would have gotten used to this a long time ago. believe it or not, its' not just you who has to learn a technique...your skin has to have time to adapt to this new form/technique. That adaptation is different for many people, but is usually ~3-4 weeks.

Recognizing that reality, I file this review of my experience from The Dark Side.

The shave is not what it used to be. The DE blades were so smooth and sharp. These (Mach 3 disposables) are just ok. The 3 pack cost me ~$6.xx I haven't paid that kind of money for shavers in years. So, I kept using the first almost 2 and 1/2 months. I know. I know, but I've got to get my money's worth out of these things.

The feel of plastic against your face vs. metal there's just no comparison. There's no emotional attachment anymore. How could there be? a) my shave now takes literally 2 minutes. and b) that's hardly enough time for your emotions to start flowing.

+1...You are right, there is no comparison. Apples and oranges. In fact, the only thing DE and cartridge shaving have in common is the word "shaving"...vastly different Modus operandi.

I still use my 2006 B&B Ltd. brush and my soaps, but even so, that is going to make up for lost ground. But that's ok, because, for a 2 min. shave, how much effort are you willing to put in, for an end result that in the absence of an ATG pass, isn't that great.

I think I last shaved 5 days ago. That speaks volumes.

Now, see!! That's what I was talking about earlier...these 2 minute shaves!!. Some may disagree with me, but IMHO, you cannot achieve a decent shave in 2 minutes...Part of mastering the technique involves not only learning how to use the hardwar(razor - angle, pressure, passes, etc...), but also the intangibles associated with shaving, e.g., beard prep, working the lather into your beard (whether bowl or face lathering). These are small things that make a HUGE difference.

I wouldn't feel discouraged if I were you. Hang in there.

Now, depending on where you live, I would suggest hooking up with a senior member who can show you the proper technique (I am sure someone here has years of experience who is willing to show you the ropes)...Once you learn this "right", you will never forget.

While you are at it, don;t use cheap products that will end up irritating your skin further...use quality that will last. They will add to the experience.

That's just my 2 cents

Cheers,
Robert

 

[Abdiel]

Ah yes, the darkside. I myself have been on the edge for some time. After giving an honest go and the initial wow wore off I came to terms that, for MY face (not to say everyone's, I can only speak for my own face and very sensitive skin), the results were OK and in many areas of my face there was a good bit of irritation using several combination of DE's and blades.

I found that I actually do better with a cartridge. Sensor Excel was good and I actually find I'm doing best with a Schick Hydro 5. Works quite nice and is cheaper then the Gillette offerings. Irritation and such is virtually nill.

The truth of it is, as I've found it, is that the modern blades aren't so much the problem. It's the complete lack of technique and poor creams/foams/goos. A good razor that works for you, cartridge or otherwise, and good cream and technique are where it's at.

 

[Duggo]

Have you ever tried a Schick Injector? (snip)

No. Thanks for the info.

With the Schick, you wouldn't have to pay high dollar for Mach 3 carts, but you would still get a close wonderful shave.

How close? My dermatologist was saying I was shaving too close. But then again, I was taking 4 or more passes. Hence the kinda red skin; to get that bbs skin.

Have you ever tried a Schick Injector? It looks a bit like a cartridge razor, and doesn't have as steep of a learning curve as a DE razor. The head pretty much has a built in angle.

The Schick Injector gives me my closest shave, with the least amount of work; I am found of saying that using one almost feels like cheating.

With the Schick, you wouldn't have to pay high dollar for Mach 3 carts, but you would still get a close wonderful shave.

You can snag nice condition ones off of the B/S/T all of the time, and they are frequently available from antiques shops for less than $10, as they are not as in demand as DE razors.

 

[Duggo]

Duggo, this is grim news.

I understand the problem, and I don't have the background to question the dermatologist's diagnosis, but I wonder about the treatment. (Is that the right word? "Prescription" doesn't sound right.)

You could shave with the grain with any razor at all, couldn't you? Why does it have to be a cartridge razor?

He told me to apply cortisone 2x a day for a week, I think it was. and that didn't work. I forgot what the diagnosis was. I don't think he told me.

I don't have the confidence that if used a DE every stroke would be on point. Like those 3 point landings. You land on the ground, and the landings are so smooth, you don't even know you've landed. Anything short of that will rip up my skin. My technique needs to improve.

 

[Duggo]

Thanks Guys for all the replies,

I have a lot to think about, as my current routine leaves a lot to be desired.

But hey, keep them coming.

 

[Go West Young Man]

Sounds like you're setting unnecessarily high bars for yourself. What's wrong with a good WTG-XTG-XTG shave that leaves you looking cleanly shaved with no irritation or cuts, when the only trade-off is that you don't achieve some artificial standard (BBS) that only you can feel and that disappears in a couple hours anyways?

 

[Loric]

The 3 pack cost me ~$6.xx I haven't paid that kind of money for shavers in years. So, I kept using the first almost 2 and 1/2 months. I know. I know, but I've got to get my money's worth out of these things.

If you want to stretch your dollar on cartridges, you can sharpen them. When it gets dull, just take a pair of old jeans and "strop" with it. Five strokes up and 5 strokes down with just a tad of pressure and it will give the blade about 3 or 4 times the lifespan. I found that trick online once, and it really did work before I switched over to my DE. It will wear out your jeans so its best to use some that you dont plan on wearing again.

 

[filedog]

Some good pointers already. What strikes me is, as others have mentioned, possibly too much pressure. 4 passes in 2 min.? Maybe try again, when you are not rushed, and TAKE YOUR TIME. Concentrate on NO pressure. You never mention what razor you are using...maybe go with something mild like a Superspeed, or even a Tech. Best of luck, and no, we won't look down on you If you MUST use a cart. because of a skin condition, so be it.

 

[Duggo]

Shaves now take 2 minutes for 1 pass.

Before with a DE 4 or more passes would take 45 or so minutes. Well, who's counting.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[closer]

I never got a good shave from a Mach 3. If you have to use a cartridge, I would suggest a Gillette Fusion power. Or even the older twin blade Sensor Excel cartridges.

 

[Swampfox]

Have you ever tried a Schick Injector? It looks a bit like a cartridge razor, and doesn't have as steep of a learning curve as a DE razor. The head pretty much has a built in angle.

The Schick Injector gives me my closest shave, with the least amount of work; I am found of saying that using one almost feels like cheating.

With the Schick, you wouldn't have to pay high dollar for Mach 3 carts, but you would still get a close wonderful shave.

You can snag nice condition ones off of the B/S/T all of the time, and they are frequently available from antiques shops for less than $10, as they are not as in demand as DE razors.

+1 on all this.

 

[DunEdinRanger]

Duggo,

I would suggest a second opinion. With your gear - as a first step.

45 minutes? No wonder your skin is red! It takes me about 5-6 minutes for the first and 2nd pass. The 3rd pass takes a little longer, and the touch up takes a few minutes.

Have you ever used a 1912 type GEM/EverReady/Star Single Edge razor? Very close and smooth.

I'm not sure if you've been asked this, but what cream are you using? TOBS makes an unscented cream for folks with sensitive skin, as does Edwin Jagger.

As to the blades, which ones are you using and how many shaves do you get from them?