Problem last two weeks

[drewmac]

I have no idea what's going on. I've been DE shaving for 9 months now, and thought I was doing great, but lately I've been having trouble with my neck. Using an Edwin Jagger DE86 with Gillette Bleue Extra blades for the past couple months, this problem just crept up on me with no change in prep/techniques. I have a spiral patch on my neck that requires an East/West pass and I have not only been unable to shave any hair off the spiral, but the hair around which comes off with usual North/South passes. It literally doesn't shave off. When I do things to force it off, bad stuff happens to my face. Before suggestions, I'll let you guys know (remind you if you remember my anti-atg post a few months back) that my sensitive skin doesn't tolerate more than one pass with touch-ups...two passes max. No ATG.

Routine:
Kyle's Prep Shave before shower (hot towel etc.)
Soaps/Creams (Acqua di Parma, Harris Lavender, Cade, or Wilkinson Stick are my regulars)
Razor (Edwin Jagger DE86)
Blades (Gillette Bleue Extra or Iridiums) Happens with both blades
Kiehl's ASB

 

[DaveNJ74]

I dont know. What did you do before you stared DE shaving with that spot? I have a little trouble around my adam's apple area and thats where I usually use my TracII or Mach3 in that spot so I dont cut my neck wide open.

 

[drewmac]

What did you do before you stared DE shaving with that spot?

Braun Electric. I've never touched a cartridge.

 

[Granaura]

Have you tried a J-hook? I had a wacky curvy patch on my neck (probably due to shaving previously with a rotary electric razor) and I find the pivot of a J-Hook catches it best..

I learned it off of Mantic video... Like I learned all shaving things worthwhile with a DE..

 

[DaveNJ74]

Braun Electric. I've never touched a cartridge.

I used every electric razor there was, all gave me ingrown hairs and rashes. I dont know how I used that garbage.

 

[drewmac]

I used every electric razor there was, all gave me ingrown hairs and rashes. I dont know how I used that garbage.

Actually, I never had anything but great shaves from my German-made electric. I just went to wet shaving because it seemed luxurious...and it is. Anyway, back to the problem. I'll try the J-hook tomorrow. The only other thing I'm thinking, and I'll need a master shaver to bounce this off of, but could it possibly be too thick of lather? i.e. not wet enough?

 

[DaveNJ74]

Actually, I never had anything but great shaves from my German-made electric. I just went to wet shaving because it seemed luxurious...and it is. Anyway, back to the problem. I'll try the J-hook tomorrow. The only other thing I'm thinking, and I'll need a master shaver to bounce this off of, but could it possibly be too thick of lather? i.e. not wet enough?

Wet shaving is great but if you use canned goo its just as bad as an electric razor I used.

 

[drewmac]

Wet shaving is great but if you use canned goo its just as bad as an electric razor I used.

whats canned goo honestly I've never touched the stuff

 

[GDCarrington]

Drewmac,

Since your skin is sensitive to multi-pass shaving and ATG, have you tried using the electric as your first pass and then wet shave for a second pass.

I realize that many shavers are purist for the wet shave, but in your case a hybrid approach may be better and may allow your face to not rebel as much.

The goal is for you to be comfortable with your shave, not to torture yourself.

I wish you good fortune.

 

[DavyRay]

Perhaps you can experiment, change things up a bit.

1. As you said, perhaps try with slightly thinner lather. I think this one is unlikely, but is worth a try.

2. Try shaving this area first. Cut down on the prep a bit. Shave this rough patch before the whiskers get too floppy.

3. Change your shaving angle to get the DE razor handle more parallel to your face, and lighten up on the pressure.

 

[drewmac]

Drewmac,

Since your skin is sensitive to multi-pass shaving and ATG, have you tried using the electric as your first pass and then wet shave for a second pass.

I realize that many shavers are purist for the wet shave, but in your case a hybrid approach may be better and may allow your face to not rebel as much.

The goal is for you to be comfortable with your shave, not to torture yourself.

I wish you good fortune.

While it did give me good shaves, I think using an electric and the DE would tear my face off...literally. Just so you guys know the level of my face sensitivity, if I rub my beard ATG with my hands, it irritates my face...no joke. I get red irritation.

 

[GDCarrington]

While it did give me good shaves, I think using an electric and the DE would tear my face off...literally. Just so you guys know the level of my face sensitivity, if I rub my beard ATG with my hands, it irritates my face...no joke. I get red irritation.

Do you have this level of irritation with any other area of your skin, like if you rub the back of your neck or rub your arms in the same manner as you described rubbing the your face with your hand or is it only the face?

 

[drewmac]

Do you have this level of irritation with any other area of your skin, like if you rub the back of your neck or rub your arms in the same manner as you described rubbing the your face with your hand or is it only the face?

Nothing to the extreme of my face, but yes, all of my skin is quite sensitive. I use as many SLS free products as I can because of the sensitivity.

 

[GDCarrington]

Drewmac,

Is there a skin cream / moisturizer that you can use (tolerate might be more correct) maybe two or three times a day to try to provide some healing during the times that you are not shaving?

Sometimes I have found that applying Aloe Vera lotion a couple of times during the day has helped when I have developed a rash / burn so that the next day's shave is more comfortable.

 

[johnmrson]

Another recommendation for trying the J hook.

 

[Skrymr]

I'm not as experienced as you, so forgive me if this is a stupid question, but have you ever tried a sharper blade? Every blade I have tried so far except for two have felt like they are pulling my beard out, not cutting it. Feathers are the only blades that feel smooth and leave me with no irritation. Gillette 7 O'clock greens are close, but Feathers are the best for me to get an irritation free shave. I can only use a blade once also. My neck is very sensitive, but it doesn't sound as sensitive as yours. I hope you find the answers you need.

 

[Luc]

There's J Hook, blade buffing or maybe try to stretch that spot flat.

 

[WinstonSmith]

Are you making the last pass with the brush ATG? I've got that very same patch on the neck. Seems to help when the last brush swipe gets under the hair and lifts a bit. On a one-pass and touchups, I need to hit that spot with a XTG swipe, though really about halfway between XTG and WTG. As long as it isn't a straight top to bottom pass, it seems to pick it up.

 

[joglander]

"the hair around which comes off with usual North/South passes. It literally doesn't shave off. When I do things to force it off, bad stuff happens to my face."

The hair that doesn't come off--is it courser than the hair around it or is it in a valley or on a peak that gets missed by the razor? Since I have trouble believing that you can grow whiskers in one place that are tougher than the rest, I am going to guess that you have a valley or depression that the razor can't reach. If that guess is right, then the first approach is to try to get to the valley from some other direction. Maybe xtg the other way or even a diagonal? Can you stretch the skin or move your neck so that the skin tightens? Are you ambidextrous enough to switch hands?

Another possibility is your blade. I was having trouble getting clean on my chin until somebody (you) PIFed me some Astras. And while I have only tried two shaves with Derbys, they leave more hair and irritation than the Merkurs I started with.

When you say when you try to do things to force it off, bad stuff happens, I am thinking too much pressure or really bad angle. Bad angle can cause missed spots too.

Good luck!

 

[Chuck Norris]

I believe i have a very similar problem [area]. Have you looked at the area in a magnifying mirror? What i see at the bottom of my neck isn't just a weird grain pattern, but a *&^%$#@ing mess.

There is a convergence in grain direction, then in the middle of it a few hairs that are just going in crazy directions AND a lot of hairs that are growing almost parallel to the skin (laying down very flat). These hairs that lay down also have a lumpy follicle that seems to be closer to the surface because they are so tilted over.
The hairs that are laying down seem to be the most problematic. They don't get cut unless i go XTG (I never go ATG either). This generally works if i'm careful, BUT if i try and get this are too smooth THEN i get ingrowns with these hairs...and the vicious cycle begins.
I personally disagree with the advice of shaving this area before it gets soft from prep.
I mainly get best results after going through all the prep (as you have been doing, although i shave after a shower and "exfoliate" this area) then shaving it to an acceptable level with XTG blade-buffing gentle strokes, then leave it at that.

But hey, i am by no means a kung fu master yet and i am interested in more solutions to this problem.