Hey everyone.
I've been wet shaving for a while now and I always seem to have this perplexing problem, but I'm not sure if I'm attacking it properly.
I'm using a Muhle R89 with Gillette "Red Package" (?) blades (I think they are made in Poland?) but it also seems to happen with my Derby Extra blades as well.
Basically, I don't do any preshave prep other than taking a shower beforehand and then washing my beard with shampoo so that it's soft.
I lather up using Williams shaving soap, then I add a dab of Nivea Shaving cream so that it lathers up thick, otherwise the lather is too thin otherwise.
(I bought some other shaving soaps so I'll see if those make any difference)
Here's the issue:
My sideburns are nearly BBS but not quite. My chin and moustache area are always completely BBS. However, my lower neck still has stubble.
So, usually I do a downwards shave first, then my second pass involves doing an upwards shave second. Usually that's good enough.
I don't usually have any issues if I just do the above, except that I still have stubble on my neck.
The problem is that the stubble on my neck has a grain that goes left to right, so I try doing a right to left pass to go against the stubble and usually end up skinning myself in my neck area.
The maddening part is, my neck still has stubble, even after! I've used a very light touch.
I've found that buying an Alum block pretty much stops all of the bleeding right away and afterwards I can't even tell that I cut myself, except that there are red blotches in the areas that bled.
So, I know I must be doing something wrong.
I'm wondering a few things:
1. Should I try using a different razor? Maybe an adjustable?
2. I have bought a tube of Proraso Shaving Cream and some Col. Clonk (?) shaving soaps. Will those help?
One thing I should mention...
When I do my first downwards pass, I found that I can actually apply light pressure (I know I know.. I'm not supposed to) and I rarely ever cut or nick myself. On the second upwards pass, I can use light pressure on my sideburns and chin, but I have to be carefull with my moustache area.
My neck on the other hand, if I use any kind of pressure at all (I know, I know.. I'm not supposed to) then yeah, I'll skin myself on an upwards pass.
On a right to left pass, no matter how lightly I hold the razor or apply it against my skin, it always skins me there. So, I'm a little perplexed.
Oh, just to let all of you know, I usually replace the blade after about six shaves wether it needs it or not. If anything, using a sharp blade makes it worse.
So, maybe you guys have some tips?
Maybe I should consider buying a Merkur Vision/Progress/Futur? Set it to full blast (meat slicer mode?) on the first downwards pass, then setting it to the most mild setting on the third pass? Ideas?
I've been wet shaving for a while now and I always seem to have this perplexing problem, but I'm not sure if I'm attacking it properly.
I'm using a Muhle R89 with Gillette "Red Package" (?) blades (I think they are made in Poland?) but it also seems to happen with my Derby Extra blades as well.
Basically, I don't do any preshave prep other than taking a shower beforehand and then washing my beard with shampoo so that it's soft.
I lather up using Williams shaving soap, then I add a dab of Nivea Shaving cream so that it lathers up thick, otherwise the lather is too thin otherwise.
(I bought some other shaving soaps so I'll see if those make any difference)
Here's the issue:
My sideburns are nearly BBS but not quite. My chin and moustache area are always completely BBS. However, my lower neck still has stubble.
So, usually I do a downwards shave first, then my second pass involves doing an upwards shave second. Usually that's good enough.
I don't usually have any issues if I just do the above, except that I still have stubble on my neck.
The problem is that the stubble on my neck has a grain that goes left to right, so I try doing a right to left pass to go against the stubble and usually end up skinning myself in my neck area.
The maddening part is, my neck still has stubble, even after! I've used a very light touch.
I've found that buying an Alum block pretty much stops all of the bleeding right away and afterwards I can't even tell that I cut myself, except that there are red blotches in the areas that bled.
So, I know I must be doing something wrong.
I'm wondering a few things:
1. Should I try using a different razor? Maybe an adjustable?
2. I have bought a tube of Proraso Shaving Cream and some Col. Clonk (?) shaving soaps. Will those help?
One thing I should mention...
When I do my first downwards pass, I found that I can actually apply light pressure (I know I know.. I'm not supposed to) and I rarely ever cut or nick myself. On the second upwards pass, I can use light pressure on my sideburns and chin, but I have to be carefull with my moustache area.
My neck on the other hand, if I use any kind of pressure at all (I know, I know.. I'm not supposed to) then yeah, I'll skin myself on an upwards pass.
On a right to left pass, no matter how lightly I hold the razor or apply it against my skin, it always skins me there. So, I'm a little perplexed.
Oh, just to let all of you know, I usually replace the blade after about six shaves wether it needs it or not. If anything, using a sharp blade makes it worse.
So, maybe you guys have some tips?
Maybe I should consider buying a Merkur Vision/Progress/Futur? Set it to full blast (meat slicer mode?) on the first downwards pass, then setting it to the most mild setting on the third pass? Ideas?
I'll try it tomorrow morning.
