Some problems with irritations?

[adrian_f1]

hello to all of you...as I am a new member I will ask you to forgive any small mistake I would make and I hope to spend a very nice time on our big comunity...I recently dicovered this site and I thought .God..! this is what I was looking for.....I switched to DE shaving 3 months ago and I won't come back to those mass-marketing products which didn't help me in my attempt to have that nice and clean appearence...I enjoy the way everything is made and I can really feel that I'm a better man certainly....... I think I can make every part of shaving in a decently manner : preparing the skin, making good lather , applying it on the face, shaving smoothlly and with very low pressure....but I noticed that I still can't escape from getting some irritations on the base of the neck where the area with beard ends and where the hair grows in many many directions.... I tried to shave each area in the hair's growth direction but still it's not quite I'm looking for...So I ask you if you handled with this sort of situation and if you dealed with it to tell me how did you manage to do it and what kind of products did you use in order to get that great great look all over your face..
Thank you and have a good winter season

 

[ackvil]

First, welcome to B&B.

The area of the neck you are talking about is usually sensitive and one that is awkward to shave. As a result, usually the angle you are using may be off. Take a look at this post for blade angle.

It is not the products you use as much as the technique that makes for a good shave.

I have hairs growing in every direction on my neck and very sensitive skin there.

Preparation, lather, no pressure and blade angle are vital to a good, irritation free shave. DE shaving is different from cartridge shaving in that you must be sure you are not putting any pressure on the blade. Let the weight of the razor do the work for you. To assure this I use two fingers and my thumb to hold the razor with my pinky resting on the tip of the handle. This results in holding the razor very lightly with no pressure on the razor. You want to hold the razor as lightly as you can without it falling from your hand. If you do that, you will get a good shave.

I use many different products but my favorite is using uberlather.

Also, what you do post-shave also helps dealing with irritation. Here is what I do. First, I wash off my face with a wash cloth dipped in warm water to get rid of all of the remaining lather. Next, I soak a wash cloth in cold water and put in on my face for about 30 seconds. Next I apply a splash of WH. I use Thayer’s Rose Petal or Lavender WH. They are alcohol free and does not sting when it goes on but provides soothing relief to my skin. I then use a skin moisturizer to provide relief. There are a number of good moisturizers out there such as Nivea, Neutrogena, T&H, GFT, and others.

 

[Pkrankow]

Pressure is the biggest problem I have. If I use any I get weepers and have stubble left, if I use no pressure I get a closer shave without weepers.

Phil

 

[BCatl]

Use alum after you shave, particularly your lower neck and put a moisturizer on your neck every night before you go to bed.

 

[adrian_f1]

thanks a lot ...I will definetely try all you said...wishing you Merry Christmas! and Happy New Year!!!

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

adrian:
Wlcome to the B & B and it sounds like you're off to a great start, but please do take your time because Wet-Shaving is a 'journey' and not a race (oh by the way..I love my Merkurs 23C & 38C).
Irrtations might be a sign of a need for a more practiced technique and it also might wise to get a Razor Blade Sampler to see what blade is a good fit (sharp, dull, ect...), for your face and Razor, besides 'pulling the trigger' on a good deal for a shave brush, bowl and/or scuttle (what are your tools by the way).

And yes...this Forum has the knowledge, ideas, and alround 'know-how' (see link below), to assist in your Wet-Shaving experience. In a nut-shell...your 'gonna' love it here

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=71700

Also, once you get time....please tell all of us a little about yourself in the Hall of Fame sub-forum

Christopher