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j8ear · 08-13-2003, 01:35 PM

I have very sensitive skin also. Used to cut myself all the time....until I put a mirror in my shower, and learned to prepare my face for shaving.

First of all....any decent suction cup 'fog free' mirror will do. When it fogs up anyway...just take some of the shampoo that you lathered up in your hair and place on mirror near top. It will ooze down across the reflective surface and give a nice fog free view.

Now, that being taken care of, you must prepare your skin and your razor. Razor MUST be clean and sharp. If you'd run it across your mug more then 5 times...throw it away and change blades. Some super sensitive skin needs a new blade every time. Shaving takes away hair AND skin, both are organic and both will cake in and on the blade and will allow organic material eating bacteria to accumulate. Anyway that is why I must change blades frequently. I've heard of soaking in alcohol and what not...but hey I like a new fresh blade anyway.

Now for skin prep. I use a very mild soap like phisoderm...use whatever works to not irritate ~your~ face. Wash liberally all areas which will be traumatized by the shaving process. Occasionally I use a slightly abrasive sponge to exfoliate my face....and really soften up the stubble.

Use a good shaving cream and lather up very liberally. Shaving creams like barbasol and edge have special emolients and lubricants which prepare your skin, and the hair your slicing away to make it as easy as possible for your clean sharp razor to get it close to the skin. Obviously you'll have to determine which shaving creams work best with your skin.

I shave with the grain on cheeks and chin and against the grain on my neck up over my jaw line. This is what gets the shave close for me.

I'm not big on fancy-schmancy triple blade razors because their pivot doesn't allow me to get a crisp line on my burns. I stick with a cheap ass two blade job. If it ain't broke don't fix it for me I say.

After shaving make sure you rinse excessively to get all remenants of those lubri-strips from the razor and soaps off of your skin.

Anyway this has really seemed to work for me over the last five or six years when I finally figured it all out. The only time I cut myself now is when I shave a zit (even then only occasionally). I also find it beneficial to shave less then once a day. Let the scruff build up just a bit to give the blades something to grab maybe. I'm rather fair and they're somewhat unconcerned at my work, so this isn't that big of a deal. Plus I'm kind off a freakin dot commer.

Well that's my two cents. Hope it helps,

-bear

08-13-2003, 01:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
j8ear Gentlemen Farmer Location: Middle of nowhere, Jersey	I have very sensitive skin also. Used to cut myself all the time....until I put a mirror in my shower, and learned to prepare my face for shaving. First of all....any decent suction cup 'fog free' mirror will do. When it fogs up anyway...just take some of the shampoo that you lathered up in your hair and place on mirror near top. It will ooze down across the reflective surface and give a nice fog free view. Now, that being taken care of, you must prepare your skin and your razor. Razor MUST be clean and sharp. If you'd run it across your mug more then 5 times...throw it away and change blades. Some super sensitive skin needs a new blade every time. Shaving takes away hair AND skin, both are organic and both will cake in and on the blade and will allow organic material eating bacteria to accumulate. Anyway that is why I must change blades frequently. I've heard of soaking in alcohol and what not...but hey I like a new fresh blade anyway. Now for skin prep. I use a very mild soap like phisoderm...use whatever works to not irritate ~your~ face. Wash liberally all areas which will be traumatized by the shaving process. Occasionally I use a slightly abrasive sponge to exfoliate my face....and really soften up the stubble. Use a good shaving cream and lather up very liberally. Shaving creams like barbasol and edge have special emolients and lubricants which prepare your skin, and the hair your slicing away to make it as easy as possible for your clean sharp razor to get it close to the skin. Obviously you'll have to determine which shaving creams work best with your skin. I shave with the grain on cheeks and chin and against the grain on my neck up over my jaw line. This is what gets the shave close for me. I'm not big on fancy-schmancy triple blade razors because their pivot doesn't allow me to get a crisp line on my burns. I stick with a cheap ass two blade job. If it ain't broke don't fix it for me I say. After shaving make sure you rinse excessively to get all remenants of those lubri-strips from the razor and soaps off of your skin. Anyway this has really seemed to work for me over the last five or six years when I finally figured it all out. The only time I cut myself now is when I shave a zit (even then only occasionally). I also find it beneficial to shave less then once a day. Let the scruff build up just a bit to give the blades something to grab maybe. I'm rather fair and they're somewhat unconcerned at my work, so this isn't that big of a deal. Plus I'm kind off a freakin dot commer. Well that's my two cents. Hope it helps, -bear __________________ It's alot easier to ask for forgiveness then it is to ask for permission.