sensitive skin - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

woopdee · 08-11-2003, 09:19 PM

since I first started shaving with a straight razor, I've had myabe 2-3 times in 4 years where I haven't cut myself up. I was wondering if anyone has any tips to reduce razor burn, the bumps, nicks and cuts. I feel like I've tried everything, but I'm sure there are some in the same boat as me who have figured out the demon.

oh, I usually only cut my neck. My face is fine.

obsvr · 08-12-2003, 01:21 AM

Well, one thing I've found that helps to greatly reduce the burn is to shave just after a shower. The hot water from the shower seems to soften up the skin and open up the pours, which means less burn. Also, I use something called a "post-shave healer", which is pretty much some moisturizer for your face. With these two things, razor burn has gone down drastically.

I don't have any advice on the other issues though - hopefully someone else can chime in.

theinfamous · 08-12-2003, 01:52 PM

i cut my neck all the time, but much less when i shave in a humid room (like obsvr said, after a shower). i thought getting cut was a part of shaving....but if anyone knows how to prevent it i would sure appreciate it!

woopdee · 08-12-2003, 11:48 PM

I do all of that. I've heard of shaving with the grain, but then (at least for me), pretty much all the hair stays. All of the cuts happen on the bottom of my neck though, which I find the oddest out of everything.

ninety09 · 08-13-2003, 09:02 AM

I have that problem too.
If I shave with the grain, it doesn't shave close enough
If I shave against the grain, I'll get small red bumps (mostly under my chin)

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

08-11-2003, 09:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
woopdee Banned	sensitive skin since I first started shaving with a straight razor, I've had myabe 2-3 times in 4 years where I haven't cut myself up. I was wondering if anyone has any tips to reduce razor burn, the bumps, nicks and cuts. I feel like I've tried everything, but I'm sure there are some in the same boat as me who have figured out the demon. oh, I usually only cut my neck. My face is fine.

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.

08-12-2003, 01:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
obsvr Upright	Well, one thing I've found that helps to greatly reduce the burn is to shave just after a shower. The hot water from the shower seems to soften up the skin and open up the pours, which means less burn. Also, I use something called a "post-shave healer", which is pretty much some moisturizer for your face. With these two things, razor burn has gone down drastically. I don't have any advice on the other issues though - hopefully someone else can chime in.

08-12-2003, 01:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
theinfamous Crazy Location: Cali	i cut my neck all the time, but much less when i shave in a humid room (like obsvr said, after a shower). i thought getting cut was a part of shaving....but if anyone knows how to prevent it i would sure appreciate it!

08-12-2003, 11:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
woopdee Banned	I do all of that. I've heard of shaving with the grain, but then (at least for me), pretty much all the hair stays. All of the cuts happen on the bottom of my neck though, which I find the oddest out of everything.

08-13-2003, 09:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
ninety09 Flavour of the Weak Location: Canada	I have that problem too. If I shave with the grain, it doesn't shave close enough If I shave against the grain, I'll get small red bumps (mostly under my chin)