and I can't believe the burn. I screwed up something big! lol This is gonna take a few days to heal. I should have just done a WTG pass and quit but I did 1 x WTG, 1 x ATG, 1 x XTG. I haven't shaved (until about a month ago) in over a year so I'm wondering if my face is really really sensitive now? I probably had to much pressure but it never felt uncomfortable.
I would reccomend not shaving against the grain until you start getting good shaves going WTG and XTG. Take it light and slow and don't stress on it. You'll get it.
Bummer. What's your setup? Your razor may be too aggressive or the blade just might not work for you. It may have even been a bum blade out of the box. The burn may be caused by an allergic reaction to your soap or cream. How's your technique? Go slow, watch the angle, no pressure. Keep at it. You'll get it!
Perhaps you're a little too ambitious starting out? Maybe going WTG a couple of times until you get used to your new tools. I don't know about others, but I'll do a couple of passes before I go ATG, usually WTG, XTG then ATG. I find that works best for me, but everyone's different. Don't get discouraged. It will come together and soon you'll be a shave guru.
Your skin does go through an adjustment stage, so after not shaving for a year, that may be part of the problem. As others have said, check your blade, use a sharp one, i.e. Feather, and focus on your technique. It'll come to you, just hang in there.
I also had this awful burn. But I felt very brave and went all the directions of grain. My wife told me to apply moisturizing cream to my skin. I went with Russian-made eucalypti after-shave with vitamin F. Vitamin F helps healing skin. This balm was terribly aggressive to the skin at first (mostly because of eucalypti I suppose), but shortly my skin calmed down. And, yes, do not go XTG right away.
I used an electric almost exclusively for years and just switched to my DE within the past 2 weeks. I can tell you I did experience a little discomfort at first - but a little persistence and it's great now. Also, don't be afraid to try new blades and/or different creams/soaps. I've only got a few shaves under my belt, but I can tell you that your blade/lather combination can make a huge difference...
W/o knowing the setup, my first impression would be the intensity and order. Not all guys can manage an ATG pass, especially at first, and even those of us who reguarly do one normally to a WTG then an XTG first. I'll second the advice that you stop at XTG until you get comfortable, even though it's not as close. Also, I hate to to ask, but did you use a decent soap or creme and manage a nice "merangelike" lather. It's possible to shave with a DE and "canned stuff", but you'll get a far rougher shave. Everything every one else said was very valid, too. it could be too aggressive a razor, a bad blade (the free merkur blade included with their razors is infamously bad, for example), etc. Good luck and keep at it. It's worth a few rough shaves to get better ones for the rest of your life, and, even once you have nice shaves, it's fun to experiment ( even if in experimenting you end up with a few real duds (I'm looking at you Lord brand blades...).
My starter razor a few years back was a Gem Micromatic. Needless to say, many of my early shaves left me with the dreaded scorched face (not to mention some fairly hefty nicks). Back then this stuff totally saved me, takes the sting right out and you're good to go the next morning (no need to miss a shave.) You can probably find it in the aisle with the sun tan stuff at Walgreens, cheap insurance for those days when things just go badly. I don't go BBS daily but for the most part my shaves go pretty well. I still keep a bottle in the cabinet below the sink in the shave cave Barring a medical condition, minding your blade and lather and TOTALLY concentrating on technique should solve the problem. I'd lay off ATG for a bit and when you do get back to ATG, do so very carefully and only after a WTG and XTG pass. Hang in there, Brother, it gets better I promise.
When I first started I had a very similar experience. I took some advice and only shaved WTG for a week remembering to take it slow and easy on pressure. The second week did a WTG and XTG and the third week did all three, worked much better as far as the razor burn and cuts. I also changed my razor to an adjustable which made it not as aggressive as the Merkur I was using. Last the better you lather the better the shave and learning to lather takes some practice. Stick with it though as you won;t be disappointed.
As southernscribbler said, it will take a while for your face to "learn" to accept the shave. Watch your pressure too ! Very light gentle slow strokes, this ain't a Mach 3 you can mash into the face and let the springs do the pressure part. Blades, sharper the better but be gentle ! Best regards David
The good technique will come, but you must to be patient, and careful. You should not do any ATG passes until your shaves are reasonably good, with a WTG pass. Let your skin to heal, and then return to only WTG passes for a while.
While I too an new to this, at only about three months, I still am not shaving against the grain. Everything they say here is important, especially no pressure, angle, good lather, and the right blade for you. This is a process of learning and adjustment. I had to abandon the hopes of having a close shave for a while, and believe they just start to happen with better skills. while I am not presently sahving against the grain and getting close shaves, I am happy to report my neck looks the best it has. Benefits of DE wet shaving!!! Good Luck!!!
today was my second time shaving with a DE. i shaved WTG and ATG and i got a really close shave. i didn't go sideways because i had to go to school but my shave was really good. you just need to find the right things that work for you. best of luck. -used a weishi and the dorco blade that came with it.
After a couple years shaving with DEs and about 18 months shaving with a straight, I know I will always get razor burn on my neck if I try to go ATG so I don't bother. Its fun to get BBS shaves, but its not really worth it to me if I end up getting razor burn. I still get great shaves with just WTG and XTG passes, so thats good enough for me.
