Help with irritation, 'split ends', bumps, etc

Hey All. New to the site but I've been shaving for over 10 years. I have several things I would like to discuss....

First, I have very thick, coarse hair, and my hair grows back quickly. I would love to be able to shave everyday, but my sensitive neck never allows me to do so. I have to wait at least 3-4 days to shave otherwise my razor turns my neck into ground beef :sick007

I shave using a Gillette Fusion ProGlide Power (recently upgraded from a Sensor Excel in an attempt to help some of my issues...and to save money.) I was only able to get 1 shave per blade with my Sensor Excel blades before it felt dull and disgusting on my neck. The ProGlide blades do seem to stretch a bit further. Though higher in price, I get more shaves per blade with them so in the long run they are more cost effective for me. I also currently use Neutrogena Men 'Skin Clearing' shave cream, though I have also used all sorts of creams and gels. I suppose I would consider these 'low end' creams/gels because I have done some browsing on the site and see people recommending things I have never seen nor heard of before.

So for my shave process, I have always shaved prior to showering (which, once again, after browsing the site I see is a no no). I feel it's easier to do before hand because I can easily hop in the shower and rinse my face/neck without having to do it over the sink and make a huge mess. I always splash my face with hot water before lathering/shaving. I have tried shaving in the shower but can never find a mirror that doesn't fog and look distorted in the shower. As mentioned, I don't like to shave after the shower in the sink because washing my face afterwards makes a huge mess on the sink and on the floor.

I try to go with the grain when I shave, as it seems to be more comfortable when I do so. However, it never gets close enough doing it this way, as I still feel stubble if I rub against the grain with my fingers. So after going with the grain to cut the hair down short, I sometimes have to come back against the grain to get it 'baby butt' close.

Post-shave, I have always used moisturizer. Generally it was a Nivea product but recently I bought some Gillette ProSeries 'Cooling' lotion. This moisturizes well I feel like but it burns my neck quite a bit (probably due to alcohol?) I also have to apply neosporin to some spots to help with irritation, bleeding, and discomfort.

Most of the time after I shave, I experience redness, irritation, and occasional bleeding. This lasts for at least a few days after I shave, hence why I cannot shave every day. I get ingrown hairs and bumps a within a few days of shaving. Some even look like little pimples. I also get some hairs on the side of my neck that get these little white things growing at the base of the hair up against my neck...not sure what's going on with these. I have experimented with plucking a few of these hairs, and the root of the hair looks folded over while the tip of the hair looks like a 'split end'.

I feel that my neck hair is extremely damaged and maybe that's why I have so many issues. I'm looking for some advice because I'm tired of dealing with this issue. Is there anything I can do to help my issue and repair some of the hair quality? Would a DE razor and expensive cream/soap really help this issue? Or is it a matter of function? Any help is sincerely appreciated.:whacky098 Sorry for the long post

 

Hello, and welcome to the site!

This "moisturizer" of yours doesn't sound like much of a moisturizer. Alcohol actually draws water out of the skin. The first thing you can do to increase comfort after your shave is to move to an after shave balm, which by default contains no alcohol. A common recommendation is Nivea Sensitive Skin After Shave Balm, which can be found at just about any drug store or grocery store with a health and grooming aisle.

As far as the quality of the shave is concerned, cartridge razors are simply inferior to single blade razors. Unless your skin is made of steel and your whiskers soft as silk, odds are that a lot of your irritation can be attributed to the "technological marvel" of the fusion proglide. Newer isn't always better. Most members here shave with vintage razors, or new iterations of the classic double edge format. A lot of these razors are fairly inexpensive, especially when considering that the cost of a replacement blade for a double edge razor is between $0.20 and $0.50 (as opposed to $5.00 for a proglide cartridge). If these are of any interest to you, you might try to pick up something like a gillette superspeed, a gillette tech, or a gillette adjustable. All of these can be had for $20 or less.

The fact is that every time a sharp edge passes against your face, it irritates your skin. When you take 2 passes with a cartridge razor that has 5 blades, it's really equivalent to 10 passes. Ergo the irritation.

As you mentioned, a lot of members find that shaving after a shower is helpful. Soap and hot water both help to soften up the hair. Mind you, if the water is too hot, it will harm your skin and increase irritation. Some people who don't shave after a shower instead will get a towel wet with hot water and soak/steam their face prior to shaving.

Best of luck on your shaving quest, and enjoy your stay!

 

Wow! Tough story. You've come to the right place.

I don't have all the answers, but there are a lot of folks here that do.

Go grab a beverage of choice, a favorite snack, get comfy, then click here.

Welcome to the Den!

 

Thanks for those recommendations. Would those be considered 'beginner' razors? I feel like I'm going back to basics here and don't want to get something out of my realm...if that's even possible with these types of razors. Is a $10-$20 razor going to do the same as say a $40-$50 Merkur? Is it worth the extra money to go with one of the more expensive razors?

It does seems like you can get a better quality shave for less money when you consider a cartridge for the ProGlide does cost a significant amount of money

I never thought about that....

I think I am going to start trying this. Cleaning up a bit of water and hair seems worth it. I'm tired of having an irritated face

I've started in on that page already...I've watched several of the videos provided by Mantics and have moved on to the others.

I wish I would have found this place sooner..I've been dealing with this for far too long and I think proper tools and techniques would save me all this hassle. On to finding where to get one of these razors and some decent cream locally. Buying online is always an option too, but at this point I want to start using it ASAP!

 

It's important to note that Merkur razors are brand new (or at least modern), while gillette DE razors are vintage. The price difference has nothing to do with quality. It has to do with market. When the Gillette razors were being made, there was a huge demand for them. There are millions of them out there. Merkur razors as you would find them on amazon or any shaving retailer are made in small quantities, as traditional wetshaving is relatively uncommon now.

In my opinion, there are very few razors that aren't beginner razors. Among them would be a Merkur Slant, a GEM Micromatic, and famous Rolls Razor. Anything made by gillette is a safe bet. The Tech is considered to be the mildest razor, while the adjustable (AKA Slim, or its larger cousin, the fatboy) can be as mild as a tech or as aggressive as a Merkur Futur (one of the most aggressive razors on the market). The gillette superspeed is probably the most common razor you can find. They were the workhorse of the gillette lineup for 20 or more years. They're well built, and give great shaves. In short form:

Gillette Tech: A simple 3 piece razor with no moving parts, very gentle.
Gillette Slim: An adjustable razor that can be very gentle or quite aggressive depending on the setting.
Gillette Fatboy: A larger, heavier version of the Slim
Gillette Superspeed: A medium razor with an astonishing track record.

As far as modern razors go, the most common recommendations are as follows:

Merkur Progress: An adjustable razor, very forgiving, well built, mild to aggressive
Edwin Jagger DE89l: A three piece razor (no moving parts) with good heft and a close, mild shave.
Muhle R89l: Just like the Edwin Jagger, but more expensive for some reason.

 

For whatever reason, I'm not sure I want to invest in a razor that's twice as old as I am. Though I'm sure they work fine, I'm more of a modern guy...

After browsing extensively for the last few hours, I'm looking into the Merkur HD 34C. I'm also trying to come up with blades to go with it...I'm looking into buying one of the combo packs here on the site to see what I like (and what likes me ) I prefer a very close shave, and I hear Feathers are extremely sharp, though I'm not sure that's a good blade to start with.... Then there's the cream, then there's the brush...though I think the brush is probably the easiest part. I've read/seen Sabi makes a decent starter badger brush for about $20

 

The 34c is a very common starter razor. It's their analog to an Edwin Jagger DE89. You can't really go wrong with a merkur HD

Feathers are probably not the best blade for a beginner. I recommend Derby, Astra, and if you can get your hands on some, Super Iridium blades.

Badger is definitely the way to go. I don't know anything about the Sabi brush, but the name "shea moisture brush" pops up quite often here. It is regarded by some to be the best low cost brush.

 

All of the pieces in our hobby can be viewed as a highly personal preference. Whether it is the razor, or the blades, or the brush / cream / soap/ aftershave, etc....

However, earlier in your post you said that you are looking for a local solution rather than an internet based solution. If you are near a large metropolitain area that has stores like The Body Shop, go buy a tub of their Maca Root Cream, it is one of the better creams that you can find. The Body Shop also sells a synthetic brush, but that brush while a good brush, may be too stiff for your liking. Also, if you are in an area that has The Body Shop, go to Crabtree & Evelynn and check out their soaps and creams, my favorite is Sienna. Bath and Body Works used to carry C.O. Bigalow, but it seems that they may have dropped that brand recently.

As for wanting to buy a new razor as opposed to vintage; the new razors are modeled off of vintage razor technology that was perfected a long time ago, so what is "new" is really old.

 

Only because I want it tomorrow and not in a week I buy online regularly and dont have a problem with doing so

I don't live in a metro area, so I will probably have to settle with an online option for a good cream....the closest place that might have something worth buying is about an hour from here.

The ideas are old, the but razor itself is new. That's what I'm looking for. I don't want a rusty, 50 year old razor that I have to 'clean up' before I use it.

 

I second this. Old razors shouldn't be shrugged off because somebody else used it. Some times, older is better. You may find that modern razors give an average shave, while something like a GEM 1912 (as much as 100 years old) or a Gillette Fatboy will give you an exceptional shave. Shaving articles ought not be discounted until they've been tried. But, as far as a first razor goes, a Merkur HD is just fine, albeit somewhat overpriced for what it is. Its gillette equivalent is probably the NEW (1929-1941, if memory serves), which can often be had in near mint condition for under $20.

I think the majority of sellers will clean and disinfect a razor before selling it. I've sold about 20 razors online at this point, and my policy has generally been rigorous:
1) Wash with dish soap and a tooth brush, cleaning every facet of a razor
2) Disinfect in barbicide for 2 hours
3) Steam clean nickel and chrome razors
4) Polish nickel, chrome, and silver razors with a flannel wheel and jeweler's rouge, touchup with a flannel wheel on a dremmel
5) Buff all razors on a bare flannel wheel
6) Wash again with dish soap and a tooth brush
7) Disinfect for 1 hour just before packaging and shipping

Most importantly, I would never sell a rusty razor. That's just gross.

 

Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion. I buy new regardless of what it is. It has nothing to do with quality, as I'm sure they are just as durable, if not more durable, than new products (LIke they say, "they just don't make 'em like they used to"). It's personal preference, as pointed out earlier. The only thing I will buy used it cars, but that's only because they are used as soon as you take it off the lot. So a car with 100 miles is still 'used'

Glad to hear that. Thanks for your input, it is appreciated. But like I said, I'm just not into used stuff, regardless of what it is.

 

Joe Mal, I just ordered a DE razor a brush and cream, I am having the same problems as you are! I have been shaving with a multi blade cartridge razor so I thought giving a DE a try would maybe good. Hopefully this works for us!

 

The same can be said for any product. Your razor will be used the day you shave with it.

Then don't get a used razor. Vintage and antique don't necessarily imply that something has been used. There are plenty of NOS (New Old Stock) razors floating around. Razors that are still shrinkwrapped.

 

If you don't mind me asking, what specifically did you buy? Certainly let me know how it goes!

....Right...but it will be used by me......I'm not sure why you think I'm making some sort of personal attack against you or used products. I simply don't want used. Leave it at that. I'm not trying to argue with you

 

Feathers are quite sharp, as are Kai and Gillette 7 O'clock Super Platinum. They may not be the best blades with which to start, as sharp blades can also be aggressive and irritating. Various vendors sell blade samplers, but you can also create your own sampler by buying a bunch of different blade packs.

The Merkur 34C is a very good razor, as is the Edwin Jagger DE89L. The DE89L is of particularly good quality, with excellent fit and finish.

 

To the OP. I spent the majority of my life suffering from shaving as you do. Ingrown hairs and a hamburger neck when ever I dared to shave with a multi blade. Learning to shave with safety razors improved my life. " I no longer look scruffy "

I too agree start with a vintage razor but since you feel a need to have new. Check out the weishi (SS clone) or the tech clones ( Lord, and feather are suppose to be good and affordable)

Once you make the switch to a safety razor it takes some time for the skin to heal. I found that when I first started, using OTC acne creams and cleansing pads regularly, helped me get the ingrown hairs and irritation under control.

Also, welcome to the shave den. The best group of enablers on the web.

 

It is amazing how things so old can still work as well as the day they were made. The very best razor I have ever used is an old Gillette Slim. With razors like those, it is not hard to see how Gillette did so well in times past.

Depending on the extent of the rust or worn finish and the price, even a rusty razor might be a good deal. There are folks who offer replating and restoration services, such as The Razor Emporium.

You certainly use a thorough disinfecting procedure. It is good to see sellers who are that conscientious. I have read from a number of sources that soaking vintage razors in barbicide can damage the finish, though. A post from this thread states that alcohol is also a good disinfectant, and provides some interesting observations on Barbicide:

 

Sorry queen of blades if we are not supposed to reply anymore just delete this post. Joe Mal I ordered a Merker 23C long handle DE, a standard badger brush for like 23 bucks and Col. Ichabod Conk Lime Shaving Soap. I ordered all this off a site called Fendrihan last thursday so hopefully it comes in sometime this week, I cant wait! I will post a thread on how the 1st shave goes and compare my new stuff to my old stuff.

 

Thanks Boseero I appreciate your reply. I was initially looking into the 34C, but I now think I will go with a 38C, which is nearly the same razor only it has a longer handle. I have larger hands and feel I would be more in control of the razor with a slightly longer handle. I see you live in BC...is that British Columbia?