Every time I shave: Routine: Hot shower mix of Proraso and Mitchell's Wool Fat soap in a Georgetown Pottery G5 Feather Blade & Gillette Slim Adjustable Start with a 3 for the WTG Setting 2 for the XTG (twice) Setting 1 for the ATG ALUM block Saint Charles Shave Dagger ASM or Saint Charles Shave Sahara (depends on the weather) I can easily get a BBS from the jaw line up. On the neck however, it is on fire and all red (razor burn!). However the neck tends to be difficult to get BBS or even DFS. It is SAS for certain. But even to do that, it is on fire. What am I doing wrong?
Could be too much pressure. Could be the blade. I found after several shaves (first few were okay) with a Derby that it would irritate my neck. That was a few years ago. I did try again a few months ago - same results. Feathers, the same. First shave okay, but more than two shaves in a row with one and out comes the burn. Could be the Woolfat. Some folks are allergic (or at least sensitive) to lanolin. Could be you're just one of those (and there are a few here at the Den) who just can't go ATG on the neck.
I thought about pressure, and I make it a point to not apply too much pressure and use only the weight of the razor to do the work.
Could also be the Alum block. I would say try to change each of it. The soap then the alum. And see if it is either of those. Then it could be possibly too many passes on the neck. I only do two passes on my neck. I also have to agree it could be the blade. I know Derbys chew up my neck as well.
Alum - good call. I'd forgotten about that. I found out last year that alum is another thing that I can only use once in a while. Too often and I get burn.
Yessir. Does it burn on a nick or no? I forget but i thought it did. So that on an irritated neck could cause burning. As well as using it all the time.
I do not think it is the soap as I do change it up from time to time. I sometimes just use Proraso or just the MWF or even Tabac. I like the mix of Proraso/MWF. Incredible lather rich, thick, silky lather. Mmmm. Anyway, I will order a Styptic pen and drop the alum which I had been using as a Styptic pen and astringent, etc. I will admit that when I do use the alum block it is like a billion needles piercing my skin and going straight into the nerve endings. I have never used a Styptic pen before. Do they sting as well or just stop the bleeding. You know now that I think about it, I can feel the burn during the shave. I guess I really need to focus on my technique a bit better. Maybe I can try the WTG or semi-XTG on the neck with a higher setting on the slim. Maybe a 4 or 5 and only do a single pass on the neck. Any thoughts? Thanks!
My understanding is that a styptic usually burns more. But I've never used one. Both alum and styptic are going to hurt like heck if your technique isn't down pat. Which I'm guessing the issue is.
I'm going to go with technique, blade, and alum. Honestly I've never seen the purpose in using alum, unless you have a weeper or nick, but just to use after every shave, nah.
I would change up one thing at a time so you can dial in the variables. I use alum almost every day, and it burns when I've gotten too close a shave. The Feathers were way too sharp and unforgiving for me and I always took off too much face with my beard with them. Styptic oencils definitely do have a sting to them. You might want to try a styptic powder as well, I seem to get a quicker and more reliable result with it than I did with the pencil.
A stypic is typically for cuts and nicks to stop the bleeding. If you are getting enough of those to need a styptic daily then I would go back to the original suggestions of too much pressure. And yes, it will burn and sting a lot. Actually, another possibility is that something could be out of alignment on that slim adjustable. Either the adjustments could be off or the blade alignment could be off. If you aren't getting nicks and cuts, then you don't really need to use the alum or styptic. Try just using some witch hazel after your shave to see how that goes.
I have neck problems similar to what you are describing, but I have found the blade/razor combo and # of passes to be the first major determinant, followed by good "no pressure technique, lather/prep, and finally use of preshave oil. I try to get my BBS in 3 passes + minor touch-up, and avoid 4 passes, by using either a more aggressive razor or blade (not both). I can get a 3 pass irritation free BBS on my neck pairing a Feather blade with a mild shaver such as a EJ DE86, but cannot seem to get a smooth - irritation free neck using the Feather in my Fatboy or Slim on low settings. In all my Gillette razors I do best with forgiving blades (Crystal, SuperMax, Lord, etc) paired with more aggressive settings (such as 7 or 8) in adjustable types. When using blade/razor combos contrary to this scheme I find using a simple home blend (castor-grapeseed) preshave oil gives much protection to my neck, and I always stop at 3 passes whether I get a BBS or not. I can only get away with 4 passes when using a forgiving blade, period. Our faces are all different. You just have to experiment and find the magical mix that works best for you.
I'll throw in my two cents for what it's worth. I would say that it is the number of passes on your neck. That's what it would be for me. I find that if I do an XTG pass on my neck it is instant rritation and not to mention there is some blood loss. I find that with my neck (adam's apple and down; being the most sensitive) I can only do two passes. So I do my initial WTG, then on the second pass I go ATG on my neck and then leave it for the rest of the shave. Like I said anything more and it is hello pain for about a week. I don't think it would be your soap, because I would imagine your whole face would burn, as mine does when soap irrritates. Also I don't use an alum block, just a styptic pencil wheneer needed. SO I would say try changing your technique a bit, also don't forget the cold rinse afterwords! saves a WORLD of issues after shaving!
I had issues with my neck for months. I tried changing everything...except for my amount/type of passes. I know...dumb of me. I use a completely different pass-system on my neck than I do with the rest of my face. I actually do the same with my mustache area, as well. Three different routines for the three different areas of my face. Excessive? Probably, but it works for me.
I use alum but in an entirely different way. I use the crushed alum available in the spice section at the grocers. Approx 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons added to a pint of witch hazel from Dollar General, and use it as a splash before I use an aftershave balm. Some balms can be VERY irritating some work just fine. For me the Avon Wild Country works great.
That is pretty neat. Never thought to use it like that. Is it soluble or is it just suspended within the liquid?
I'm going to offer a suggestion that I have noticed helped me. When you say you do ATG pass, I'm not sure if you have really looked at the way the hair grows on your neck. If your hair grows down and to the side, as mine does, against the grain means starting on the side of my neck, under my ear, and shaving towards the middle. My point is that maybe your hair grows in a certain direction and your WTG pass might really be XTG or ATG and you could get irritation from that because you are going ATG on your first pass. For instance, if your first pass on your neck is North to South, which may seem like WTG, but your hair grows upward, you just shaved ATG on your first pass. I hope this makes sense. I know a lot of people talk about mapping your beard, and I think it's a great idea to get you familiar with the direction the different parts of your beard grows. This helped me a great deal and if you haven't already done so, I would suggest you try it. One other suggestion is pressure, pressure, pressure. I have to use no pressure on my neck as well as the rest of my face, but particularly on my neck.
Its soluble. Melts right into the witch hazel. It's used in cooking and canning, its one of the secrets that make canned pickles krisp. However I do not know if Vlasic (sp) uses it.
