I'm required to shave 5+ days a week for my new job (usually Monday-Friday) and mild razor burn around the middle portion of either side of my neck seems to be a prevailing issue. I'm inspected every morning and at times this issue can be quite embarrassing. I recently started shaving with a double edge razor which is way less irritating than the conventional razor that I'm accustomed to using. Here is my new routine: I wake up around 0335 every day I have work. I go downstairs and soak a cup and my brush in a sink filled with hot water while I shower. I apply pre shave oil, remove my cup and brush from the sink and begin making my lather. I usually only do one very cautious and gentle passes on my neck and two above my jaw line (where I get no irritation.) and then I apply like 3 quarts of aftershave to my neck. The hair on my necks seems to grow in ridiculous directions which makes it seem impossible to shave with the grain. I'm using the art of shaving kit and aveno balm, cheap witch hazel (I have some better stuff on the way) and Anthony's aftershave. Does anybody have any suggestions for me?
Try different angles on the neck area, and avoid against the grain at all costs. I've met several people that have issues with ATG or even XTG passes, but still can be clean shaven every morning for work using double WTG passes. Try a preshave cream such as proraso may also help as well. I'm not sure what job you do, but if you're SERIOUSLY having issues not being bleeding and irritated, you should be given a pass for not needing to be clean shaven - hell I'm in the army and I know at least 4 people that are required to grow a beard because even with wet shaving, they cannot get a decent shave that doesn't irritate them or make them bleed. Oh, trying other blades may help as well. Can't believe I missed that.
I'm with Justin - try another blade. Derby blades tear my neck up. They're fine for the rest of the shave, but wreak havoc on my neck for some reason.
Cortizone 10 on the areas after shave for a week or 2 and the rash will stop. The Cortizone stops the skin reaction and gives you skin time to adapt to shaving.
I've been trying my hardest go go with the grain, it's tough to follow it on my neck though.. as I stated it's not that bad, just moderately irritating; no bleeding. I've been trying to keep on top of it as much as possible so that it doesn't worsen. I'm using merkurs, from what I've they're read probably one of the worst blades out there--I can't wait to toss them. I have a sample pack in the mail. I have to weekend to try and figure something out. Cortizone 10 kind of scares me. I had a bad rash from poison ivy on my skin and the application of it eventually made the skin in that area extremely sensitive--I couldn't imagine trying to shave over that. has anybody tried using Cortiozone 10 on their face?
Me & my son when he 1st started shaving. I use it mostly for wind and frost burn (side effect of sailing & fly fishing). If you have a reaction to cortizone then stay away form it.
I was using it rather liberally. perhaps I will attempt to use it on a small portion of my neck over the weekend and see if I react--I'm sure that it can't hurt me more than my CO can.
For what its worth...I know you have stuff on the way, but the best aftershave I have tried for bad razor burn is the proraso white aftershave balm. I get razor burn like crazy of I catch a bad angle...and about 20 min after applying the balm...its cleared up. Like I said, I'm just tossing this one out there. Good luck with it all, you've got great advice already.
You have a bunch of excellent suggestions here! You mention a cheap witch hazel - you really get what you pay for with witch hazel. I strongly reccoment Thayer's witch hazel, with aloe and glycerin - very soothing and healing. When I was starting out and thru a combination of evolving technique, and constant experimentation with new blades I would regularly irritate the heck out of my skin, I discovered the importance of something the ladies have always known - wash your face before bed with a gentle soap, and then apply moisturizer to help heal thru the night. I actually used jojoba oil more than a few times for this, and it's amazing what that routine would accomplish by morning. Also, in addition to the cortisone for really bad irritation, you might try a little Solarcaine Aloe Vera to sooth things if it feels really irritated. The Solarcaine is intended for sunburn and contains lidocaine to take the sting out (that numbing stuff the dentist injects to put your face to sleep) Don't worry, it will get better! Before long you will find your skin getting better and better each week, and you won't believe it is your face!
Try Astra SP or any Wilknson Sword or Personna blade. I've never had a problem with those blades in any razor of mine and I have a lot of razors. I started wet shaving with DE razors and SE razors in January of this year and had a heck of a time the first month. I was using too much pressure with the razor and was going over areas without re-lathering and not using enough water on the skin to begin with. For me I found hot or warm water too irritating and for the last 4 months have used only cool to cold water for lathering and wetting my face for each pass and lots of cold water for rinsing afterwards. At times I've put ice cubes in a bowl and added water to soak the brush and to wet my face. It has made a dramatic difference for me. Aloe vera gel is a wonderful soothing and cooling agent, as well and Nivea creme to top it off.
thanks so much for the responses guy, you're all so helpful.. I actually have some of the Thayer's hazel that you're talking about in the mail with some sample razors, they should be getting here today.. I think that one of the products that I apply before I go to sleep have jojoba oil.. in addition I have a soap with aloe, glycolic acid and vitamins a, c and e.. combining the two is extremely relieving. I'm not sure if it's just in my head or not but my skin actually feels better to the touch. I'm not sure if I should give my face a break from the blade until Monday morning or not.
The of razor can have a difference too. I started with a ball tech and it just wasnt a good fit for issues I was having. I switched to a Gillette slim and wow what a difference. But if I used those blades my face would be a toal mess! I love the Personna and Astra for their smoothness and the feathers for when I need it super close fast. I had to stop using carts for the same issues. Other things I did was add a good witch hazel as already recommended. A quality natural shave soap. The two that worked the best for me were razorock and mystic waters followed by , queen charlotte was up there too and Aos wasnt bad either exceot for price. I found there was a hughe difference in way my face acted between shave soaps. A good facial soap and scrub were added to my regimine. I started using a tad of jobja oil as a facial moisture afterwards too. Wife bought me the derrmaoligial shave kit for fathers day and while I don't even want to know the price because I will probably be sick over it. It damn it isn't half bad for having everyhing a person needs. With irration I get ingrown hairs and products with salicylic acid help break up the mess clogging the hair under the skin. Target has their brand the clean and clear astrgiegnt the cheapest I found anywhere that is working as good as the Me brand at twice the price. ThRayers witch hazel( tired brand wife has too, I'm drawing a blank on the name) were not enough. I spent about two weeks looking up dermatological inforsmtion and then reading up on recipe stations onus what michele at MW gave me for tips n tricks like using a get warm spoon on any real bad ingrown hairs or clogged pours , using facial soap cleansers and the more I added to my routine the better my skin got. I was litterally soar 24/7 in the face for last 3 years and now I'm almost back to normal. Some pres shaves and other products, medications or other changes in life and health can be causing issues so it can really be. pita in the rest to nail down the problem. Skin docs also have medications they can prescribe depending on the root cause of the issue too. I hope it starts getting better with just the de blades for you. I rember the looks I was getting a out half way through the shift as my 12:00 shadow was pretty heavy despite shaving rigt before I left but because of sensitivity issues I couldn't get as close as needed. Also they recomended not shaving for bbs every day as it can lead to irration. One of tips was to let it grow out for a few days to give hairs a chance to break trough surface. I can normally get what I call a faux bbb shaves from a good de blade or my straight without doing the against the grain pass and if I stay that way most of week I get less irration, still looked just shaving 10 hours later and at 40 it's probably been 20 years since my face looked that close shave halfway through the day or into the night. It can be done
I vote for giving your face a shaving break for at least a few days, if not more. I just had my second shave with a straight razor and overdid it. I should have stopped sooner but kept on making poor passes and am paying for it with razor burn, bumps and cuts. I will not shave for at least 3 or 4 days. Sometimes that's all you can do, just stop...as well as sooth with the witch hazel and aloe and such and ice water and taking aspirin or Aleve.
I had major neck irritation issues at the beginning as well, and it took several combined adjustments to reasonably minimize it until my face gradually could handle it. Some of these were: milder blades, preshave oils, face lathering, allowing more prep time, angle adjustments, less pressure, fewer passes, post balms, changing blades more frequently (3 shaves and out are best for me), and using an adjustable razor on lower settings initially. It probably took me a month to "get comfortable" and then another month to start advancing in passes and aggressiveness without experiencing discomfort.
Using a good after shave balm (I use Geo F. Trumper's Skin Food) eliminated razor burn for me. Nothing else worked - changing shaving methods, and prep didn't help it much.
Hydra-cortisone is pretty good for razor burn. The reason it failed on the poison ivy, is basically the contact dermatitis is moist and needs more of a drying agent. ie calamine lotion would be preferred as it's more drying. Calamine lotion would be devastating if used on razor burn. Razor burn requires moisture, a good skin food or thick ASB. The cortisone as an added plus will decrease the skin cell inflammation and provide some moisture.
There are many awesome solutions to try in here but one key point I would really emphasis is not too change things up too uickly. Use the same routine (water temperature, blade type, etc.) for a week. Then if it doesn't suit, change one element each week. In saying that I would get rid of the aftershave immediately. Anything with alcohol in it will not help your comfort level. Personally I would recommend using a good blade like the green Gillette 7 O'Clocks. Using an aftershave cooling balm and, if all else fails, shave with cold water. It sounds strange but it's been known to work serious miracles for those with sensitive skin...
Not adding much new to what has already been said. Make sure you have good lather, as a weak or thin lather will not offer a layer of protection between the blade and your skin. Use a sharp and smooth blade. We each have various blades that we think are best, so that is really dependent on what preference your face likes. Pay attention to the angle of your razor, as too steep or too shallow will not provide proper blade exposure. No pressure on razor. Allow your face to heal before attempting to shave again. Good luck.
Does this mean you always get irritation and you need to compensate by soothing/healing afterward? If so, ... that bites!
