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I shaved saturday and now it looks like I have an acne break out under my chin. Anyone here have any good remedies for these annoying critters?
I don't think I've ever had razor bumps before, so does anyone know how long they usually take to go away?
Posts: 340 | Registered: Jun 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Gecko: I shaved saturday and now it looks like I have an acne break out under my chin. Anyone here have any good remedies for these annoying critters?
I don't think I've ever had razor bumps before, so does anyone know how long they usually take to go away?
quote:Originally posted by Gecko: I shaved saturday and now it looks like I have an acne break out under my chin. Anyone here have any good remedies for these annoying critters?
I don't think I've ever had razor bumps before, so does anyone know how long they usually take to go away?
How do you shave?
Mach 3 with a fresh razor every time. Once with the grain, once against.
Posts: 340 | Registered: Jun 2005
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quote:Mach 3 with a fresh razor every time. Once with the grain, once against.
That may be part of the problem. There are a lot of people who can shave against the grain, but for some of us (myself included) this can easily cause razor burn (bumps).
How do you prep for shaving? Do you use shaving foam/gel/cream/soap? Do you shave in the shower?
Posts: 4753 | Registered: May 2002
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quote:Originally posted by pH: There is this stuff called BikiniZone which is AMAZING for razor bumps. It gets rid of them very quickly.
-pH
and I apply it to my *gulp* face?
I had a friend who shaved his head and started getting irritation because he was out in the sun and heat a lot, and it worked for him in like...a few hours.
Aveeno also makes a shave gel specifically for people prone to razor bumps.
posted
Fresh razor every time? I have really thick beard growth and I only change the blade every 5-7 days.
Posts: 1480 | Registered: Dec 2004
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I know this is kind of old school, left over from when the number of shaves per blade was the subject of conversation arround the water cooler. (and subject to as much "streching" as the fish that got away.) But, I usually get 15 to 20 shaves with modern blades. Of course, both grandpas were Danish. Razor burn is not a concern for us.
Posts: 1167 | Registered: Oct 2005
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I just go electric and go back and forth depending on how the hairs lay across my face. My skin is pretty resistant to irritation, but I still try to be careful. I've found that if I shave about every other day its easy, but if I wait 3+ days the difficulty goes up exponentially by the day.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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I switch between a mach 3 (primary) and a braun electric (for when I don't have time to shave with the razor or have to be able to shave late in the day at work for some reason).
I am very prone to razor bumps, but I have found that when I take the time to really scrub in shaving foam (moving my hand against the grain and really pushing the foam down around the stubble several times) I get few bumps, if any. I end up with much less foam on my face than when I just apply the foam with no finger-to-face contact, with the tips of the stubble visible through it. The shave is less irritating and less prone to bumps. It makes me want to try a shaving brush, but I haven't gotten around to it.
I will shave 5-7 times with a blade, sometimes more.
Posts: 26071 | Registered: Oct 2003
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I never get razor bumps anymore. I get use the Gillette Fusion razor (not the powered one). I wash my face first, which gets rid of any germs, and softens up my beard. I then always go with the grain rather than against it. I get a closer shave under my neck if I go against the grain, but that can lead to bumps so I don't do it.
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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Those who did have razor bumps, how long did they take you to go away? Do they go away on their own?
Posts: 340 | Registered: Jun 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Lupus: I never get razor bumps anymore. I get use the Gillette Fusion razor (not the powered one). I wash my face first, which gets rid of any germs, and softens up my beard. I then always go with the grain rather than against it. I get a closer shave under my neck if I go against the grain, but that can lead to bumps so I don't do it.
Actually, this is what I was going to get at. Wash your face first. The purpose of the shaving foam is not to lubricate your face, but, rather, to hold the facial hair up so you can shave it off more cleanly. The lubrication is actually provided by water on your face. The best shave is had by washing your face thoroughly (or hopping right out of the shower or shaving in the shower) beforehand for several minutes, rinsing and then not drying your face. Application of shaving foam or soap with a shaving brush will help with quick, even distribution of foam and will more easily get the foam under the individual hairs on your face. This will help keep your face from drying while you prep your razor.
Now, shave with even strokes and don't push down on the razor. It's a freakin' razor. If you prepped your face properly, it will easily slice off the offending hairs with little resistance (and fewer strokes). If you push down on the razor, you're basically scraping your face which will lead to irritation. Not shaving against the grain will also help with irritation as you won't be going over the same place twice and won't be cutting the hair below the surface (yes, contrary to what the TV tells you, this is not a good thing).
Posts: 4753 | Registered: May 2002
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*gasp* Blasphemy! How dare you say the TV god lied!
I haven't had razor burn since a week after I switched away from electric (not a close enough shave, probably cause it was a cheap one) mostly because I realized to not press against my face like several other people said. Also don't do it against the grain, I saw people do it on TV so I tried it that way but only bad things ensued.
Posts: 2705 | Registered: Sep 2006
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If you have curly hair (curly beard) and you shave the wiskers off below the surface they may well become inpacted. Those are real razor bumps. And, they often won't heal without surgical intervention. At the very least you are looking a potential of weeks of recovery.
Posts: 1167 | Registered: Oct 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Artemisia Tridentata: If you have curly hair (curly beard) and you shave the wiskers off below the surface they may well become inpacted. Those are real razor bumps. And, they often won't heal without surgical intervention. At the very least you are looking a potential of weeks of recovery.
Isn't an impacted hair different from a razor bump?
Posts: 340 | Registered: Jun 2005
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They are both infections associated with the hair follicle. It's a question of degree. An inpacted hair is an industrial strength razor bump.
Posts: 1167 | Registered: Oct 2005
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I'm gonna disagree with you PC on the purpose of shave cream/foam. How is foam supposed to hold up a day's worth of growth?
I can't even see a day's worth of growth (my beard is strawberry blonde, blends right in with my skin, and it's thick enough to hold itself up for about a week)! Maybe if you have baby fine hair and several days growth.
I've shaved with water alone (Edge Shave Gel runs out w/out warning!) and it's painful. Edge Gel makes my razor literally glide over my face. It's the best thing to happen to shaving since the razor!!
While we're on the topic, has anyone ever tried shaving with a straight razor?
It is, simply put, the best shave you'll ever get. There IS a learning curve with a straight razor that you don't have with modern safety razors, but the results are worth the effort.
I currently use a Sensor 3 because it's so much faster than the straight razor (I always get hung up around my adam's apple )
Still, I highly recommend trying it if you have the patience and a steady hand. Posts: 692 | Registered: Feb 2000
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I've had a straight razor shave. After I graduated from highschool, I had a full head of curly hair and a full beard. I had my regular barber shave it all of. It took him about 30 minutes, straight razor and all. It was the best experience of my life.
And I must just not care, for I can get 3 weeks out of my Mach 3 razor.
Posts: 1711 | Registered: Jun 2004
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I use Nivea for men foaming gel. Has aloe and seaweed mineral whatever crap, I don't know, but it's very comfortable.
I generally change my razor every other week or so, sometimes a little bit longer, so twice a month. I generally shave every other day (I have a decent amount of stubble by the end of the day, but usually the restaurant lets me get away with a day's growth). I use a Mach 3 razor blade.
I find the best shave is to do so right after a hot shower (when your pores are open and the hair is loosened up (so I'm told)), then put the gel on your face and leave it on for at least a full minute before shaving. Then I go once with and once against the grain. That gives me the best results and the smoothest shave ever.
Generally I can't shave without gel or a decently new razor, I have very sensitive skin and it gets cut up and gets razor burn very easily, but I never have razor bumps, or at least, I haven't yet.
As much as a pain in the butt shaving can be, a nice clean shave, a well trimmed beard and a nice haircut can make me feel like a new man after a couple weeks of bumming it. Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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I always got better shaves with my old safety razor than I ever have with my electric. I shaved with water--almost never foam, as I discovered it stung when I washed it off and gave no clear benefit--rarely cut myself, and never had razor burn. But my parents got antsy when I let my beard grow for a while and bought me an electric, and then I no longer had to buy blades all the time.....
Posts: 1114 | Registered: Mar 2004
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A stripper friend of mine swears by putting deodorant/anti-perspirant on the fresh skin after shaving her bikini area [to prevent razor bumps. She uses Secret solid; I have used Speed Stick.]
I have used Homemade Tendskin on already-present razor burn with excellent results.
quote:What you need: Uncoated aspirin 70% alcohol Witch Hazel A measuring cup/bottle 2 bottles used to shake mixtures 1 8oz or more bottle/container to keep finished product What you do: 1. Pour 5.5oz of 70% alcohol into one bottle. 2. Drop 18 uncoated aspirins into the alcohol. Cap bottle and shake. 3. Pour 2.5oz of witch hazel into the second bottle. 4. Drop 8 uncoated aspirins into the witch hazel. Cap bottle and shake. 5. Wait awhile (30 minutes to a whole day) for the aspirins to dissolve in the liquids. Shake periodically to help dissolve aspirin and mix. NOTE: not all of the aspirin will dissolve. That’s ok- some of it never will. 6. Now combine both the alcohol and witch hazel mixtures together into one bottle. Make sure you shake it up before you pour them out so you also get the aspirin residue into the new bottle. This last bottle is your Tendskin! Use 1-2 a day. Reduce usage if you experience dryness or flaking or irritation. DO NOT USE IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO ASPIRIN. Make sure you shake it well before each use.
quote:Originally posted by DSH: I've shaved with water alone (Edge Shave Gel runs out w/out warning!) and it's painful. Edge Gel makes my razor literally glide over my face. It's the best thing to happen to shaving since the razor!!
Honestly. Take a long shower. Get a mirror and shave without doing anything while standing in the shower. You'll be amazed.
Posts: 4753 | Registered: May 2002
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I do take long showers. My wife reminds me of this constantly...by yelling at me from her cold shower!
If I don't have a good lubricant to shave with, I'll end up bleeding from dozens of places all over my neck (just tiny pin-prick bleeds) and I'll be left with a raw feeling for a good hour afterwards. Same thing happens with an electric shaver (or at least the 3 that I've tried). It's almost like road rash of the neck!!
I have thick, tough facial hair, and sensitive skin. A rotten combination. I've considered laser hair removal, but what kind of man would I be if I couldn't hold my own in a beard growing contest? Posts: 692 | Registered: Feb 2000
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quote:While we're on the topic, has anyone ever tried shaving with a straight razor?
I shave with a straight razor daily. Unless I'm tired or coughing.
A long time ago when my beard didn't need shaving everyday, I had an Atra razor that I'd used for months. Mostly because I just never got around to buying new blades, but my whiskers were so thin it didn't matter much. When I finally bought new blades, I put one in and (to quote Bill Cosby) zip-zop: my face was ripped to shreds. Seems sharp blades cut everything better. Everywhere there was a hair folicle had little spurts of blood coming out of it.
Over the years I've tried all kinds of things to keep from cutting myself, but what it comes down to is that my whiskers lay flat against my neck, so that either the razor runs over them without cutting, or it lifts them up and slices the little lump of skin at the base right off. With a safety razor, the only way to get a decent shave was with a dull blade, against the grain.
A straight razor, on the other hand, seems to glide over the skin and cut the whiskers just like it was intended to. I still have to shave against the grain to get beneath the whiskers, but the only time I cut myself is... when I cut myself.
Posts: 3735 | Registered: Mar 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Primal Curve: Honestly. Take a long shower. Get a mirror and shave without doing anything while standing in the shower. You'll be amazed.
I second that. I won't shave anytime but in my shower since I got a mirror in there. Saves hassle from my wife to since I'm to lazy to clean the sink up afterwards.
Posts: 3134 | Registered: Mar 2005
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I must be extremely lucky. I tend to shave using a disposable razor (for about a month or more at a time) and no shaving cream. I only have problems whenever there's no hot water and I have to shave with cold. That hurts a little.
Posts: 2596 | Registered: Jan 2006
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I had a friend who shaved his head and started getting irritation because he was out in the sun and heat a lot, and it worked for him in like...a few hours.
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