Please Help. Newbie to the forum and going desperate for some help

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Hello guys. My name is Paul and I'm new to the forum. I'm actually a rookie at wet shaving and have been trying to shave with a de razor for the past 3 months. My shaves sometimes got better and other times got bad. 2 weeks ago I was actually having decent shaves trying out different sample blades. I know my technique still sucks but trying different blades to see if I find any that could give me a smooth irritation free shave.

Tried a polsilver and felt it was too sharp for me. Then I tried a personna lab blue and also felt it was really sharp blade for me which also got irritation on my chin area. Then I tried voskhod and for some reason that blade gave me the best and smoothest shaves without any irritation. Don't know if my technique that week got better but since it's a sample pack of blades I had to keep trying the rest of the blades. Tried astras sp but gave me really bad irritation on my chin and also felt it was an aggressive blade for my face.

Today I tried a Wilkinson Sword and it got even worse. For some reason every shave just keeps getting worse. I honestly don't know what I'm doing wrong. The dam chin area it's just a dam nightmare again for me. I thought I had this but it just keeps getting worse.

The blade is just NOT GLIDING through the whiskers on my chin area. I swear I try not to put any pressure but the blade just does not glide through...I had to stop because I was already feeling burning on my face. After the “supposed” second WTG pass.

Please tell me what I'm doing wrong. I'm just frustrated again with my coarse whiskers and really sensitive skin.

Is it because I'm using mild blades? I tried the Wilkinson Sword because it was supposed to be almost the same as a voskhod but either my technique is getting worse or I don't know what.

I really just don't know which direction to go or what I'm doing wrong but the burning of my chin is just depressing.


People tell me to try a fatip grande or feather blades but if I'm getting this much irritation and burning with mild blades and a mild razor I'm just really really scared to try an aggressive razor or blade and really destroy my face...


Either way I appreciate any help to try and not quit this beautiful hobby.

These pictures you see is the result from 2 WTG passes but had to stop because already was feeling the burn on my face.


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First of all go back to the vokshod blade if you still have some, stick with it if it was working.
Are you feeling the irritation during the shave ? It could be a reaction to the soap. If it's afterward it could be a reaction to other products.
You may still be putting too much pressure on the razor even if you think you are not, make sure your lather is good and don't be tempted to go back over any place without re lathering. Even if there is a little soap left from the pass it wont be enough protection.
 
It's not that bad really. I had it much worse and skin gets adjusted with time. I'd go with the Fatip and Voskhod combo and stick with it. Keep using cold water.
 
Paul...welcome to TSR. Stick with it, you are on the right path it will come good with a little more time.

If you are getting good results on the rest of your face you are nearly there. The chin area can be a little tricky in the beginning as beard growth in this area often grows at various angles. Meaning what you think is a with the grain pass on your chin maybe against the grain for some of your whiskers.

What razor, brush and soap are you using?'

Advice from other members is solid; for the next few months stick with the Voskhods blades (PM me is you require some more I have a few spare tucks). Do not discount that your soap or post shave maybe causing irritation. A good lather from a soap or cream that gives lots of cushion is important (Palmolive is one of the best soaps at any price, very inexpensive and still readily available (just) on the high street. A good post shave balm may also help until you nail what is causing the irritation.

For the next few days consider using your previous razor (cart?) on your chin area and use the DE on the rest of your growth. After a few days, once the irritation has gone give it another go with your DE, lots of lather, one pass only followed by a moisturising balm. Resist aiming for a close shave on your chin area until you are more confident with your technique.

I am sure others will also be along with some other sage pointers also...stick with it and let us know how it goes...
 
...if you are using a Fatip OC it will easily cause irritation, even for experienced shavers, if the angle is not good, it is also easy to overshave with a Fatip resulting in irritation as it is a smooth shaver which masks its aggressiveness...
 
Hi mate,
Looking at the pictures was like looking in a mirror 6-8 months ago for me.
It does seem to get better all of a sudden, well it did for me.
Some of the things I found that helped me was the following:-
1. Use a Pre Shave Cream/oil. Let it soak in. (apply it then brush your teeth or do your hair etc) (Nuage Menthol Pre Shave Oil is cheap and I regularly use ut)
2. Just try only shaving the chin area once or twice but only WTG, don't try 3rd passes.
3. Somthing I'm confident that really helped me was using Witch Hazel mixed with a post shave oil. Apply liberally and leave to soak in before attempting any Colognes or EDT's

Hope all goes well over thext few weeks.
Keep us up to date with your progress, we are all happy to help here.
 
What razor and soap / cream are you using? How's your lather?

If you're feeling that a blade is too sharp your angle's probably off which would also explain why you seem to be missing patches and irritating your skin.
 
Hello guys thank you so much for your reply's.

Right now I'm using a Gillette Tech razor, Tabac Soap, and razorock synthetic brush. I don't think it's a reaction of the soap because I have been using this soap with the voskhod blade that was the only time it went well for me. I think the lather is quite good. I've worked really hard to get a slick lather practicing on my hand on Off shaving days. I also shave with cold water because I felt with the voskhod that it helped with the irritation on the chin. I also have a merkur 34c and a fatip grande. I bough those razors from other suggestions. I do have other soaps besides tabac. I just wanted to keep with one soap and not change that much just to see which blade would be good for my skin. I can chance to whatever other soap you guys recommend.


Here is my routine:

PRE-SHAVE
• Put Brush in Mug with WARM Water
• Shower with WARM water
• Wash face with warm water in shower
• Don't towel dry the face after shower
• Start Preparing your Lather (I use “another cut above vídeo lather)
https://youtu.be/ecoUdtWxQxo
• After the shower soak face with cold water
• Apply remaining's of lather soap on face with hands and gently scrub face with hands
• Apply REALLY COLD TOWEL on face and leave on for 1-2 min
o Take off lather with towel
• Apply Pre-shave Cream PREP Original
• Start 1st pass lather

LATHERING ROUTINE
• Take out brush from mug and shake water off to leave it damp but not dry
• Start swirling lightly the bristles on the dry soap for around 30 seconds to gather enough soap where it is sticky and pasty.
o NOTE: You NEED to dip the tip of the bristles in water once or twice depending on soap and brush while swirling
• Start lathering face BY PAINTING IT
• Dip tip of bristles and paint again
• NEED TO KEEP DOING THIS UNTIL LATHER IS BASICALLY WATERY AND YOU CAN SEE THROUGH LATHER YOUR FACE
• Start swirling your face and neck
o NOTE: You probably need to dip the tip of the bristles once or twice depending on soap and brush
• When soap looks like Yogurt and NOT Whip Cream, and it feels slick, then its ready to go.

POST-SHAVE ROUTINE
• Rinse Face with Warm Water
• Rinse Face with Cold Water
• Apply Alum Block with Cold Water
• After 1 min Rinse Off Alum block with Cold Water
• Dry Face gently with towel
• Apply The Cool Fox to help with irritation
• Apply Moisturize Balm Nivea sensitive skin
• Keep moisturizing between shaves as needed


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I would start by , cleaning all your equipment with a antibacterial soap , presuming you haven't all ready ? , not the blades of course . No pressure !!! , I have seen similar problems before with course hair , and sharper blades worked better for the guy ,who had the problem same as you , good luck stick at it,
regards ian
 
So you pretty much have a two-hour shave routine. Simplify. Prep your face in the shower, splash a bit of warm water on your face prior to building your lather; lather your face like a normal person. The 34c is a great choice. I've never used the Tech or the fat tip. I know the Voskhod blades can be a bit tricky sometimes. Here's a thought, how often do you shave? It might be that the area around your chin might need more than 24 hours to recover from having a razor blade drug across it. When I first started with DE razors, I needed 36-48 hours to get a DFS without irritation around the chin and the corners of my mouth. See how it goes. And try shaving WTG only. A one-pass WTG might be all your face can handle at the moment.
 
So you pretty much have a two-hour shave routine. Simplify. Prep your face in the shower, splash a bit of warm water on your face prior to building your lather; lather your face like a normal person. The 34c is a great choice. I've never used the Tech or the fat tip. I know the Voskhod blades can be a bit tricky sometimes. Here's a thought, how often do you shave? It might be that the area around your chin might need more than 24 hours to recover from having a razor blade drug across it. When I first started with DE razors, I needed 36-48 hours to get a DFS without irritation around the chin and the corners of my mouth. See how it goes.

Hello Steve Bowels. Correct I pretty much take around 1 and a half hours to shave. In my opinion it is pretty long as well but would do it if it gets rid of my chin irritation and a smooth shave. Obviously it's not the case.

I shave every other day to let the irritation on my chin heal. It used to be worse. I used to shave at the beginning 1 a week because of the chin irritation.

Thanks


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Get yourself a Muhle R89, or an EJ DE-89. I think you might just need a milder razor. The old Tech and Fat Tip are much more aggressive, and are for experienced wet shavers. Your grandfather didn't have a choice. He had to suffer with irritation and bits of toilet paper staunching the razor cuts on his face. You do have a choice. Get a modern mild razor until you know how to use the vintage ones without engaging in a self-sacrifice every other morning. BTW, your shaving routines shouldn't take more than 20-30 minutes.
 
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