Thread: New to SRP, could use some advice

First off, thanks in advance to any help that is provided. I have briefly read over a few posts in this forum and have found everyone seems to be very helpful/kind about replies.

I would consider myself a very inexperienced shaver, father didn't teach me much (mostly learned from seeing him shave a few times) and I have only NEEDed to shave for maybe 5 years. I am 24 now in the military, and was required to shave in basic training even though I grew absolutely no hair on my lower face.

I have tried just about everything under the sun that is easily commercially available on military bases (this includes: disposables, mach everything, 3 blade/4blade variants, cheap electric razors, mid price electric razors, etc). The only commercial item I haven't tried is the more expensive brauns and such due to not wanting to waste the money on something that may not work.

My problem is that I get "razor burn" and white heads (looks like acne) after a day or so when shaving (So if i shave on Monday, and I have to again on Tuesday I have bumps/acne from the day before). This happens on my lower face (the neck area mostly). My cheeks and sideburns don't get irritated at all normally.

I have been reading a lot about safety razors and was looking at buying a merkur line after doing a lot of looking around due to decent quality/price ratio. I don't think I am ready for a straight razor yet, though I could be wrong.

My wife just bought me a cheap little brush/cup/soap set to use after I expressed some interest in the subject. So I have a cheap (don't know what kind of hair it is, but it definitely looks like hair) brush and some decent smelling/lathering soap. I tried using that after a nice hot shower and some decent time lathering up and it still caused the irritation with a disposable razor (brand new out of the package).

I am willing to try anything, if it is a decent price to start out with. So I am looking for recommendations on what you think are a good starter blade. I will probably continue to browser the forums to look for more answers, but I would love to hear others, that may be in the same boat as me and what your solution was.

Thanks again for taking the time to read through my dilemma.

Welcome to SRP!!

Feather makes a good inexpensive DE and shaves quite well IMO. It's around $20 and comes with 2 Feather razors. Each razor is good for about 3 - 5 shaves, sometimes more depending on the persons beard. If you have some extra loose change, Merkur makes a great adjustable so you can make the blade more or less exposed. However, this is just me, I would get something inexpensive and see if you like it before you drop $40 - $120 on a DE.

Whether you use a DE or a straight use gentle pressure, generally the weight of the straight or the DE is good enough. Sometimes a nice pre-shave oil helps such as Proraso Pre-Shave, Castle Forbes Pre-Shave and the likes. Heck, even olive oil works for a smoother glide with a razor. The prep is key! Then apply gentle pressure when shaving regardless if you use a disposable, Mach, Fusion, DE or straight. Start WTG and if needed then go XTG or ATG. Rinse and lather between passes. For me, a nice AS was helpful, too, especially for the burn.

I had the same problem as you did with the Mach and Fusion. Once I switched to a DE the problem all but went away and only surfaced again when I applied too much pressure. As for a straight razor, the learning curve is high and for me I had some burn and nicks until I got better at it.

One thing to remember amongst many other things, the DE is more for the on-the-go or quick shaves. Straights are better placed when you have more time to shave. For some people it is relaxing, a hobby and so much more and it is not uncommon to hear people taking 30 minutes to prep and shave.

If life is always a rush then a DE may be more suitable but if you can find the time, and willing to accept the learning curve then the payout for a straight could be an excellent choice.

Keep us posted.

absolutely!
+1 you'll need a good after shave / balm that keeps your skin soft and moisturized. Then the hair doesn't have so many problems to poke itself through the skin when it grows back. I guess that is where the white heads and the irritation mostly comes from.
Try to not touch your face with anything not sanitized for a couple of minutes after the shave.

Originally Posted by Logistics

Sometimes a nice pre-shave oil helps such as Proraso Pre-Shave, Dovo Pre-Shave and the likes. Heck, even olive oil works for a smoother glide with a razor. The prep is key!

So do you not use any lather/soaps? Just rub on some oil and then start shaving?

Originally Posted by 0livia

absolutely!
+1 you'll need a good after shave / balm that keeps your skin soft and moisturized.

Got any preferences? Think some name brand after shave/balm works just as good as another? I like old spice/brute due to growing up around my grandfather wearing it, but I know the old spice after shave was pretty rough if I remember correctly.

Originally Posted by Silentace

So do you not use any lather/soaps? Just rub on some oil and then start shaving?

I still use soap and creams on top of the pre-shaves. I prefer to use a pre-shave if I am shaving without showering prior. The idea of the pre-shave is to help keep the whiskers softer and help provide a slicker surface on your face for a smoother glide using a razor. Sometimes I use a pre-shave after showering, lather then shave. It all depends on how I feel at the time.

As for the olive oil, shower and then apply some oil and go. Some people really like it.

'ey Bro welcome to SRP , Brut 33 ? as in the green bottle " splash it all over " stuff .. I used to get that for Chritmas presents and end up using it in the sink .
I'll need to keep you guy's in mind If I get more - I'll send it over .


Nice guidance there from Logistics & Olivia ( ps. her soaps , creams and balms are out of this world ) ..


enjoy

Garry

Great advices above. One more: it doesnt matter what you use to shave, from Straight to gillette, try to use the minimum number of strokes. Try to achieve 15.

Welcome to SRP.

Originally Posted by Silentace

Got any preferences? Think some name brand after shave/balm works just as good as another? I like old spice/brute due to growing up around my grandfather wearing it, but I know the old spice after shave was pretty rough if I remember correctly.

A good neutral (and cheap) balm is Nivea for sensitive skin. Does exactly what it says on the bottle with a neutral scent that you could embellish as you wish.

+1 on all the advice,hope it all comes together for yah.