Thread: After shave Burn

I have been str8 shaving for about 7 weeks now. Getting better at it, no razor burns, minimal nicks/cuts.

After I shave, I put cold water on my face then use Al block. It really burns. Much more than when I used a multi-blade. I will run cold water on my face suffer through the burn and wait several hours before putting on any after-shave and it still burns pretty badly.

Is it common? Will my skin eventually get used to the razor or am I doing something wrong?

Tanks

Interesting. And not what alum is supposed to do (or does for me), cf Alum - Straight Razor Place Wiki.

If the alum stings, you have cuts. If it stings a lot, you have many or deep cuts. If that is the case, you are doing something wrong. To me, it sounds like a lot too much pressure.

Regards,
Robin

Could well be too much pressure as, Robin says. Are you rinsing it off immediately after it dries, if not, give it a go.

I also agree with Robin and Allan in that you may be using too much pressure.
When I shave a customer I use as little pressure as possible.If using a conventional str8 I just use the weight of the razor and let the razor glide across the skin to shave. If using a shavette I may have to apply a little pressure because the razor has almost no weight to it, but again I emphasize "a little". You don't want to "scrape" your skin,you want the razor to glide across the skin.
You also might want to check your pre/post shave routine/products. Using the proper products that work well with your skin/beard type is just as important. You don't want to use a pre-shave product that irritates your skin because you then start the irritation process before you even shave. Also try something other than Alum after you shave. Something like Clubman powder works very well and I use it on almost all my customers with good results.

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

Interesting. And not what alum is supposed to do (or does for me), cf Alum - Straight Razor Place Wiki.

If the alum stings, you have cuts. If it stings a lot, you have many or deep cuts. If that is the case, you are doing something wrong. To me, it sounds like a lot too much pressure.

Regards,
Robin

It is not a specific area that burns rather my entire face.

Originally Posted by AlanII

Could well be too much pressure as, Robin says. Are you rinsing it off immediately after it dries, if not, give it a go.

I'll try to lighten up on the pressure.

Originally Posted by SRC

I also agree with Robin and Allan in that you may be using too much pressure.
When I shave a customer I use as little pressure as possible.If using a conventional str8 I just use the weight of the razor and let the razor glide across the skin to shave. If using a shavette I may have to apply a little pressure because the razor has almost no weight to it, but again I emphasize "a little". You don't want to "scrape" your skin,you want the razor to glide across the skin.
You also might want to check your pre/post shave routine/products. Using the proper products that work well with your skin/beard type is just as important. You don't want to use a pre-shave product that irritates your skin because you then start the irritation process before you even shave. Also try something other than Alum after you shave. Something like Clubman powder works very well and I use it on almost all my customers with good results.

Powder sounds like a great idea. Like I mentioned, I have no skin irritation or marks, no razor burn, no bumps, bleeds, nicks etc... Shave is very close and my skin feels good. Except it burns,,,,

Thanks for all the information.

Originally Posted by Mvcrash

Like I mentioned, I have no skin irritation or marks, no razor burn, no bumps, bleeds, nicks etc... Shave is very close and my skin feels good. Except it burns,,,,

Follow the skin preparation guide in the Wiki, then follow the Wiki article on shaving (especially the bits on passes and skin stretching). Do not apply any pressure, but let the razor do the work. "Very close" typically comes at a price, unless you got the entire routine right which, with all due respect, I doubt. As I keep telling beginners: forget BBS. Just forget it. It will come automatically. And it took me months to get there, but I am not alone in this. The alum is a great test for nicks, and it will sting, but it should not burn. Splash cold water onto face, apply alum, dry razor through stropping, wash off alum with more cold water, that is what I do.

Regards,
Robin

This afternoons Shave:
Hot shower first. After the shower, hot water on face, shave oil rubbed into beard. Hot Lather on brush worked into beard then rubbed into beard with hands. More hot lather and then I shave. No Pressure since I was very careful. Used freshly honed razor and stropped razor (done by Lynn or Don). No pulling, blade glides over skin, hear the whiskers being cut but pulling.
After shave (2 passes) hot water rinse of face. Then Aluminum. Stings!!! Then cold water and after shave cream.
Still stings like heck. Next time I'll use talc.

Thanks!!

Hello, mvcrash:

If you continue to find alum block unfriendly, I suggest using witch hazel. The one I use is Thayers super medicated witch hazel with aloe. It works wonders.

Regards,
Obie

Originally Posted by Obie

Hello, mvcrash:

If you continue to find alum block unfriendly, I suggest using witch hazel. The one I use is Thayers super medicated witch hazel with aloe. It works wonders.

Regards,
Obie

Thanks, I ordered some talc and witch hazel.

Originally Posted by Mvcrash

This afternoons Shave:
Hot shower first. After the shower, hot water on face, shave oil rubbed into beard. Hot Lather on brush worked into beard then rubbed into beard with hands. More hot lather and then I shave. No Pressure since I was very careful. Used freshly honed razor and stropped razor (done by Lynn or Don). No pulling, blade glides over skin, hear the whiskers being cut but pulling.
After shave (2 passes) hot water rinse of face. Then Aluminum. Stings!!! Then cold water and after shave cream.
Still stings like heck. Next time I'll use talc.

Thanks!!

Mvcrash,

You may want to consider using a warm as opposed to hot water rinse, then a cold water rinse before applying the Alum bloc to your face. Then rinse your face again with cold water. Finally, follow up with witch hazel.