Ask Aaron Q/A: Products to fight razor rash & burn & shaving spots
David Mahood, from UK, asks:
“I have just found this site. I am a professional person and need to shave once, maybe twice each day. I currently use Mach3 blades and sensitive shaving foam or gel. My problem is that I suffer really bad redness around the mouth and chin which quite often results in spots after close shaves. Can you recommend any products that will help or relieve my symptoms?”
Aaron suggests using a single bladed razor like the Merkur 37C Slant Bar DE Safety Razor
AARON SAYS
“Mr. Mahood,
Welcome to our site! Glad that you have been able to find us. As one who also works in a professional environment, I understand your dilemma. The first thing I would recommend is using a good post-shave balm. The ingredients in the balm will help to moisturize and heal your skin after shaving, and reduce the redness and burn.
Secondly you ought to try a pre-shave oil under your shave cream. The oil adds an extra protective layer that increases slickness and moisture to your shave.
If you are willing to go even farther down the rabbit hole I would suggest that you reduce the number of blades you shave with, and consider using a single blade safety razor such as many of the Merkur, Edwin Jagger, Parker, and Bluebeard’s razors we have here on the site. Along with this I would use a good quality cream and brush. These products are meant to give a comfortable and close shave without the irritation that occur by using the canned cream and gel products.
For creams I would recommends any Taylor of Old Bond Street, The Bluebeard’s Revenge, Proraso, Cyril Salter and many others here on the site. If you would like any more assistance or help in taking the plunge with traditional wet-shaving please feel free to contact us here and we’ll be glad to help! Thanks for your question!
Smooth Shaving!
Aaron”
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Ask Aaron Q/A: Neck irritation after shaving
Charles Culverwell, from UK, asks:
“I have been wet shaving for about four months now. I have a Futur, 38C barber pole, Gillette ’1964′ superspeed, and an Edwin Jagger DE89. I use Taylor of Old Bond St Shaving Cream. Despite varying the razor and the blade (feathers or derbys usually) I still get irritation at the base of my neck where the last bit of hair is. The direction of growth is a bit strange as it goes sideways. I have tried going up and down but still find I get a red ring like I’ve had a rope around my neck. This issue continues to my Adam’s apple area which I can’t shave across the grain without huge irritation and bleeding! Could you please suggest anything else to try.”
AARON SAYS
“Mr. Culverwell, I certainly understand your frustration, the hair on my neck grows in the same way changing direction to grow sideways at the collar line. This growth pattern does make it difficult to shave, however let me share some techniques and products that I have found that have helped.
First use a shaving oil whether by itself or as an under layer to the shaving cream. This keeps the skin and hair extra moist leaving it much easier to shave. The oil also adds an extra layer of lubrication helping the razor “glide” instead of catching and causing irritation or redness.
Second use stretching techniques to keep the skin flat and taught. A flatter surface is always easier to shave and you can accomplish this by stretching your neck up, turning your head side to side, or even using your opposite hand to pull the skin down or to the side. This step reduces the curves in your skin giving the razor a flatter, easier surface to shave.
Lastly use a good quality post-shave balm, not an alcohol based lotion on freshly shaved skin. The moisturizing and healing agents found in post-shave balms will greatly benefit your skin in combating and healing from razor burn, rash, ingrowns and other issues that plague the shaver. There are many balms out there to choose from including The Bluebeards Revenge, Proraso, Taylor of Old Bond Street, Men-U, and Edwin Jagger just to name a good, select few.
I hope these tips help with your shaving, if you continue to have problems please write again and we will troubleshoot some more!
Smooth Shaving!
Aaron”
Do you have any burning questions you would like ask our wet shaving expert Aaron Wolfenbarger?
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Ask Aaron Q/A: The benefits of pre shave oils and creams and some uselful pre shave tips
Robert Marney, from the UK, asks:
“I need help with shaving and wondered if you can make any suggestions to me. I have very course, very thick hair. I use a good quality DE razor and use bluebeards cream but still struggle to remove patches of hair without issues. Can pre-shave oil, or any other preparation help?
Just for the record… Underneath my jawbone and towards my earlobe my hair grows in a strange pattern. No hair grows in the same direction as another! This make shaving really difficult and it’s become nearly impossible to pass this area without tugging/pulling/causing irritation (even with a new blade). I already use super sharp (feather) blades plus I use the old hot flannel technique before shaving. I shave and night and therefore take my time but still cannot achieve the great shave so many others get.”
AARON SAYS
“Mr. Marney,
If you’ve read some of the other Q&A’s you’ll know I value prep very highly. I think if you add a couple of things to your prep along with the hot towel technique you’ll be well on your way to a smoother shave.
First off add a step to your hot towel routine: after your initial session with a hot towel, repeat it with a layer of lather on your face. This layer of lather will further help to soften and fill the hair with moisture making it easier to shave. Second use a pre-shave oil such as the Bluebeard’s Revenge oil or the Taylor of old Bond Street oil. The oil adds another protective layer and holding moisture to the skin and hair.
Lastly you can try adding some of the other pre-shave treatments that are on the market such as the Proraso pre/post cream or the Taylor of Old Bond Street pre-shave gel. The have special moisturizers and other ingredients to help soften the beard and facial skin. Try these steps for a while and see what helps and I’d love to hear back to know what did the trick!
Smooth Shaving!
Aaron ”
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