Interested in wet shaving

[guitarist1324]

Hi, I'm 19, and I've had facial hair to shave since 7th grade. So now I have a decent amount of facial hair. I've been using a Gillette Fusion razor for 2 years and I've enjoyed it for the most part. Now my chest hair is developing a trail that is trying to connect to my neck hair via my midtroat, clavicle area. I've been shaving this area with the Fusion. Now it seems every time I shave there it becomes irritated and the hair doesn't disappear like the rest of my neck hair. Irritated and bumpy every time. I'm hating that because it just puts red bumps near my shirt line and it looks ridiculous. I would love to try picking up wet shaving with a DE razor... What are your experiences shaving this type of hair growth and does wet shaving with a DE razor solve your woes?

[JayKay]

With some practice and the right razor/blade combination you could eliminate those red bumps.

[Queen of Blades]

Welcome to The Shave Den, guitarist1324!

Learning some good prep and shaving technique can definetly help you with the red bump problem.

[guitarist1324]

I'll run through my routine for you guys:

-Jump in shower (wash hair and body)
-Hot water applied to my face
-I use the first cleanser in the Nivea for Men 4 part shaving cream system
-wash that off
-lather up the Nivea for Men shaving gel
-apply to face
-Shave N-S all over (leaving the problem area I described alone)
-reapply lather to my face
-Shave S-N all over (avoiding the problem area again)
-Shave ATG in places that dont feel smooth
-I use cold water to rinse the blade as I shave
-Then I shave N-S over this midthroat clavicle area
-Rinse face with cold water
-out of shower
-apply aftershave from Nivea for Men
-apply part 4 lotion from Nivea for Men


I don't get very close in the problem area and it still just gets red and bumpy.
The rest of my face is not irritated at all.

[JayKay]

Possibly try skipping the second application of cream after the aftershave as you could be applying to much and causing break outs. You should try getting some single blade bics and shaving your face and the problem area. Keep the razor warm throughout the process because as you move a cold razor over your face it will shock the pores closed which will cause an off shave. As for your neck--Use a cotton ball on some stubble and see which direction the problem area grows. Than use the single blade with NO PRESSURE and lightly go over the area. Hope this heps a bit. You could also put hair conditioner on your neck to soften the hairs while in the shower.

[guitarist1324]

that 4th part shouldn't be the cause because I JUST started using the Nivea for Men system to combat this problem. I try out the other suggestions though :cool:

[sparky5693]

A de razor can certainly solve your problem, but there is a bit of a learning curve in the technique and finding the correct razor/blade for you. Firstly, let your current bumps heal up before you shave there aggressively again. It could be you're just never fully recovering.

[guitarist1324]

A de razor can certainly solve your problem, but there is a bit of a learning curve in the technique and finding the correct razor/blade for you. Firstly, let your current bumps heal up before you shave there aggressively again. It could be you're just never fully recovering.

yeah I thought I might need to let it heal up... but its so ugly to let grow in :(

[PalmettoB]

I'm not gonna be much help with your redness problem, but welcome to The Shave Den!

[sparky5693]

yeah I thought I might need to let it heal up... but its so ugly to let grow in :(

We've all been there. Ugly and itchy :(
If you can't fight the urge to shave there at least be extra gentle. Don't push for the perfect shave there, but just enough to get by until it heals some.

[JayKay]

You may want to try going to target and getting a 20$ beard trimmer and using that on your neck. I shave my upper neck on the sides and adams apple area with my DE. Anything lower than my beard grows (anything past my 5 O' Clock shadow) I just use a beard trimmer without a guard and clean my lower neck up. No irritation and nobody but you will know the difference.

[crackstar]

welcome to our paradise--and don't worry about that problem area. Once you get your technique down with a DE, your shaves will improve substantially!

[Padron]

Welcome to The Shave Den!! :D

[Bronco]

Welcome to The Shave Den, guitarist1324!

[IsaacRN]

Welcome to the Den!!!

[guitarist1324]

I'd like to ask anyone that has this hair growth how close and how visible is the hair in that area when you wet shave with a DE razor? Like how visible is the hair after you cut it as close as possible with no irritation after wet shaving?

[guitarist1324]

lol and where did I get that title under my name?

[Queen of Blades]

lol and where did I get that title under my name?

It is an auto-generated title, and changes as your post count increases.

[xChris]

guitarist1234,

Reading your routine, I think that you may be going ATG with the N-S pass on your lower neck and clavicle areas. It isn't uncommon for the hair growth to flip around, growing in the opposite direction, especially in that area.

I'd recommend letting it grow out a little, and get a good look in the mirror at which way the hair grows. If you continue to use the Gillette Fusion, makes sure to go WTG. See if that reduces or eliminates your irritation and bumps.

[VetsJetsnGuns]

It is an auto-generated title, and changes as your post count increases.

I guess that means I'm 5,900 some odd posts from being Miss February:happy102

[guitarist1324]

guitarist1234,

Reading your routine, I think that you may be going ATG with the N-S pass on your lower neck and clavicle areas. It isn't uncommon for the hair growth to flip around, growing in the opposite direction, especially in that area.

I'd recommend letting it grow out a little, and get a good look in the mirror at which way the hair grows. If you continue to use the Gillette Fusion, makes sure to go WTG. See if that reduces or eliminates your irritation and bumps.

youre right N-S is ATG for the area... I had been shaving that area N-S for a good couple months without problems. It's just the last 3 weeks the irritation has ramped up. I guess it's because the hair growth is increasing there? or the hair is just finally decided to become irritated and I had been doing it wrong the whole time?

[Queen of Blades]

lol and where did I get that title under my name?

It is an auto-generated title, and changes as your post count increases.

I guess that means I'm 5,900 some odd posts from being Miss February:happy102

Actually, Jeff, he asked about his title, not mine. :p

But, if you want to be Miss February...................

[VetsJetsnGuns]

Actually, Jeff, he asked about his title, not mine. :p

But, if you want to be Miss February...................


oh-ooh :scared003

[Queen of Blades]

oh-ooh :scared003

wait for it.............:D

[VetsJetsnGuns]

edit: my title was changed to "babyface bambino"

Wasn't he a hit man?

[sparky5693]

I'd like to ask anyone that has this hair growth how close and how visible is the hair in that area when you wet shave with a DE razor? Like how visible is the hair after you cut it as close as possible with no irritation after wet shaving?

IMHO, once your technique is down, the only way you'll get a closer shave is with a straight. How much the hair shows after being shaven depends on your hair color and skin tone. For me, shaven hair is completely invisible, even when I shave the more coarse hair on my head.

[xChris]

youre right N-S is ATG for the area... I had been shaving that area N-S for a good couple months without problems. It's just the last 3 weeks the irritation has ramped up. I guess it's because the hair growth is increasing there? or the hair is just finally decided to become irritated and I had been doing it wrong the whole time?

Wetshaving involves some exfoliation in the process, so perhaps you're skin just can't recover (fend off the aggressiveness) after so much shaving with the Fusion's multi-blade "hysteresis" performance. If you're shaving that area with only a couple of days in between, then the hair likely feels coarser. However, that is because it is no longer tapered as when it originally grows in.

[Kingpepper]

Welcome to The Shave Den! If you need help DE shaving, this is the place. Take your time learning and you will find shaving an enjoyable experience.

[ZiggyDeath]

IMHO, once your technique is down, the only way you'll get a closer shave is with a straight. How much the hair shows after being shaven depends on your hair color and skin tone. For me, shaven hair is completely invisible, even when I shave the more coarse hair on my head.

Unfortunately, if you're pale and have coarse black hair like me, Straights and DE's will never eliminate the look like a Fusion.

Even with a BBS shave with a DE, you can still visibly see the hair.

[redorchestra]

for me i have to shave my neck from south to north with a bit of a easterly slant to the east of the prime meridian, and a westerly slant west of the prime meridian. My neck is actually a bit complicated because the hair growth direction changes somewhere around Australia. So i go north to south untill australia but south to north, when south of Australia!
Check your hair growth pattern by rubbing your finger or a cotton ball over the area. Shave with the grain, in the direction of the hair growth, or in the direction that you get the least cotton left on your skin when you pull the cotton ball across your face.
It also helps to have a globe nearby in case you get lost. :whacky098

[guitarist1324]

All right, I figure I shall update all of you guys about my progress. I decided to buy a Merkur Progress, a Vulfix pure badger brush, some Proraso (green) shaving cream, and a 10pac of Merkur Super Platinum Stainless blades. I've watched Mantic's videos and I've completed two shaves so far. Both shaves I've only done WTG w/ two passes.

I have to say, I really enjoy this way of shaving. I've nicked myself a few times in both shaves (mostly on the neck) but I know it's all about honing my technique. After I hone my technique I'll look into grabbing a sample blade package. And I'm curious... are these Merkur blades I have known for being relatively sharp compared to the others out there? Don't really know if I should be starting on them, but oh well, too late :D ... I'm learning with em anyway

[Mottern Man]

I find the Merkur Blades not to be sharp at all but forgiving.

A sample pack may be a good idea, a sharper blade may be what works best for you.

[Queen of Blades]

Thanks for the update on your progress!

A lot of people start with Merkur blades, for some reason. :confused: Those and Personnas, of course, cause Personnas are easily picked up locally for most people.

A blade sampler pack is always a good idea for newbies.

[guitarist1324]

It seems that the midthroat, clavicle area is still getting irritation lately. I've been loving the DE for the rest of my facial hair but this midthroat, clavicle area is still driving me insane. I'm getting better results with the DE than the Fusion though. When I shave this area it's not a very close shave but the area becomes red and bumpy. I'm guessing blade experimentation would yield better results, but do any of you guys have any techniques for shaving this area that you personally use? Also, how much better performance do you all experience when you find a better blade? It is remarkable, lol?

[sparky5693]

In my opinion blades, and razors should be the next place you look around. Be sure to only change one variable in your shave at a time.

[Mottern Man]

It seems that the midthroat, clavicle area is still getting irritation lately. I've been loving the DE for the rest of my facial hair but this midthroat, clavicle area is still driving me insane. I'm getting better results with the DE than the Fusion though. When I shave this area it's not a very close shave but the area becomes red and bumpy. I'm guessing blade experimentation would yield better results, but do any of you guys have any techniques for shaving this area that you personally use? Also, how much better performance do you all experience when you find a better blade? It is remarkable, lol?

Check the Grain of the beard, it may be growing diffrent then you think in that area and check the pressure you are using to shave their.

Also try and take your time in preping that spot (work the lather in more and give it a fresh coat before shaving).

If your Razor and Blade are working fine for the rest of your face, then they should work for this area too.

Stick with the Blade/Razor combo you are working with now. Once you get consistency with your shave then start playin with new toys and tricks to see if something works even better. If something bites you then go back to old faithful.

Take me, If I have a bad shave then my next shave will come from my "can't miss combo" (yes I just coined that).

For me that would be.

Merkur HD/Crystal Blade
Crabtree and Evelyn Best
De Vergulde Hand Soap
Aqua Velva Ice Blue (or Floid or Bay Rum or etc. etc.)

From that combo I always get a great shave, everything else is variable (but fun). :D