Shaving question

Mike_J · Mar 23, 2016 at 04:49 PM

No I'm not talking about down there

I have been dealing with irritation at the corners of my mouth caused by razor stubble or if I don't shave close enough there. And taking extra time to make sure those spots are shaved extra close also causes some irritation.

I'm thinking I'm not the only person this is an issue for. Does anyone have any thoughts on getting rid of this problem or minimizing it?

I have thought about letting my beard grow out for a couple of days then pluck the offending areas. Actually did this a bit once, but this also caused major irritation to the areas. But maybe it's worth the pain involved in plucking those areas if it deals with the issue effectively long term.

Any thoughts/suggestions are welcome.

fishin fool · Mar 23, 2016 at 07:01 PM

I have issues with irritation from shaving.
I think you hit it right on the head. The best thing to do
is let your beard grow out for a few days.
By shaving less often you won't experience nearly as much
irritation. If you are working this may not be an option but
if not try shaving every three days or so, it really helps.

Mar 24, 2016 at 01:45 AM

If I shave everyday I would have irritation at my neck. But I read once that washing your face with a cold water after shaving can reduce the irritation for some people. I also use a special cream as after shave for irritation.

Mar 31, 2016 at 08:09 PM

Finding this thread is a strange coincidence.

Hours ago I used electric shears to removed a grotesquely long beard that made me look like a bum. I had high-quality shaving accessories that I purchased 4 years ago, yet never used, and I'm clean-shaven for the first time in over 17 years.

The freshly-shaven skin is so smooth and I realize that while my body may be ugly and useless, my face is still quite handsome.

I think that I may be entering a manic phase.

Mar 31, 2016 at 08:13 PM

Good for you

Takeshi · Apr 02, 2016 at 07:54 AM

I won't recommend plucking, I did that on my chest hair and now they are leaving marks.

Maybe you could tell us how you go about shaving, there is an art to it, and only we men can understand what that's like. Is the irritation coming from the products you use, the type of razor blades or is it simply your skin condition?

I'm still growing my beard out so it requires intricate work around my lips, I use this single blade lady's facial razor for that area, and instead of using shaving foam, I've been using facial lotion because I have ton of free samples laying around.

I'd go for stubble look if you think you can rock the look, minimizing the damage to the skin is very important IMO. Good luck!

Mike_J · Apr 04, 2016 at 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takeshi

Maybe you could tell us how you go about shaving, there is an art to it, and only we men can understand what that's like.

I use an electric razor, and it's the stubble/5-oclock shadow that rubs against my skin at the corners of my mouth. Going over those areas with my electric razor causes irritation and not having it shaved closely also causes irritation.

Apr 04, 2016 at 03:10 PM

I can't offer any suggestions. When I was younger, facial hair caused no issues. I had a mustache through most of my twenties. I could shave or not shave and never suffer any type of irritation. As I've gotten older my facial hair seems to have become toxic. If I go more than two days w/o shaving I get annoying irritation/inflammation.
Is this issue a recent development?

Mike_J · Apr 06, 2016 at 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George H.

Is this issue a recent development?

Yes it's fairly recent, past six months or so. I already have an appointment with my Dr next week, might as well ask him about it.

Mygrandjourney · Apr 07, 2016 at 03:03 PM

You could try applying some vitamin e and/or aloe oil prior to the shaving and see what happens.

Apr 10, 2016 at 11:25 AM

Hi Mike,

My first suggestion is to apply 1% hydrocortisone (Walmart sells it) to the irritated area immediately after shaving. If you don't want to do that you can apply Aloe vera to the irritated area immediately after shaving.

FallenIntoDarkness · Apr 10, 2016 at 06:57 PM

Do you use aftershave and decent shaving cream? I have to use sensitive shaving cream or else my skin feels like it's on fire.

Mygrandjourney · Apr 29, 2016 at 11:50 AM

The best I have found is my a business called Alba Botanica. It is a non-aerosol cream and you only need about a pea-sized dab to get a good shave. I buy mine at a local natural foods store. It's a bit more expensive, but the tube lasts up to six months, so I think it's cheaper in the long run

TehSmokeyMan · Oct 18, 2016 at 04:13 AM

Maybe you're shaving a bit too close, leaving a stubble that barely exits your skin properly.
I shave my stubble down to about 2~3mm so my stubble still has anough length to not be really hard and irritating...

Monkey1111 · May 24, 2017 at 06:44 PM

Using an electric razor alone has worked great for me. No irritation. It was the dry shave that caused it for me. Even with the shaving cream, it still was an issue to some degree, unless I used a lot of shaving cream. However, with an electric razor alone I've never had any problems. It does take longer though, unfortunately.

The thing about electric razors is that for me at least they've been no good if I ignored my shaving for a while. A more significant bit of beard or mustache (e.g more than overnight) is difficult for my electric razor to get rid of. If at any point you let it grow for a bit, use the regular razor but use LOTS of shaving cream. Without it, the irritation is inevitable, particularly with multiple shaves.

eyesclosed · May 27, 2017 at 06:58 PM

I all my facial hair grow 3 or 4 days sometimes longer. I have a $20.00 Wahl used for cutting hair and set it at a 1/8 " and am amazed with it. It doesn't shave close and has lots of power.

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Anonymous37837 Guest Posts: n/a	Mar 24, 2016 at 01:45 AM #3 If I shave everyday I would have irritation at my neck. But I read once that washing your face with a cold water after shaving can reduce the irritation for some people. I also use a special cream as after shave for irritation.
	Reply With Quote

Anonymous37837 Guest Posts: n/a	Mar 31, 2016 at 08:13 PM #5 Good for you
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Mygrandjourney Veteran Member Member Since Nov 2014 Location: Denver Posts: 567 9 30 hugs given	Apr 07, 2016 at 03:03 PM #10 You could try applying some vitamin e and/or aloe oil prior to the shaving and see what happens.
	Reply With Quote

Anonymous37833 Guest Posts: n/a	Apr 10, 2016 at 11:25 AM #11 Hi Mike, My first suggestion is to apply 1% hydrocortisone (Walmart sells it) to the irritated area immediately after shaving. If you don't want to do that you can apply Aloe vera to the irritated area immediately after shaving.
	Reply With Quote

FallenIntoDarkness Junior Member Member Since Dec 2014 Location: Canada Posts: 19 9	Apr 10, 2016 at 06:57 PM #12 Do you use aftershave and decent shaving cream? I have to use sensitive shaving cream or else my skin feels like it's on fire.
	Reply With Quote

Mygrandjourney Veteran Member Member Since Nov 2014 Location: Denver Posts: 567 9 30 hugs given	Apr 29, 2016 at 11:50 AM #13 The best I have found is my a business called Alba Botanica. It is a non-aerosol cream and you only need about a pea-sized dab to get a good shave. I buy mine at a local natural foods store. It's a bit more expensive, but the tube lasts up to six months, so I think it's cheaper in the long run
	Reply With Quote

TehSmokeyMan Member Member Since Sep 2016 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 177 7 12 hugs given	Oct 18, 2016 at 04:13 AM #14 Maybe you're shaving a bit too close, leaving a stubble that barely exits your skin properly. I shave my stubble down to about 2~3mm so my stubble still has anough length to not be really hard and irritating...
	Reply With Quote

eyesclosed Veteran Member Member Since Sep 2016 Location: WI Posts: 736 7 204 hugs given	May 27, 2017 at 06:58 PM #16 I all my facial hair grow 3 or 4 days sometimes longer. I have a $20.00 Wahl used for cutting hair and set it at a 1/8 " and am amazed with it. It doesn't shave close and has lots of power.
	Reply With Quote