ingrown hair problem

[kiter_bart]

Hello,

I use a brush (Plisson) and fine shave creams (Taylor) and Mach3. First I take a shower, shave with the grain etc...
But, I've a lots of problems with ingrown hairs in my neck. So, It is unpossible to have a shave every day. And it looks bad...
Is a DE razor an option?

[Pauldog]

Many people's neck grain points upwards, so shaving upwards might help a bit. But multi-blade razors are often the main culprit, it seems.

Themba has had the most luck with bumps by using an injector or a Gem razor. He thought that the flexibility of the DE blade might be why it didn't work as well for him. If you search for his posts, you will find a lot of discussion on avoiding bumps/ingrowns:

http://www.shavemyface.com/forum/search.php?search_author=themba

[JackieMartling]

KB, see my answer to your post in the General section.

[themba]

Hello kiter_bart,

You may already know these concepts, but it helps to go over them in detail when trying to deal with them

Let's start by defining razor bumps, and ingrown hairs, and shaving trauma. The first two are both usually refered to as ingrown hairs but they are not the same They both make up PFB (Pseudofolliculitis Barbae)

Razor bumps are caused by hair that is cut and re-enters the skin at an adjacent location. The site where the hair re-enters becomes inflamed and produces a razor bump as a reaction. Razor bumps can be caused by how one's hair grows; whether it is curly or grows in a direction other than straight out.

Ingrown hairs are caused by hair that is cut below skin level and re-grows without a chance to exit the folicle. They can become quite long if not allowed to escape. My roomate in college had one he finally got free that ended up being over an inch long.

Shaving trauma is usually caused be a dull blade, a sharp blade with bad technique or improper shaving preparation.

The best solution for razor bumps is to maintain a shave close enough to prevent the hair from growing long enough to get a chance to re-enter the skin at the same time avoiding trauma while shaving. In case you are wondering how come this is not a problem with hair that is left to grow, the answer lies with the fact that a razor blade will cut each hair and leave a very sharp and pointed tip allowing it to easily pierce the skin.

That brings us to ingrown hairs. As I prevoiusly mentioned in the case of razor bumps you have to consistently maintain a close enough shave to keep hair from re-entering the skin. Well, at the same time, the best solution to prevent ingrown hairs is to cut hair at or slightly above skin level. Now you can see why this can be very problematic for some. In order to be effective you will will have to work on your technique, enabling you to gradually reduce stubble when with each shave while avoiding trauma. If you exerience razor bumps due to curly hair or hair that is not growing striaght out of the folicle you will have to start by being able to give yourself a shave that prevents razor bumps and work your way up to a shave that is as close as you can get without ingrowns. This type of control is crucial to effectively deal with PFB

A Mach III is not the best candidate for the choice of razors to deal with PFB. If is a very effective razor, especially in single passes. I would recommend first a Bic Metal or Injector to use, to work on your technique, followed by a DE once you are good at stubble reduction while avoiding trauma. Just remember a good foundation is everything. It is better to have a PFB free face, and micro fine stubble, than a clean shaven face full of PFB. From there you can work your way to your best shave.

[quicksinse86]

That post helped me alot too, I didn't know the difference between a bump and ingrown hairs. Using a bump fighter will help, it helped me tremendously

[Pauldog]

Themba, does that mean that you still use a DE sometimes? If so, what handle and blade?

I guess the Gem razors are an advanced topic!

[themba]

I still use my DEs occasionally. Mostly for head shaving. I mostly use a Gillette adjustable DE with lowly Personna blades. Lately I have been using my recenlt acquired Berkeley Variable Pictch DE.

However, my main razors are Injectors and GEMs. Most people have a hard time using GEM razors, so they would not be one of my first recommendations.

[Pauldog]

Yeah, an injector is probably the best place to start, and for most people, will probably exceed expectations, if the razor and blade are good.

I recently came up with the idea of a razor that uses injector (or Feather straight edge) blades but has a head more like the Gem, but much smaller. (So you'd flip up the top, insert the blade, and then have the top clamp down, maybe like a Micromatic.) I don't think it would make sense for it to use a less common type of blade. Ideally, it could use both Feathers and regular injectors.

(Phin, are you reading this?)

I think the only reason the Gems are so big is that they didn't bother to change to a smaller blade, even when the wedge blades went away. It's an accident of history.

[themba]

You know, wouldn't it be nice if we could get a lot of custom injectors made that would take the feather blades, without a need to clip them. As for GEMs, I believe they definitely had to keep some type of legacy support so as to keep customers with older model razors. I am really glad that no one likes GEM razors. They are still really cheap on Ebay!!

[Pauldog]

But Gem never came out with the "New Gem - smaller blade - fits the face best!" They could have kept both types, and the smaller one might have given the DE and the injector a run for their money. Eventually, it could have obsoleted the bigger one, except for scraping and cutting cocaine

Or it might have been released, never caught on, and just cost a bunch of money. Nothing ventured, nothing lost?

[The Barber]

Hi KB. Try rinsing your blade in cold water since you seem to have sensive skin. Make sure you leave the lather on a couple of minutes before shaving to soften your skin AND your beard. A lot of people don't know this but rinsing your blade in COLD water contracts the steel making it even sharper. Personally I take a glass of ice water into the bathroom or at my shop where I shave after work and dip my straight razor in it before and during my shave.

_________________
GR

[crackstar]

GR, cold water makes a blade sharper?????

Jeff

[Pauldog]

But wouldn't a hot blade soften the hair, or doesn't that make a difference?

I guess I'll have to try the cold-water-on-the-blade method. I've always used hot.

[The Barber]

The hot water and lather are what softens the beard. Hope this helps.

Gary

_________________
GR

[Pauldog]

I should have elaborated a bit more. I had read that a hot blade will cut more easily through hair.