Help! Trying shaving again after 3.5 years

Bear

Bear

Regular Member
Estariol said:
The Futur was surely too aggressive as far as i know about it, and now i understand why you've said that the head was too bulky. Maybe think of a Gillette ajustable, The Slim, the Super adjustable and the Fat Boy all have a TTO head similar to the Red Tip Super Speed? As for which of the three to choose, a fellow shaver with experience with all 3 may give a more specific advice. The Rockwell 6C (chrome plated, cheaper) or 6S (stainless steel, pricier, but that's the only difference to the 6C) is a great choice, too, maybe even a better one than the Gillette adjustables, because it has pretty low gaps on the 1 and 2 plate and you have only the price to think of.

The only thing i didn't ask, what blades are you using?
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Dorco ST300 Platinum
Also trying the medium blades that came with The Viking Chieftain 5BC.
I've only shaved twice since I started back. Hoping to keep it to 2-3 times a week.
 
Bear

Bear

Regular Member
slapo said:
@Bear: You know, I still can't shake the feeling we're missing a beat here. It might not be infection, but an allergy, or someting else.
However, I reckon it might be a good idea to film your shave and share that. You could upload it to a file sharing service and PM me and Estariol links if you wouldn't feel like putting it up on YouTube or such.

How often do you change blades?
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That's a generous offer to review my shave. I'll see about following up.

I change blades every 2-3 shaves.
 
Zwilling

Zwilling

Kamisori shaver
Just to say, I think it is very cool that you are sharing your experience, difficulties and asking questions in this way. I think it will get you the results you are hoping for, because there is a wealth of experience on this forum.

Like @Estariol I am another person who has a bad experience with all balms and most moisturizers, and the irritated skin that you show in the picture is not unlike what my face would do if I use a shaving balm. I suspect that I have an allergy of some sort, but it has been easier to just cut out any scented balms and just rely on classic aftershaves, and the occasional fatty unscented moisturiser.
 
Bear

Bear

Regular Member
Zwilling said:
Just to say, I think it is very cool that you are sharing your experience, difficulties and asking questions in this way. I think it will get you the results you are hoping for, because there is a wealth of experience on this forum.

Like @Estariol I am another person who has a bad experience with all balms and most moisturizers, and the irritated skin that you show in the picture is not unlike what my face would do if I use a shaving balm. I suspect that I have an allergy of some sort, but it has been easier to just cut out any scented balms and just rely on classic aftershaves, and the occasional fatty unscented moisturiser.
Click to expand...
When I stopped shaving almost four years ago at the age of 40, I had an identity crisis. I didn't recognize the person I saw in the mirror. Maintaining a neatly groomed beard isn't as simple as just not shaving and letting it grow. There was an online community that was very supportive in that time. So, I figured there might be the same for now that I am trying to shave again. Admittedly, though I researched avenues of help for shaving issues over the years from 16 to 40 when I had troubles shaving (including doctors, dermatologists, estheticians, etc), I never sought out assistance or advice from live people in an online forum like this. The advice and support along with the positive attitude and encouragement is... encouraging.

Currently I have the 'sensitive' line of products from Proraso (pre-shave, soap, aftershave balm). It has been a decent experience so far, but I'm only two shaves in. I'm going to pick up some witch hazel as it has been highly recommended as an aftershave. I've also seen a lot of recommendations for shea butter. I was thinking about that too.
 
Estariol

Estariol

Forum GOD!
@Bear
Shea butter might be good for the skin, but i think it might be greasy or oily if there is no alcohol involved...
The Dorco razors are generally good i tried one from their lineup, but found them less smooth than the ones i have recommended, The Gillette Nacet and Silver Blue, Wizamet Super Iridium and Perma-Sharp.
 
Bear

Bear

Regular Member
Regarding lathering up, any recommendations to lather on the mug (face) or in the mug?
 
slapo

slapo

It's... alive!
I prefer whipping up lather in a bowl, as that way, I find it a bit easier to tweak the lather.
That way I can also use stiffer, scrubbier brushes that might be too much for my face when face lathering.
 
slapo

slapo

It's... alive!
Bear said:
When I stopped shaving almost four years ago at the age of 40, I had an identity crisis. I didn't recognize the person I saw in the mirror. Maintaining a neatly groomed beard isn't as simple as just not shaving and letting it grow. There was an online community that was very supportive in that time. So, I figured there might be the same for now that I am trying to shave again. Admittedly, though I researched avenues of help for shaving issues over the years from 16 to 40 when I had troubles shaving (including doctors, dermatologists, estheticians, etc), I never sought out assistance or advice from live people in an online forum like this. The advice and support along with the positive attitude and encouragement is... encouraging.

Currently I have the 'sensitive' line of products from Proraso (pre-shave, soap, aftershave balm). It has been a decent experience so far, but I'm only two shaves in. I'm going to pick up some witch hazel as it has been highly recommended as an aftershave. I've also seen a lot of recommendations for shea butter. I was thinking about that too.
Click to expand...
Is there any difference if you don't use a post-shave product but only cold water?
 
Bear

Bear

Regular Member
BROS!
I just had a life changing experience!
I shaved for the third time in a week just now.
(Proraso PreShave Sensitive (left on 2-3 minutes before applying lather on top); Proraso Sensitive Shave Soap (left on 3-4 minutes before shaving; shave with Vikings Blade The Chieftain 5BC with new Dorco ST300 Platinum blade; 1 pass WTG (no dragging or pulling, letting the razor weight do the work, maintaining the correct angle, etc), rinse with cold water; splash of witch hazel (first time trying))

Initially, nothing was very different about the experience. I looked at my face in the mirror and noticed some irritation in my common problem areas and was kind of getting bummed that it looked a little irritated and inflamed and I was starting to imagine the bumps that were going to form in the next 24 hours. But just a few minutes later, I looked in the mirror again and the irritation and inflammation was COMPLETELY GONE and my face felt smooth and supple, no irritation or bad feeling. I don't think I've ever seen my face like that 5 minutes after a shave. The only change - WITCH HAZEL. Now, I'll have to have a couple more shaves using witch hazel as my aftershave to prove to myself that this was the magic, but I'm incredibly optimistic after this experience; also incredibly grateful for you guys recommending it.
 
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