Comment on Every man remembers his first shave, right?
lapislazuli@sopuli.xyz 8 months ago
I used a rotary electric shaver as a teen, but when my beard started to grow more (around 2015-16), it couldn’t get the job done. I was stuck with a beard for a year or two, while looking unkempt as hell. I then bought a beard trimmer and that worked for a while, until it broke just after 2.5 years of use (battery died). I then saw an ad about the Henson razor on Facebook, then started looking at double-edge razors. Bought a cheap shaving set, with which I shaved for a year until I bit the bullet and got the Henson. It’s still my main razor, although I have that cheap Chinese one (surprisingly effective) and a Mühle R89 (a tad too mild).
I probably got a few nicks and cuts during my first DE shave as well, but I haven’t regretted it. It sometimes leaves me with weird bumps on my skin, but I don’t think they are ingrown hairs, just some sort of nicks that get inflamed. Some of these bumps have stayed on my skin, so part of me thinks I should get a trimmer, but I can’t be bothered with trimmers again. But most of the bumps go away so no biggie. I shave once or max twice a week, so my skin gets a chance to heal.
walden@sub.wetshaving.social 8 months ago
Slightly off topic, but I can’t help wanting to diagnose small shaving problems. As far as the bumps, have you tried using different blades? Also, do you use aftershave? Something with alcohol or witch hazel (or both) will often help with stuff like that. It acts as an astringent, closing up your pores and preventing little infections. Alcohol also kills germs.
lapislazuli@sopuli.xyz 8 months ago
The bumps may also be milia, which are little white bumps around the eyes and are caused by dry skin. I have them around my eyes. Closer to my nose, I sometimes get a few red spots after shaving, which look like acne, but it isn’t. I suspect it’s where I haven’t managed to wash my skin properly or else am going over the spot too vigorously. I deliberately leave lather there so I can make sure the razor doesn’t pass there.
There’s a chance it might be ingrown hair, because it gets inflamed, but it calms down and disappears after a few days. Overall, I think I have a pretty good routine. I wash my face with soap before shaving, using hot water to soften the whiskers. After the shave, I wash my face with cold water, because when I rub my face, dead skin appears (shaving is exfoliating, after all). I rise it off. I then liberally apply the alum. Let that work, wash my gear. Rise alum off, apply a balm (Nivea Sensitive). Done. I find aftershaves dry my skin and I’m not a fan of the smell. I’ve considered witch hazel, but we’ll see. Shouldn’t alum be enough?