Ingrowing Hair and General shaving Advice

[james1988]

Hello,

For years I'd been shaving with Gillete and Wilkinson sword razors but at Christmas time I was bought a Safety Razor (Merkur Futur) and Badger Brush( Badger Brush).

The Gillette and Wilkinson Sword razor caused (probably poor technique too) me to have ingrowing hairs in my neck. The double edged razor and brush - for the most part - have eliminated this but there is still a patch on the side of my neck that I'm really having difficulty getting rid of.

I've tried using a toothbrush and going across the grain and against it but this hasn't worked. It's really annoying me at the moment as it's the only part of my neck that I haven't been able to remove the ingrowing hairs.

My routine is as follows:
Badger brush placed in hot water while I shower
Shower
Lather up my face and neck with soap using the Badger Brush (making sure it's hot) using a swirling action.
Shave. If there is no soap on the area then there's no shave.
Repeat another once
Rinse with cold water
Pat dry
Apply after shave balm.

Does anybody have an idea of where I'm going wrong? I've not been pulling the skin taught as I'd read somewhere not to do it as it can cause ingrowing hairs.

Finally, the razor came with instructions stating that the moving parts should be kept oiled (it's adjustable). What oil do I use? 3 in 1 or a razor specific oil?

Any advice would be appreciated.

James

[Tungtvann]

Dug out my Merkur the other week to give it a go, took my time, did all the prep and still butchered my face! Back to the über expensive gilette pro fusion super majiggy mach 12 glide.

Sorry, I can't even shave my own face, let alone yours!

[Supermoto_Fan]

Gilette razor, (vibrating one ) Gillette shaving gel, sorted.

soap work nearly as well. I find the key is too get my razor warm/hot, when its cold i can feel it tug more.

or, just grow a beard.
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[J.M.]

Eh? When I shave it's literally just
- dip disposable razor in hot water
- shave
- repeat until done

Or if I'm feeling particularly lazy... Dry shave and remove hairs from razor.with fingers.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[Tungtvann]

[james1988]

3.5 on the first pass and then 1 for the second. Unless I don't shave for quite a few days and then use it on 5 first.

[Rowey]

I was always told to use an exfoliant to prevent ingrowing hairs.

When I used to wet shave I would shower to get my face wet and the pores open, then use a face scrub, then shaving gel, shave and rinse off with warm and then cold water.

I rarely wet shave now any way. Got one of those new electrickery things. Much quicker, no irritation but not as close.
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ZX6R C6F.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.

[stinkwheel]

Stopping shaving is the solution to all of the problems you hve articulated in this thread.

Someone had to say it.
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I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[nowhere.elysium]

[mysterious_rider]

The only thing you should be using to shave is hair clippers. You get a nice bit of growth it leaves behind. None of this razor malarky...

Manface will ensue.
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KAWASAKIIIII

[hmmmnz]

yep clippers ftw, i havn't been clean shaven since i was in the army,
and that was 13 years ago, never had an ingrown hair
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the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[james1988]

I look a twat with a beard.

James

[Flatbadger]

Tweezers! Dig the feckers out.

I got 100 Derby blades off ebay and that's me done for 15 years! Excellent stuff.
____________________
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
You're in ISIS

[J.M.]

[EazyDuz]

My shaving is incredibly cheap and affective.
I use a wilkinson sword classic, pack of blades from Wilko is about 35p, shaving balm is about 40p and lasts about 6 months. Shave brush about 60p which i bought 2 years ago and still works fine.

I get my face warm with hot water using the brush. Rub the balm on my face, wet the brush then flick it once, then massage the balm into my face. Shave one pass with the grain.
Remove balm with brush then re-apply, shave again second pass against the grain.
Rinse, pat dry, apply moisturizer and loads of aftershave.
I get no ingrown hairs except one which is always in the same place on the right side of my chin.

https://www.bruceonshaving.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Wilkinson-Sword-Classic-Double-Edged-Razor-3.jpg
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To shreds you say? Tss tss tss

[pepperami]

Ingrowing hair?.............................. Cut your head off !................ problem solved
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[mr jamez]

[Flatbadger]

[EazyDuz]

[Flatbadger]

And then how do we clean the toothbrush?

https://s23.postimage.org/55xggwf7v/5010020_std.jpg
____________________
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
You're in ISIS

[EazyDuz]

[andym]

I had to look up what a merkur futur was.... seriously though £50 for a razor (always wanted to try one though)

I've had my mach 3 for a few years now, when I buy a new pack of blades I'll use the first 3 within a month or so then try stringing the last one out for another 4-5 months for some strange reason.

As for the shaving, I've never had an ingrowing hair, I shave twice (well 3 times if you count finding missed patches), first in the direction of hair growth then against... finally a check to make sure I got all the stubbly feeling bits (always just under my ear back of jawbone and on to my neck that the razor seems to miss first and second time)