Grooming Method, May Need Help

[deepvoicenc]

Hey folks. Alright, finally here is my shaving habit. Basically for as long as I can remember, I think about 23, 24, I've been cutting my hair bald with a T-outliner. I do not shave with a razor since my skin is very sensitive to ravors and I bump up EASILY.




I also use it to trim my goatee (I've had that since I was 16). When I'm done, I put alcohol around where I just cut my facial hair, and the back of my neck.



The few times I've gone to a barber since then, they've always used the t-outliner, and this:





So first chance I got about, about a week or two before I joined this site in fact, I bought it.

It was fine...the FIRST time I used it. The second time, I bumped up on the back of my neck like crazy:



And on my neck too:



I still use it on my neck and my face, but that's it. I've also stopped using alcohol and now use Witch Hazel based on a friend's recommendation (he's a barber/hair stylist).



He also suggested using a hot towel for every step of the way, but I can't seem to get it hot enough, and the instant I touch the towel the hotness seems to go away. I've even tried using thick plastic gloves. Same thing.

Anyway, the problem is, its been a whole week since I've used the shaver on my entire head, and for some reason now I can't get the t-outliner to give me a close cut like before. What is in my profile is as close as I can get it. I could never get it as close as the shaver of course, but it was always closer than that. I'm wondering if my hair is now too thick to cut anymore.

I've considered switching to a Braun Series shaver. Any thoughts on this?

[Magoo]

Looks like the bumps  are ingrown hairs from the use of the new shaver. If you still have the bumps and your shaving with the t- outliner the bumps are stopping you from getting a close shave. Maybe the t- outliner is dull. But I don't see the thickness being your problem.

[deepvoicenc]

Looks like the bumps  are ingrown hairs from the use of the new shaver. If you still have the bumps and your shaving with the t- outliner the bumps are stopping you from getting a close shave. Maybe the t- outliner is dull. But I don't see the thickness being your problem.

Actually I bought a new blade for the t-outliner the same day I bought the shaver. So unless the new blade was somehow dull, I don't think its the t-outliner. And the bumps have gone away since I've stopped using the shaver, I just can't get a close cut anymore.

[Magoo]

May be the new blade is not adjusted correctly ??

[deepvoicenc]

May be the new blade is not adjusted correctly ??

They seem to be adjusted fine. To be on the safe side, I unscrewed the blades, removed as much hair as I could, screwed the blades back on, then used it...same result.

[ozzie]

A couple of things to consider:

1. If you haven't tried exfoliating yet, give it a shot. Give your head a gentle scrub with Apricot Scrub, or similar hypo-allergenic scrub prior to your shaving routine. Rinse off the scrub before shaving.

2. Maybe the electric razor is simply not going to "cut it" (sorry). With the proper shaving techniques, even sensitive scalps can be successfully shorn with a good razor. You might want to revisit your decision to reject the regular blade outright, and read up on the shaving routines other sly guys are using.

Good luck!

[Nonick]

I agree.  It may be time to look at doing the "real deal" 
Skin issues are not my specialty either.  So, start reading up and asking around.   

[Razor X]

Why don't  you just go back to what you were doing before with the outliner?  It was working, wasn't it?

[xnewyawka]

Yes, as Razor said; best to stick with what works for you. 

[sailor61]

Have you tried going back to the original blade in the outliner?  I'm not familiar with them, is it possible that the new blade is made for a different/longer length?

[deepvoicenc]

A couple of things to consider:

1. If you haven't tried exfoliating yet, give it a shot. Give your head a gentle scrub with Apricot Scrub, or similar hypo-allergenic scrub prior to your shaving routine. Rinse off the scrub before shaving.

I have never actually thought about this before. I usually do something AFTER, and the only thing I tried to do BEFORE was the hot towel treatment. I'll try and find an Apricot Scrub and see how that works out.

2. Maybe the electric razor is simply not going to "cut it" (sorry). With the proper shaving techniques, even sensitive scalps can be successfully shorn with a good razor. You might want to revisit your decision to reject the regular blade outright, and read up on the shaving routines other sly guys are using.

Good luck!

I'll read up on it but I have to admit I'm a bit leery about it. I thought maybe it was this particular electric shaver itself, not electric shaving altogether. I got it because the last time I ever went to a barbershop (last year in fact), the barber used the exact same model and my head felt as close as what I imagine using a regular razor would feel like. MUCH closer than my t-outliner. But looking back, he used some sort of lime green menthol cream on top of it, and I never broke out on my neck. I didn't use it, just alcohol, and the irony is I *have* that green menthol cream (I think its called white tiger or lucky tiger or something tiger), but I didn't see the point of using it with JUST the t-outliner. Funny I'm just now realizing it might be connected, now that I bought.   

[deepvoicenc]

Why don't  you just go back to what you were doing before with the outliner?  It was working, wasn't it?

Yeah, yeah it was, I guess I just wanted an even closer shave, and like I was telling ozzie I remembered how my head looked and felt that one time I went to a barbershop last year. I don't even remember why I went last year since by that point I had been cutting my hair with a t-outliner for over a decade. I *think* it was because the little ball behind the blade was out of line and I went there to get a barber to fix it, and thought hey, might as well get a haircut too for old times sake.

[Razor X]

Why don't  you just go back to what you were doing before with the outliner?  It was working, wasn't it?

Yeah, yeah it was, I guess I just wanted an even closer shave, and like I was telling ozzie I remembered how my head looked and felt that one time I went to a barbershop last year. I don't even remember why I went last year since by that point I had been cutting my hair with a t-outliner for over a decade. I *think* it was because the little ball behind the blade was out of line and I went there to get a barber to fix it, and thought hey, might as well get a haircut too for old times sake.

Whatever you used in your avatar photo really looks good.  I can definitely understand wanting to get a closer cut, but it's not worth it if it makes your skin break out.  You might want to give the blade a try, as others suggested.  If you use a quality razor and shaving cream, it might not be as hard on your skin as you think.  I tend to get more irritation if I let the stubble grow out a bit.

[deepvoicenc]

Have you tried going back to the original blade in the outliner?  I'm not familiar with them, is it possible that the new blade is made for a different/longer length?

Out of habit (maybe its habit I should break?) I throw away the old blade when I put on the new one. Because so far, with this being the only exception, it goes on just fine and has always been an improvement. They only sell one type of blade for the t-outliner since the whole point of a t-outliner is to give as close as cut as possible (it is what is used to make parts or designs in hair, for instance).

My theory as to what happened is the same thing I fear is what will happen if I use an actual razor: my hair grew back "wrong" or tougher. I was told once you use a shaver you would have to use it EVERY DAY (same with a razor, right?) and I did that but I couldn't get around the bumps so I was walking around with patches of hair where the bumps were so I stopped. Switched back to just the t-outliner now I'm left with the problem of not getting a close cut like I had before using the shaver at all (but trust me, I am grateful the bumps are gone).

[deepvoicenc]

Why don't  you just go back to what you were doing before with the outliner?  It was working, wasn't it?

Yeah, yeah it was, I guess I just wanted an even closer shave, and like I was telling ozzie I remembered how my head looked and felt that one time I went to a barbershop last year. I don't even remember why I went last year since by that point I had been cutting my hair with a t-outliner for over a decade. I *think* it was because the little ball behind the blade was out of line and I went there to get a barber to fix it, and thought hey, might as well get a haircut too for old times sake.

Whatever you used in your avatar photo really looks good.  I can definitely understand wanting to get a closer cut, but it's not worth it if it makes your skin break out.  You might want to give the blade a try, as others suggested.  If you use a quality razor and shaving cream, it might not be as hard on your skin as you think.  I tend to get more irritation if I let the stubble grow out a bit.

Thanks. In my avatar is how my head looks NOW, using JUST the t-outliner, AFTER the whole electric shaver fiasco. I hate that my cowlicks are noticeable, to be honest with you. I'll look into razors, I hear there are now razors made SPECIFICALLY for bald cuts, so maybe I'll buy one and give it a go. I still use the electric shaver to shape up my facial hair, though, So far no major problems there.