Sly Bald Guys Forum

Head Shaving, Grooming & Care => Head Shaving => Topic started by: Ohleo on February 06, 2014, 10:02:14 AM

Title: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Ohleo on February 06, 2014, 10:02:14 AM

Good morning,

I am a 27-year-old African American male. Started to recede in the corners and decided to shave my head. I have tried many different things but nothing seems to be working. I get uncomfortable razor bumps in the corners on the back of my neck. More razor bumps appear on the the left side for some reason. I make sure my skin is hot and apply shaving cream. I then shave the traditional way and switch blades at the beginning of every week.

I have also tried after shave and things of the sort but have the same results. I like the way I look, but it is difficult to be comfortable. I am back on the balding clipper for now.


Any advice would be great. Thanks.

Title: Re: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Sir Harry on February 06, 2014, 12:32:03 PM

Welcome aboard! I used to have the same problem as you, bumps on the corners.....but here's how I stopped getting bumps for the most part:

1. Rub your head with ice cube after shaving
2. Invest in some Witch Hazel. Witch hazel is a good astringent after shaving and it doesn't sting like alcohol. It's also good for
preventing bumps
3. Bump Patrol, in a blue bottle, clears razor bumps within 48 hours.

Also, once you get the hang of head shaving, you may want to invest in a shaving brush. The shaving brush makes the cream lather better, resulting in a better shave.

Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.

Title: Re: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Ohleo on February 06, 2014, 04:07:00 PM

Thanks for responding.

With the brush, do I brush before or after I apply cream?

Title: Re: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Sir Harry on February 06, 2014, 05:01:25 PM

Lather your brush in the cream first then apply your cream to your head

Title: Re: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Mikekoz13 on February 06, 2014, 05:37:29 PM

Apply that cream to your head using the brush!!!!!

Welcome to the Forum!!!

Title: Re: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Ohleo on February 06, 2014, 10:19:42 PM

Thanks a lot guys. I will give it a go. Gonna hop on amazon and pick up the suggested products/accessories.

What do you guys think of dollar shave club?

Title: Re: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Sir Harry on February 07, 2014, 03:59:55 AM

Dollar shave club is good for the beginner shaver and the occasional shaver....but for the advanced shavers, it appears that safety razors and straight razors are the preferred choice. That's just my opinion, but there are some good deals there.

Title: Re: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Bald Guy on February 07, 2014, 07:07:43 AM

I would recommend that you only shave with the grain for now and do 2 passes.  Keep that up for a month and then see if your skin has toughened up and your technique has improved to allow against the grain.  I also like and use witch hazel.

Title: Re: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Ohleo on February 07, 2014, 11:03:07 AM

So a safety razor has one razor blade? And how hard are they to shave with?

Also, should I not go all the way down and just finish the bottom with my balding clippers/edger?

Title: Re: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Sir Harry on February 07, 2014, 12:59:56 PM

Since you haven't been shaving long, I think you should practice a safety razor on your face first. Disposable razors with two or three blades did the trick for me when I started shaving my head.

Title: Re: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Snakehandler on February 07, 2014, 02:32:23 PM

I've been shaving with a Fusion for 4 years now with no cuts, scrapes or nicks 😄👍

Title: Re: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Ohleo on February 07, 2014, 04:43:15 PM

Well I have been shaving for at least a year and a half off and on. I believe my technique is pretty good. I think it is just my pre-shave approach etc.

So I may give a safety razor a look as well. That thing is strange looking. Not even sure how it works.

Title: Re: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Ohleo on April 17, 2014, 08:50:46 PM

I am ordering a safety razor, shaving butter/soap, and a shaving brush from amazon. Is this a good idea?

And this may sound silly, but how do you apply shaving cream with a brush? Or do you brush it in to your hair/skin when you have already applied the cream?

Title: Re: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Sir Harry on April 17, 2014, 10:51:25 PM

Do you have a shaving mug? If not an old coffee cup that you don't intend to drink out of will do...Wet the brush and dip it in the shaving soap and stir the brush in the cup/mug/scuttle. Then you apply the lather with your brush.

Title: Re: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Ohleo on April 18, 2014, 06:45:49 AM

I don't but I do have coffee mugs and will give that a try. Thanks for the help. I will let you guys know

Title: Re:
Post by: geeman on April 18, 2014, 02:33:53 PM

I always put my brush in hot water, goes very soft and helps produce a nice lather

Title: Re: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Ohleo on April 20, 2014, 01:27:59 PM

I am really excited. I ordered a Parker 96R Butterfly Straight Razor from Amazon along with a nice brush. I just picked up some Van Der Hager Scented Luxury Shave Soap  along with some Bump Patrol from Walmart as well.

I have been watching videos to get an idea on how to use the razor etc

I will definitely shower first and then go for it. Hopefully this is the start of something good.   

Title: Re: Help with shaving and irritation
Post by: Ohleo on April 20, 2014, 09:17:24 PM

Safety* razor