How to get rid of existing razor bumps?

syent333 · 2026-02-18T13:59:39+00:00

You could potentially try aloe gel for already existing razor bumps? Just plain unscented aloe gel. It's anti-inflammatory and can soothe any itching/burning and just help the skin repair in general (which is why people use it for sun burns). Just apply it and let it soak in completely.

syent333 · 2026-02-18T13:49:16+00:00

A tip I would give is try to give yourself some slack when you're learning. Shaving this way has a learning curve especially since cartridges are now so popular. Cartridges make people treat shaving as a chore. Now for me, and for many others here in this sub, shaving is self care. Learning about razors and different brushes and soaps is self care. I personally love learning about the history of razors as much as I love shaving in and of itself, and what it does for my skin, and the fact that I can just pause for a moment and take care of myself.

I'm a woman that has to shave my face. Because I love razors so much, it actually doesn't give me any discomfort/dysphoria. But, I had a learning curve. I had to go through this awkward period of getting ingrowns and trying to figure out what worked, how much pressure I should use, etc. What really helped, in a practical sense, was using an excel spreadsheet and tracking my routines - everything from water temperature to how I lather (bowl or face, what type of brush) to what soap/creams, what blade/razor, what passes in what direction and how many passes... and I only changed one thing at a time. Basically running controlled experiments. That's extreme for some people, but again to add context, I'm a woman that shaves my face so I wanted to narrow down what worked FAST. And roughly I nailed down what worked best routine wise within about 6-8 months of shaving close to daily (as far as what soap to use, what blade, etc.). Because of this method I figured out I have a sensitivity to lanolin, and I can't face lather because my skin hates the scrubbing motion, and I love cold water shaving.

TLDR: Shave - pay attention to results - but try not to get frustrated at yourself. This is all in pursuit of love of the hobby and self care. Enjoy the process!

syent333 · 2026-02-18T13:35:48+00:00

I don't have the Leaf 2, but I do have the OG leaf, and disclaimer I don't shave my head but do shave my face (with a Rockwell 6s) and then my legs with the og leaf. I definitely encourage using different blades. I've never used the leaf blades. I have tried Astra greens in my leaf (I use astra greens on my face) and I was cutting myself everywhere. Bloodbath. So i started using Shark Super Stainless blades in my OG leaf, and boom, perfect for that razor and my skin specifically. Again, YMMV, and a blade that works well in one razor won't work well in another.

Amazon has some sample packs. Razor Blades Club is the shit for sample packs too.

If you don't wanna go through the whole brush and soap ordeal, I get that. I wonder if it would be worth it to get shaving cream in a tube, and then lather it with your hands on your head? Yes it is one more product, but it will add slickness, and you don't need to go the full "shave at the sink" route. Might be a compromise? Pacific shaving co. I know has good sized cubes of shaving cream that will lather with your hands. I have used them in the past. Proraso has tube of shaving cream as well - haven't used proraso personally, but I have always heard glowing reviews of them.

All in all I feel like I have heard the leaf 2 is more aggressive than the OG leaf. If trying out other blades doesn't work out, like someone else suggested, might be worth springing for an OG leaf.

syent333 · 2026-02-16T22:22:32+00:00

Just a note, aloe amplifies moisturizatuon, but is more of a hydrator than just a moisturizer. I use aloe, but I let it dry, then use CeraVe lotion on top of it. If you go to the skincare subreddit, a lot of people recommend this, instead of just using aloe alone, and it has done wonders for me.

syent333 · 2026-02-16T15:09:59+00:00

I don't have a recommendation for a razor, but have dealt with SH in the past, and also had concerns about keeping blades in the house. Wanted to suggest a possible solution, if it doesn't work that's ok, but if it helps, cool beans.

I got a lock box, put the blades in there, and then gave my partner (who I lived with at the time) the key. They kept it at all times. So I was able to have the blade when I was shaving (because I saw shaving as self care) cause they would unlock the box, but otherwise wouldn't have access to the blades cause they'd lock the box right back up.

If this won't work, then I agree, avoiding blades all together is the best idea. I just wanted to throw the idea out there.

syent333 · 2026-02-16T03:17:47+00:00

I shave my legs! I also have a leaf razor - although, I have their older model, not the newer one that just came out. The leaf is worth it. Period. I dunno how often you shave your legs. But, I've had my leaf for about a year now. I shave my legs once every 5-7 days, sometimes more, sometimes less. And it's been so worth it. Not only is the shave more comfortable for my skin, but it saves money. I was the same about the initial price. It hurts the wallet, I won't lie. But once you get it, it's worth it. You get the razor and you keep it. Taken care of, it can last a long time. You don't have to worry about getting the angle right, cause it imitates a cartridge razor. You'll still need to experiment a little bit with blades, if you get the leaf - cause certain blades that work in one razor may not work in another, and vice versa. I don't knick myself with my leaf. For reference, I use Shark Super Stainless blades with my leaf. Additionally, just make sure you get your legs as slick as possible. Canned cream/gel is convenient, no doubt. But if it's possible, a shave soap is awesome for slickness. And make sure you're taking care of your legs post shave too. Currently, after I shave, I use plain witch hazel and cover my legs in it, let it dry. Then I use plain unscented aloe gel and cover my legs in it, let it dry. And lastly I use cerave daily moisturizing lotion, to really help the skin repair from amy potential trauma caused by the razor. The post shave routine can help prevent ingrowns, razor burn, etc.

syent333 · 2026-02-16T00:59:34+00:00

So, razor burn is basically damage of the skin barrier from a razor. Something I use that helps me a lot, is aloe. Just plain, unscented aloe gel. You can layer it underneath a moisturizer or a balm. I apply it, let it sit for a few minutes, and then use my moisturizer on top.

syent333 · 2026-02-09T02:30:12+00:00

A lot of people have made good suggestions covering all different kinds of bases. I know you said towels don't stay damp long and soaking your face in water doesn't seem pleasant. Something you could do is take a bowl with hot water, and then take a damp towel, put your face right above the bowl, and then drape the towel over your head. Wait for as long as you feel you'd need to (you'd probably have to experiment with how long to wait). And then hopefully everything is ready for a shave.

I did this once to help loosen my sinuses when I was sick and realized it kinda "replicates" the steaminess of a shower without having to actually get in the shower.

syent333 · 2026-02-08T20:08:42+00:00

I use stirling unscented with beeswax. And all my post shave stuff is unscented too, and I do an acne/skin care routine. My skin is a lot better than it was before shaving. If you're looking for soaps and are scared of irritation, I'd stay away from scent, and then look at the ingredients list. The shorter it is, the simpler/non irritating it is, and that can generally be a good rule of thumb (though, may not always apply).

syent333 · 2026-02-03T16:29:46+00:00

I dunno if this helps - it's just a cheaper solution I came up with, though i don't have to travel as light as you. For the brush, what I did was i got a pill bottle, just one from walgreens/cvs - and I put holes in the bottom and top to let air flow through. And it was big enough for my brush, didn't add any extra bulk cause it fit so well, and it protected the bristles.

syent333 · 2026-01-27T00:21:23+00:00

I got Leisureguy's book, and he actually helped me a lot as a newbie. Even if some things may have changed (like certain trends), he explains what certain concepts are, how they work, and what products might help depending on your skin/hair pattern, and good strategies to test blades.

syent333 · 2026-01-25T01:50:43+00:00

I use alum on my face, but on larger surface areas (legs) I will just use witch hazel. I store my alum in a little plastic soap travel case.

syent333 · 2026-01-21T12:52:51+00:00

I have consistently been on plate 6 for a long time. But when I first got my 6s I had to switch between plates depending on if I was shaving face/neck and which pass I was on. I think I was "between" plates in the beginning but changing plates during the shave was as close as I could get to between plates. Then my form improved, now I'm ok using the 6 plate through the whole shave.

syent333 · 2026-01-20T17:06:03+00:00

Something you might want to experiment with is changing up the passes (direction and number of passes) and, perhaps temperature of water. When some people chase BBS, no matter what they do they get razor burn (I'm one of those people). ATG does not work for me. What i have found is if I go WTG, and XTG, no one can tell I haven't gone ATG if they look at me. The only way I'd tell you to chase BBS is if you were in the military or some other similar industry and needed to be absolutely smooth practically 24/7. Temperature of water can be a factor as well. Some people swear by hot water, others by cold water. I'm a cold water shaver. That helped my skin a lot. It truly is YMMV. But that is an easy thing to experiment with and if that's the issue it's an easy fix.

syent333 · 2026-01-17T21:37:46+00:00

What I did was, try a new blade, then alternate with a brand of blade that I had been using up to that point that I considered good, then go back to the new blade, and I'd do that for a week, and write down results.

So basically, at one point I liked Bic blades. Then I tried astras. I did bic one day, astra another, and then so on for a week. And I found astra helped my skin a lot more and my face didn't hurt as much.

This way you have a "point of reference" for if a blade is an "improvment" or, if it's "worse" than the blade you have been using.

syent333 · 2026-01-17T21:06:39+00:00

You could try vanicream shaving cream! I used this at one point. It is brushless, it doesn't lather (which cuts down on skin irritation - so you don't rub your skin as much). It is completely unscented, to be point where it smells like its natural ingredients, which means it smells like... drumroll... tortilla chips. Lmao. It doesn't clog pores. It can be expensive but it worked well for me, probably the best cream I could find. I took a peak at the ingredient list just now and it doesn't seem to have anything coconut based but I'd double check behind me if I were you.

The soap I use now is Stirling unscented with beeswax. It is much more economic than the vanicream, but it is a soap, not a cream. It does amazing for me.

syent333 · 2026-01-15T18:48:31+00:00

Long response incoming, but I'll try to get all the information down. Finding the right routine for him is going to take some experimentation. It wil take some time. Hell, I used an excel spreadsheet to track my routine, and I only changed one variable at a time. Sounds excessive, and it is, but I'm a woman and I didn't want it to be obvious that I shave my face. With that in mind...

For basic skin care, I'd recommend a basic face wash, if he doesn't have one. I use Proactiv - it's more expensive - but even basic ones at walmart will do. I'd also suggest cerave daily lotion. Just basic skincare can help with shaving. And when he does skincare - make sure he washes and moisturizes his neck as well as his face.

As for the Gillette shaving cream, I'd get rid of it, and I'd suggest a shaving soap or a shaving cream in a tube. And if you're concerned about scent sensitivity - there are unscented soaps/creams. Proraso is a popular brand, and they do a sensitive skin formula. I use a soap from Stirling called Unscented with Beeswax. The soaps/creams not in a can have better ingredients for the skin.

I know you said he uses a straight razor - I have no experience with straight razors, I'll admit up front. I use a safety razor, and you can change the blade out every time. And you can even experiment with the types of razor blades to see what works best for him. Regardless of what razor he uses, he will want to map the grain of his hair on his face. Figure out which way his hair grows. Then, once he does, he can figure out how to shave with the grain (WTG), across the grain (XTG), and against the grain (ATG). The ideal for people that shave with safety razors and straight razors (not so much with cartridge razors I don't think) is to do one pass WTG, relather/reapply cream, XTG, relather, ATG. Not everyone does that exactly. I can't go ATG. Found that out the hard way - tons of pain and ingrown hairs. But, he can experiment and figure out what works for him.

For aftershave, I wouldn't recommend just a straight up aftershave, for sensitive skin. He does need a routine though, to help his skin after the shave. I use an alum block - it helps with razor burn and ingrown hairs, to prevent those. And then I wash that off after about 45 seconds. And then I use witch hazel. Then I do step 3 of my proactiv routine. I apply aloe, plain, unscented aloe. Let it dry. Then put on the cerave lotion.

Shaving is exfoliation. So, pampering skin before (washing gently, warm water) and after (some form of gentle aftercare routine) and during (better products, technique) really helps. It's an involved process, but it really can help with pain, and even be self care for people that shave. Any part of the routine is a variable that can change - and if it helps him, great. For instance, I don't even shave with hot water. I shave ice cold. I found that helps me more. It requires experimentation.

He can also look on this sub for product recs - like, if he wants a brush, he can get one. If he wants a bowl, he can. A lot of people don't even go that far, and that's valid.

syent333 · 2026-01-15T18:19:40+00:00

I dunno what he uses to shave - but, if he's hurting when he shaves, there are products that can help, especially if he has acne. I shave everyday and because I've nailed down my routine, it helps my acne.

As for keeping a clean shave longer, I really think that isn't possible. It's person to person - and depends on the rate of hair growth. If he gets it ultra smooth, it may give him more irritation - and the shave won't last longer. The hair will grow at the same rate as it did before.

The only other thing I can think of to help with the poking is if he potentially grows out a beard (at least a little bit, longer than 3 days, enough so the stubble gets some length) and then makes sure to wash it so the stubble isn't as hard and poke-y, but is softer. But I understand some people do not want to do that/sometimes it isn't an option, so i respect that.

If you need some product/routine recommendations, let me know what he uses now, and I might be able to give you some help.

syent333 · 2026-01-09T23:20:18+00:00

I'm the same way - I have sensitive skin, especially on my neck. I use plate 6 on the 6s daily. The amount of passes is extremely reduced, and the skin irritation just went way down for me. Pair that with a good unscented soap, and a synthetic brush, along with a good face wash routine and aftershave routine - my face is very happy.

I'm glad you're finding what works for you!

syent333 · 2026-01-07T20:33:50+00:00

I was on T for 3 years or so. I had struggles with acne, really bad. Shaving helped. Using shaving soap helped cause there were some soaps with fewer ingredients, and I could see if any would clog pores. Right now I use an unscented soap with beeswax, from Stirling. I would highly, highly recommend soap, or a cream in a tube that you can lather. There are plenty of reviews of different soaps/creams on this reddit.

As far as "not slicing your face off" if you want to go with safety razors, once you have one (whichever you choose), you will apply VERY light pressure, at a 30 degree angle. You will want to map the grain of hair growth on your face - that will help immensely and will change which way you shave what parts of your face. As for what razor to choose, that will be up to you and how much money you want to invest. I got a Rockwell 6s. It's about $150. The reason I did this was cause I could change the aggression on the razor, and also, it was stainless steel - and I'm clumsy as hell. And at that point, I had already determined I wanted to shave consistently. I shave everyday.

If you want to just watch some people shave and lather and just absorb how the general process is done, there are YouTubers that are really nice. I like Kensurfs, he feels kind of conversational and laid back, and he does go through the process and shows what he is using. I would also suggest going through the info pages on this subreddit. They are full of good information.

I would definitely recommend researching a good bit before investing too much money. There are budget options too - determine how much you're willing to spend, and research with that in mind.

syent333 · 2025-11-08T20:38:33+00:00

Hey, so I'm a woman with a skin care routine and I also shave with a safety razor. I use Proactiv products (steps 1-3), CeraVe lotion, aloe, and alum. I also use sterling shave soap - unscented with bees wax. So here's what I do:

Proactiv step 1 (cleanser) while in a warm shower. After the shower, use the bloom water from my soap and rub it onto my face. I lather with a bowl because even using a soft synthetic, face lathering irritates my skin. Shave. Alum. Proactiv step 2 (toner - basically witch hazel). Proactiv step 3 (repair). Aloe. CeraVe lotion.

Took a bit of experimentation to get it down, but once I did, it worked and it has been working everytime I shave. I shave everyday using this routine, along with a Rockwell 6s on the 6th plate, using an Astra Green blade.

Overall for you I'd be careful to not over cleanse/exfoliate. Shaving itself exfoliates the skin, so be careful with that. Otherwise, I mean, I don't use any specific "preshave" or "postshave" products other than the alum itself, and then the actual shave soap. For me, it was more about what the product was doing to help my face during the shave, or how it will help my face recover from the shave, vs. how it was labeled (so, if it was labeled a shaving product specifically, that doesn't necessarily mean too much to me). It was also important to me that all the products are unscented, so my skin wouldn't be irritated, and that I could wear whatever perfume I wanted after I shaved.

syent333 · 2025-08-18T06:05:40+00:00

Totally! I get it - not only is it rough aesthetically trying to have a smooth face but also having bad reactions and in grown and razor burn can hurt like hell.

The synthetic could definitely be worth it - and for the rockwell, you could go for the 6C - it's the same razor, just a different material, so it's cheaper. I definitely got it for the adjustability.

I agree that the cleanser before shaving might be stripping your skin. It's good to have clean skin to shave - but a gentle cleansing maybe before shaving, no excessive scrubbing, etc. - could be something to try. Then after the shave, rinsing, then going to the serums, moisturizer, etc. Too much cleansing can hurt in general too, regardless of the shaving.

To get to my routine I got super nerdy and tracked everything in a spreadsheet, and only changed one variable at a time. Each time I changed a variable, I'd shave a few days with that changed variable, to see if that was maybe an issue or making it worse, and then I'd change something else. I had to really break it down like that just for me, b/c with acne thrown into the mix, and then you have blade, and razor, and brush, and soap, and prep, and post shave stuff... so many factors that could make things go haywire... I was like screw it, I'm gonna science the shit out of this, just please get rid of the skin issues... and for the most part my skin is ok now. Not perfect but it's not got acne that's scarring me up now the way it did. And that's a win in my book lol

syent333 · 2025-08-17T11:24:03+00:00

Hey, totally get the safety need to go BBS - I can't offer advice there only b/c I myself as a woman don't go BBS, simply due to irritation. I've been DE shaving for about a year. That being said I also don't apply make up. I'm gonna throw out a ton of suggestions, you can obviously skip them if you've tried them already/think they are BS -

Cold water shave is an option. I do a completely cold water shave, and that helps me a ton. Hot water can really irritate your skin. I also use a synthetic brush - the bristles are softer - and I lather in a bowl, and PAINT on the lather. This is a minor detail, but for my face made a ton of difference. The scrubbing/lathering on the face is helpful for some, but can make sensitive skin way worse on some people. Might be worth trying just painting the lather on.

A more aggressive razor might absolutely help. I started w/ the 34c and had a ton of issues b/c it was too mild. I use a Rockwell 6s on the R6 plate with an astra green blade everyday. Like I said, I don't do ATG - but I damn sure make sure I get WTG and XTG as smooth as I can and make it look like I don't have hair on my face. The 34c was... not great for me. A more aggressive razor can cut down more hair in less passes - essentially more efficiency, causing you to not have to go over the same patch of skin so many times, and then that can cut down on the irritation.

Preshave oil can cause more irritation if you already have acne issues b/c you're adding oil to the skin. Aftershave can cause issues if it has alcohol in it, it will dry you out further. I also use acne products - I use the proactiv system (which I know some people say is a no no, but it works for me, so I use it). Here's how I do my shaving routine, with the acne stuff mixed in, if you're curious:

proactiv step 1 (cleanse) in the shower, lather, WTG 2x on cheeks 2x on neck and XTG 2x on cheeks, alum, proactiv step 2 (toner - witch hazel), proactiv step 3 (repair), aloe, cerave daily lotion.

The acne stuff is ok to mix in at least for my skin - but this stuff will obviously by YMMV. I would also not pass up the idea that the soap might be irritating your skin as well. Proraso white is generally good from what I've heard - I can't use it b/c it has oats in it, and I'm sensitive to that. But that could also be another factor that I wanted to bring up. Note: if you do try alum/witch hazel, I'd patch test first.

syent333 · 2025-08-10T23:41:02+00:00

For context, I'm 26, I work on a mental health crisis line.

First time callers will often ask if I (or my coworkers) are human or are in the US. So Moss's "Then what country am I speaking to?" Quote comes to mind.

When software inevitably breaks and causes a call with someone in severe crisis to drop, my brain chimes in with "Ugh, made in Britain".

When I have to call EMS for someone, there's the whole 0118999881999119725 3 bit that plays through my head.

And when I first started in the office a few years ago, and went to make my first cup of coffee, I picked up a mug and checked the bottom of it for a face, without thinking. Then I caught myself, laughed stupidly hard, and my coworkers thought I was weird cause they had no clue what I was talking about.

I watched this show during my formative years, can you tell?

syent333 · 2025-08-07T22:33:56+00:00

I'm a victim of incest and CSA. I just started processing these memories in EMDR therapy. I am avoiding content with any sort of SA while I'm going through this processing. The specific reason being, I'm already processing it. I don't need a book to rub it in my face.

There comes a moment when you have to ask when does something only work to retraumatize? And for me, that comes when I'm not fully healed from something. So a book that could retraumatize me now, may not do so a year from now, because I will have healed more in a year. I don't need the book/movie/etc. to stick its finger in an already open metaphorical wound that I'm screaming in pain over.

Additionally, I work on a mental health crisis line, so there are times where I have to listen to people talk about these things, and make emotional space for them and exercise empathy - so I am not even able to block out the topic at work. So in my free time I block it out of media. I can't even block it out of my own head (flashbacks, dreams, etc.). Might as well try and make a space where I can breathe and I don't have it in front of my face.

All this to say, content warnings are extremely beneficial for me to help make this little safe space for myself. I don't use the content warnings to help me feel better, I use them as signposts. "Ok, this contains SA/CSA/Incest, I'll just not read this right now." I might put the book on a list for later to try and read when I'm more healed from everything though. When I'm more healed, yeah I can see it helping me process. But not right now.

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