Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! It’s going to be Christmas before you know it. And with Christmas approaching, that means it’s finally winter and colder weather is here.
One shaving problem that comes up in the winter for a lot of guys is razor burn. The combination of the cold and dry weather really exasperates razor burn. For example, take a look at this email we recently got from a reader.
“I live up in New England and now that the weather is starting to get cold, I seem to get razor burn much more regularly. I don’t really get razor burn the rest of the year, it’s really just bad during the winter months. Do you have any tips on how I can treat razor burn?”
I feel your pain. Razor burn is the worst. I mean you take the time to shave your face and you get repaid with a face that feels like it’s on fire for a few days after. It's a really frustrating problem for a lot of guys. Don’t worry though, I’m going to help you through this.
My Worst Razor Burn Experience
Let me briefly share my worst razor burn experience again. It took place back in December 2013 when I flew from Dallas to Denver for a job interview. This was back in my cartridge razor days before I made the switch to a safety razor and I had planned on just taking my cartridge razor with me.
Unfortunately when I got to Denver and took my Dopp kit out though, I realized I had forgotten my razor back in Dallas. Shouldn’t be a big deal though, right? Unlike a safety razor, it’s easy enough to just buy another cartridge razor because they are available at every drugstore and grocery store.
Well… the problem was that I couldn’t find any drugstores anywhere near my hotel. At least not within walking distance when it was 11pm and 0 degrees outside!
So what options did I have? Well I couldn’t not shave because I had a few days of growth and really needed to be clean shaven for this job interview. So I had to rely on the last resort: a complimentary free disposable razor from the hotel.
That thing was terrible. It was so cheap and the blade was so weak it felt like it was ripping the hairs off my face the entire time I used it. I wanted to quit about halfway through the shave.
I finished though and the next day, the combination of the cheap disposable razor and cold weather led to my face feeling like it was on fire. And this lasted for a few days.
So yeah, I feel your razor burn pain and know how uncomfortable it is. So let’s figure out what the root cause of your razor burn might be though and then discuss some options on how to either best prevent it or treat it.
What Is Razor Burn Again?
Before we dig into what might cause your razor burn to be more severe during the winter, first let’s take a step back and remind ourselves of what razor burn actually is.
Razor burn is essentially any skin irritation caused by shaving. That’s a vague statement, but the most common signs and symptoms are any of the following: redness, itchiness, tenderness, stinging or small red bumps.
Razor burn can vary significantly in regards to severity and symptoms. I would guess that when most men get it though, it’s pretty mild and just causes part of their face or neck to be a little itchy and tender. But some men aren’t so lucky and get it pretty severe to where their skin gets visibly red and can be very painful.
So Why Does It Seem to Be More Common
and/or Severe in the Winter?
The main reason razor burn is more intense and men get it more frequently in the winter is because your skin is much more sensitive during this time. How so? Well in colder weather your skin, especially on your face and neck, is much more likely to dry out and be brittle.
That’s why it is really important to consistently moisturize your face and neck in the winter. If you don’t, your face and neck will get parched and dry out.
But even if you do keep your skin well moisturized during all the time, it’s still tough for you skin to constantly overcome harsh weather elements. So while you might be able to get away with a more aggressive blade or razor in the warmer and more humid months, your face is much more sensitive in the winter and it’s going to be more prone to getting razor burn.
Focus on Prevention By Trying to
Figure Out What’s Causing It
It’s not always possible, but your main goal should always be to try and prevent razor burn so you won’t have to worry about treating it later. It takes some effort, but it’s much more effective (and easier) in the long run to take the time to figure out why it’s happening and make the necessary changes to prevent it going forward.
Think of the difference in treating vs preventing razor burn in the same way you would a sunburn. Would you rather get a sunburn and have to treat it with lotion and aloe vera while it takes several days to heal? Or would you rather just take the necessary steps to prevent getting sunburned in the first place? I know which option your dermatologist would recommend. And I also know which option is much less painful.
Tips for Preventing Razor Burn
Whether you realize it or not, there is always a root cause (or two or three...) for why you’re getting razor burn. You don’t just get razor burn after a shave for no reason.
So if you do get some razor burn, the first thing you need to do is go to work to try and identify what is causing it. Frame it like a hypothesis in a science experiment — “What is causing me to get razor burn in the winter?” Because there’s got to be some underlying reason as to why you’re getting it all of a sudden. And until you figure out what is causing it, you’re not going to be able to effectively prevent it.
Luckily, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out because there are several common reasons why men typically get it. What do I recommend most men take a look at doing first?
Well I think most men should consider downgrading to a slightly less aggressive razor blade in the winter. Why? Because most men can probably get away with a slightly more aggressive blade in warmer and humid months that their face and neck just can’t quite handle when the weather gets cold and dry.
Unfortunately, you may love using that ultra-sharp Feather blade year round, but your skin just might not be able to handle it in the winter. So try using a slightly more mild blade for a week or two to see if it makes a difference.
So start with that, but here are some other common reasons and solutions if that doesn’t help enough.
- Are you applying pressure with the safety razor? Don’t do this! Let the weight of the razor do all the work for you.
- Are you making multiple passes over the same spot without lubrication? Always have lather covering where you shave.
- Are you using a blade that might have bacteria on it? Always clean and disinfect your blade after using it.
- Are you shaving against the grain? Don’t. Always shave with the grain.
The Best Product for Treating Razor Burn: Alum Blocks
Like I said earlier, unfortunately even the best and most experienced wet shavers get razor burn from time to time. There’s just no way to completely avoid it. So what’s the best product to treat razor burn? An alum block.
We are huge fans of alum blocks here at a superior shave. In fact, we think an alum block should be a part of every man’s post-shave routine because they offer so many benefits. And one of those benefits is definitely helping treat razor burn before it gets out of control.
For me personally, using an alum block has made a tremendous impact in eliminating and reducing the effects of razor burn. I don’t get it nearly as frequently or severe as I used to.
The combination of the antiseptic and astringent properties in alum blocks help to soothe and protect your skin after a shave. Additionally, alum contains a balm that cools and refreshes the skin.
Alum blocks are cheap and incredibly easy to use. If you don’t already use one in your post-shave routine, I highly recommend you get one ASAP.
Finding the Right Alum Block
If you don’t have an alum block yet and are not sure which one is best for you, don’t worry because shopping for one is really easy. Why is it so easy? Because there’s just not much differentiation between good alum blocks.
All the high quality alum blocks are made from a type of of potassium alum and they all perform about the same. There really is no “premium” alum block out there because the ingredients are essentially the same for all of them.
Alum manufacturers don't put in extra additives or scents or anything like that. Therefore, none of them offer any extra benefits (or drawbacks) over the others. When it comes to the quality of the block, you just need to make sure the block is made from solid alum and not compressed alum and you should be good.
So does that mean you should just buy the first alum block you come across? Not necessarily. While all the quality alum blocks are really similar in quality, there are some other factors you should take into consideration when shopping.
- Size: What size block do you want? Do you want a big block that will last forever? Or do you want a smaller block that will take up less room in your Dopp kit?
- Price: A good alum block should not be too pricey, but you should still shop around for the best deal.
- Container/Case: I think this is one of the most important factors to consider and I highly recommend you buy an alum block that comes with some type of container or case. It’s much easier to store, and travel with, an alum block that comes with a case.
If you're looking to buy an alum block, you should read our post on which alum blocks we recommend. It has all the information you need in order to make an informed buying decision.
