Blades and Irritation...

I was curious if certain coatings on blades can cause post shave irritation? I have a couple of blades I've been trying out, including Shark Platinum, where there won't be any noticeable cuts, but when I use Aftershave, I notice the sting. Afterwards, my face (primarily my neck) has irritation. I use both an Aftershave and post-shave balm. This is something that has been recent. Could my skin be "alergic" to the blade itself, even though there aren't any major cuts or nicks? The shave soaps and Aftershave products haven't changed.

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There are some people whose skin is sensitive or even allergic to coatings such as platinum or chromium. However, those instances are rare. It is my understanding that such reactions normally result in a rash.

Which blades have you been using previously and which razor(s) do you use? I find the Shark Platinum blades to be significantly sharper than Shark Super Chrome and Shark Super Stainless. The later blades are not sharp enough for my tough beard, but the Platinum blades work OK. If you are used to shaving with less sharp blades, you might be shaving with either the wrong shave angle for your razor, or shaving with too much pressure. That is guaranteed to cause irritation.

Also, your choice of shaving lather can play a big factor in skin irritation. Along with my tough beard, I have super sensitive skin, so minimizing irritation is a constant challenge. My skin is so sensitive that I cannot not use alcohol based aftershave splashes or colognes without diluting them with water. Every though you might not experience cuts or nicks, you might have micro-abrasions of the skin which will be irritated by many aftershaves.

Also to rule out the possible coating / irritation issue. I would suggest reviewing your shaving process. One, make sure you are not using a too aggressive razor. Two, make sure you are not over shaving ( too many passes / to much buffing) . Three, try just a STAINLESS STEEL razor with no coating. Four, do a proper prep shave ( for every pass) and post shave face treatment. I have a home made pre-shaving oil mix that works like butter.....(castor oil, avocado oil, safflower oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, few drop of tea tree oil...great skin protection and helps with the glide...) - BFX