@Wasz -
@Mr. Guy nailed it.
My ingrown hairs were eliminated when I switched to a DE (double edged safety razor) precisely because one swipe with the razor was just that - a single swipe.
Technique is important. Do you shave before or after you shower? I always recommend afterward, as the hot water will help soften the whiskers as well as hydrate your skin. And, a top-quality shave cream or soap will help, too. Those gels are atrocious. I find they dry my skin out.
Here's my process for wet shaving. I'll admit, it's a long process but, for me, the real enjoyment in shaving is the ritual involved (same reason I love lighting cigars and pipes):
- Fill my shaving bowl with hot tap water and then submerse both my blade and my brush in water
- Shower
- As soon as I get out of the shower, I apply a pre-shave oil. BTW, not everyone likes a pre-shave oil but pretty much everyone agrees that, if you have never used one, at least give some a try. A lot of pre-shave oils can also double as a leave-in beard conditioner.
- Pour the water out of the shaving bowl and shake the brush dry
- Add a bit of shaving cream to the bottom of the bowl (amount depends on type/concentration of cream) and about a tablespoon of water. I use a puck of shaving soap from Catie's Bubbles, so this is a bit different from how I add soap to my bowl.
- Use the brush to whip the cream into a good lather
- Lather my face up, and make my first pass with the razor, shaving with the grain.
- Once done, re-lather my face and make the second pass, shaving against the grain.
- Wipe my face clean and immediately splash on my Clubman Pineaud aftershave tonic (it's an astringent and will help clean your skin as well as sanitize any tiny nicks). If there is a small nick (very, very rare), I use an alum block on it.
- Now I clean up my shaving kit, put it away, wipe down the counter, etc. This gives my face a minute or two of rest.
- FInally, I apply a non-scented aftershave balm (Men+ line from Dove) to remoisturize my face.
I have a goatee so I don't need to shave my entire face, either. But it's not the amount of real estate that matters, but rather the quality of the shave and being satisfied with the results. So don't think that there's no reason to get quality products but, rather, rejoice in the fact that they will last longer for you than they will for us!