Newbie in need of technique advice- under the jaw

Hello All!

I am new to SRP and I've been shaving with a straight for about a month now- Really enjoy the experience! I'd like to think that I did my homework: watched Lynn Abrams shave on YouTube, bought and watched the World of Straight Razor Shaving DVD, slowly shaved my face one section at a time, getting confident in that section before moving to the next section, try to get a good pre-shave down (hot shower or towel, clean face, SRD soap with badger brush). I purchased a 5/8 Dovo Best from SRD (didn't want to go crazy for my first razor, plus that's pretty much all that was available), so I know it was honed and shave-ready. I also have the SRD paddle strop, which a take my time using- trying really hard not to kill the edge. I did feel some tugging after the first week or so, so I did refresh with the 0.5 diamond on canvas and noticed some improvement, so I was satisfied with that. I'm sure my stellar rookie moves had to do with the premature wear.

Where I am looking for some advice is shaving under the jaw. I can get the cheeks, neck and chin pretty well- even on a first WTG pass with a little clean up here and there. Took a nice gouge out of my upper lip- that's going to need some (okay, a lot of) practice. I've found that the first WTG pass under the jaw seems to leave a lot of visible stubble. I figured after a few times of going WTG without hurting myself, but still leaving the stubble I may need to go ATG on a second pass. I instantly feel the blade tug and want to stop- so I stop. I've tried angles from the recommended 30 deg, to the spine almost flat against the skin and I am not making much progress- still tug and stop. I also try to be very aware that I'm using light-to-almost no pressure on the blade- although I do catch myself pushing at times. I do make sure that I have a good warm lather. I know that I have a pretty course and stiff beard- even the barber that I went to have a couple of SR shaves with said my beard was killing the shavette blades.

My question is, is this normal and I just need to let time and experience prevail or is there some adjustment to my technique that I can try? Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to provide some answers to the common questions I see asked of a lot of newbies before they are asked. Thanks for the input!

Mike

P.S. I may have a little pressure to make SR shaving successful- my wife thinks this is the one of the dumbest things I've done and swears she'll find me in the bathroom with my head in the sink… and the rest of my body on the floor. I'd really like to prove her wrong… just one time:y

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Originally Posted by mbg1081

My question is, is this normal and I just need to let time and experience prevail or is there some adjustment to my technique that I can try? Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to provide some answers to the common questions I see asked of a lot of newbies before they are asked. Thanks for the input!

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Hi Mike, welcome to SRP. Sounds like you've done your homework and are making a lot of progress. IME the neck, under the jaw, and the chin, are the toughest whiskers. I had to 'map' my neck by rubbing my fingertips over the area to get a sense of the direction of the whiskers growth. On me, as I'm sure it is on many of us, it is all over the place. Figuring out angles/directions of attack, and most of all trying varying stretches, is what finally worked for me. I still have to do the due diligence with the stretching and angle of attack for a successful outcome. IOW, it doesn't get easier in the sense that once you know what you're doing the whiskers fall off, but you'll figure out what works for you and solve the problem areas. :gl:

Thanks for the input! Now that you mention it, further stretching the skin is something I could work on. I seem to be fortunate enough that the hair grows [I]mostly[I] in one downward direction, from the chin to the neck until it get to the adams apple and under the angle of the jaw before it gets crazy.

My beard direction under the jaw is so sporadic that I disregard it. I shave up, then down, then down again.

I have some difficult chin whiskers too. the ones under my chin grow down also but they lay very flat to the skin. stretching your skin in the opposite direction that they grow helps them to stand up (at least a little) thus helping to cut a little closer. i've also found that taking light and multiple passes on my chin (taking off a little at a time) is easier than trying to shave it close in one pass.

I remember having issue with ATG as a newbie and the razor wanting to stop. In my case, the razor needed a honing. Stretching will help but the dull blade of a beginner seems to raise its head this way before it quits entirely.

Took me a couple of months to get a full BBS especially under the jaw line
It's all practice and experimentation but you are on the right path and with the the advice above should work through it soon enough

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mbg1081

Thanks for the input! Now that you mention it, further stretching the skin is something I could work on. I seem to be fortunate enough that the hair grows [I]mostly[I] in one downward direction, from the chin to the neck until it get to the adams apple and under the angle of the jaw before it gets crazy.

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My God man stretch that skin! Lol. At a bare minimum try to anchor the skin behind the blade so it doesn't bunch up in front of the blade. Another technique is to pull the skin from under the jaw line just about a half inch or so up over the jaw line so it is flat and taught. Sounds like you are well on your way to proving your significant other wrong! Best of luck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mbg1081

Hello All!

I am new to SRP and I've been shaving with a straight for about a month now- Really enjoy the experience! I'd like to think that I did my homework: watched Lynn Abrams shave on YouTube, bought and watched the World of Straight Razor Shaving DVD, slowly shaved my face one section at a time, getting confident in that section before moving to the next section, try to get a good pre-shave down (hot shower or towel, clean face, SRD soap with badger brush). I purchased a 5/8 Dovo Best from SRD (didn't want to go crazy for my first razor, plus that's pretty much all that was available), so I know it was honed and shave-ready. I also have the SRD paddle strop, which a take my time using- trying really hard not to kill the edge. I did feel some tugging after the first week or so, so I did refresh with the 0.5 diamond on canvas and noticed some improvement, so I was satisfied with that. I'm sure my stellar rookie moves had to do with the premature wear.

Where I am looking for some advice is shaving under the jaw. I can get the cheeks, neck and chin pretty well- even on a first WTG pass with a little clean up here and there. Took a nice gouge out of my upper lip- that's going to need some (okay, a lot of) practice. I've found that the first WTG pass under the jaw seems to leave a lot of visible stubble. I figured after a few times of going WTG without hurting myself, but still leaving the stubble I may need to go ATG on a second pass. I instantly feel the blade tug and want to stop- so I stop. I've tried angles from the recommended 30 deg, to the spine almost flat against the skin and I am not making much progress- still tug and stop. I also try to be very aware that I'm using light-to-almost no pressure on the blade- although I do catch myself pushing at times. I do make sure that I have a good warm lather. I know that I have a pretty course and stiff beard- even the barber that I went to have a couple of SR shaves with said my beard was killing the shavette blades.

My question is, is this normal and I just need to let time and experience prevail or is there some adjustment to my technique that I can try? Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to provide some answers to the common questions I see asked of a lot of newbies before they are asked. Thanks for the input!

Mike

P.S. I may have a little pressure to make SR shaving successful- my wife thinks this is the one of the dumbest things I've done and swears she'll find me in the bathroom with my head in the sink… and the rest of my body on the floor. I'd really like to prove her wrong… just one time:y

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I appreciate your attention to detail in describing your shaving experiences. You're doing all the right things, and time and experience will take care of the rest.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. That in a nutshell describes my 40 years of electric and multiblade razor shaving. Tell your wife that this is dumber than straight razor shaving.

Thank you everyone for the advice! I too am transitioning from an electric razor, which I had been using pretty much since I was 16; I'm 32 now. I did try stretching the skin more than I had been and experimented with a XTG that actually seemed to work a little better than ATG. XTG is tricky under the jaw. I also started with that area of my face first while the blade is it's sharpest after stropping. I'm certainly not expecting overnight success; I know it will take several months to get it just right. Anymore input is certainly welcomed!

I use a hand towel for extra "purchase" (grip) when I do skin stretching. I always do it on ATG passes and find it very helpful. If the razor won't cut whiskers under those conditions, the sharpness of the blade is immediately suspect. If your cartridge razor will cut those same whiskers in an ATG pass and your straight won't do it, the blade needs work.

Yes, some of your issues are probably technique related. Ineffective stropping could be a culprit too, which can give the impression of a somewhat sharp razor that's not quite there. Please don't think I'm putting you down, from the sounds of it you're doing great. Just practice and experience, that's all it takes.

Something else to consider: whenever possible try to go XTG instead of ATG. IMO the goal is to get a great shave going WTG and XTG only. It is possible but it does take time and practice.

My jaw line is very pronounced, the skin wraps around and goes upward underneath. I use stretching of the skin, buffing, and a straight grip on the razor to get around this tight curve. By buffing I mean leaving the blade in contact with the skin and drawing it back to retrace the cut, doing that usually reapplies the lather off the blade to the skin. The straight grip is holding the razor with the sales in line with the spine so I can turn it easily under the curve of my jaw.

Hart, I have a pronounced jawline as well. I will give that straight grip a try and see if that helps out too.

Ryan82, no way am I put down by the critique. I certainly appreciate the comments and I'll take a look at my stropping. At least I have a free honing buying from SRD. I'd hate to think I have to use it already, but it might be time.

You also might try one of these. I use the later one.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...atg-grips.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ml#post1028821

+ 1 on Ryan82's XTG suggestion. I've been shaving with many varieties of tools for more than 50 years and ATG has never worked for me with any of them. I have a fairly dense and stiff beard, and if I go ATG, even with a cartridge razor and no pressure I get razor burn, which I never get any other time. I use the WTG and XTG passes, coupled with a few creative scything or diagonal swipes for follow up, and get a fine shave that last 14 hours. That's all I seek.