A week in..

So fellas, im still alive and no trips to the ER. Have a couple of nicks on my strop and my face so a few questions. First off, did any of you have a weird spot that they had trouble with? Mine seems to be on my right side upper lip, away from my nose almost in that spot where the mustache would come down if you were going to do a goatee. It's weird, I've got two small nicks there. Question two on stroping, do most of you guys strop before and after? I am doing 25 laps on the scrub leather of Lynn's modular strop and then 50 laps on the premium leather 1. Then I shave, then 20 on scrub leather post shave with 30 on the premium leather. I am doing the pre and post stroping for the experience right now but is that ok? I guess my question is, is there such a thing called over stroping??? And finally thanks again to all the vets out there that help out us newbie!!!!

Sounds like you need to figure out how to stretch the skin the right way over your lip. Maybe inflate your cheeks? Maybe put your tongue under the spot? Maybe suck your upper lip into your mouth? Try multiple things until you can get the spot flat.

The first month is pretty tough as you learn how to strop and stretch your skin. Hang in there.

I think most of us strop before and after the shave. I do 50 on linen and 50 on leather before the shave and 25/25 after the shave. Your stropping will get better, easier, and faster with time. For now, just take it slow.

There is bad stropping but if done correctly not over stropping. I do pre and post with more laps than you so no worries there.

I think many of us have a spot that causes prolems. Mine is either side of my Adams apple at about mid neck. I still constantly strive to get better there. Maybe always will but that is what keeps it interesting.

I have a bad strip of skin, running along my right jaw line and a whorl on the right side of my neck. The care needed on the jaw like is maddeningly light pressure, almost shaving off of the skin. My whorl needs to be whittled down with two "south to north" passes before a "north to south" is even possible, even then judicious care is required. If I don't follow these rules, blood follows. Everywhere else can be shaved with enough pressure to make a veteran shaver pucker enough to turn a coal briquette into a diamond. It's overcoming these challenges that make shaving fun for me. I equally pity and envy those with a "normal" face with "normal" growth patterns, if they even exist.

Its all about angles and getting them right. Especially under the neck which is difficult. I will keep experimenting with it until I get it right or end up in the ER!!!!!

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Originally Posted by criswilson10

Sounds like you need to figure out how to stretch the skin the right way over your lip. Maybe inflate your cheeks? Maybe put your tongue under the spot? Maybe suck your upper lip into your mouth? Try multiple things until you can get the spot flat.

The first month is pretty tough as you learn how to strop and stretch your skin. Hang in there.

I think most of us strop before and after the shave. I do 50 on linen and 50 on leather before the shave and 25/25 after the shave. Your stropping will get better, easier, and faster with time. For now, just take it slow.

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Cris my strop has a rough leather and a felt pad. And also a the regular leather pad. I started with the felt pad but then I watched Lynn's video on it (I have his modular paddle strop.) and went to the above regiment.

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Originally Posted by VAPDGUY

Its all about angles and getting them right. Especially under the neck which is difficult. I will keep experimenting with it until I get it right or end up in the ER!!!!!

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If you have the time watch as many straight razor shaving videos as you can. You will see guys making various strokes at different angles that you probably never thought of. Some will immediately "click" as something you want to try and that will work for you. It's all about customizing your shave for your face.
Good luck!

Pete <:-}

I've found on either side of my chin there's a concave bit that can only really be cleaned up with a downward scything motion. That's about the only 'problem area' left. I've determined my neck area will likely never be BBS, as the hair sweeps horizontal, making any form of ATG entirely impossible. Sometimes a scything stroke can get it, but most days it isn't worth the resulting razor burn.

I have concave areas on either side my Adam's apple that I find damn near impossible to get on the north to south pass without jabbing the rest of my neck with the point of the razor.

For some reason, I can get it ok on the south to north pass pretty easily, though.

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Congrats!!

Beat the odd spots by mapping your face!

Attachment 237410

Strop as needed.

Keep going!!