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I know I’ve peppered the board with questions and I’m thankful for everyone’s patience. I’m about 60 shaves into Straight Razor shaving and I think I’m doing okay. I still get more nicks or cuts on my chin, upper lip, and corners of mouth than I’d like. I’m not nicking myself anywhere else. Any suggestions as to why would be greatly appreciated
my advice would be to make sure you're hyper vigilant about the angle of your blade around those areas. most of my cuts around those areas have been because i'm treating those curvy parts like a flat plane, and that just isnt the case. small, small strokes with no pressure..Quote:
Originally Posted by alschepis
It is extremely important to stretch the skin in this area. Short light strokes. You can tighten muscles or use your tongue to stretch the skin. You need to experiment with the angle.
After almost 30 years some days I get those little weepers.
Take your time, hyper focus, stretch the skin, NO PRESSURE, practice-practice-practice.
The area around the mouth is definitely the most challenging for me but I do enjoy the reward when done properly.
I shave between the moustache on my upper lip and my nose. Two passes, up to down and then down to up. The ONLY thing that helps me is to have the upper lip slick as snot. With a very sharp razor I can consistently achieve bbs smooth shaves in this small area. Go slow, be confident, short strokes, be patient. This isn't brain surgery.:tameshigiri:
Down to up on your upper lip?Wow the "Dead Man's Pass". I admire you. You've got way more guts than I have. I'm committed to keeping my nose
In those areas, a good shave requires doing the same techniques as the rest of the face, but on a far smaller scale. Usually cuts occur when you rest the blade on your skin. I think of the motion of the razor as a circle. When the blade is applied to the skin, it should already be in motion. Before it is lifted off the skin, it should still be in motion. Done repeatedly, this forms a circular motion. This is easy to do on large flat areas, but small angular, or round areas are more challenging.
What width is your razor.? Maybe a 3/8 or 4/8 razor would work better for you, over the larger blades.
Just saying...its easier to hold a pencil between your upper lip and nose, than it is with the whole tree.:shrug:
I am also having a little trouble with the upper lip and chin.
I am almost 5 weeks in now. My problem is not getting Niks but getting a close shave in those areas. In general I am doing way better than I did week one but I have a long way to go in those two areas. I am using a electric shaver to touch it up after the shave. I have seen improvement and expect to get it eventually.
Roger
Im a beginner and I find getting a close shave in those areas tough too. Some have suggested a "Dead Man's Pass" which entails running the blade from the top of your lip upward to just under your nose.I won't attempt this. Im set on keeping my nose.
Take a look at this video. It helped me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRcg...qAqLOsu&t=201s
Ergo why I like smaller razors, work better for me
I find skin stretching a scything motion and a very shallow razor angle to do the best job
Thanks for the video. I saw one great tip that I am going to try tomorrow.Quote:
Originally Posted by alschepis
Roger
For your upper lip, under your nose, put the sr at a 90° angle than lower the spine tward your nose, and make a downward pass. (Remember resuction, not removal)Quote:
Originally Posted by alschepis
Fir your chin , as you round your chin, it will look as if your angke is getting steeper, but don't fear thats musslw memory keeping tour 20° angel
Usually when I get myself it's a combination of needing to re-strop and impatience. I make a couple of passes with no joy and instead of taking a second to check on my blade or angle I just get a little more aggressive and then I get a little red line.
This exacerbates itself by having the line then become a sticking point on the next shave. That's my experience, anyway.
Get an alum block to treat your nicks between passesQuote:
Originally Posted by shenanigans
I didn't mean that it sticks in the same shave, but that the scar tissue become a sticking point in subsequent shaves.
Ooh, than, an alum block csn add dome slickness if you run in ynder the watter just before touchinf yor face, or you csn try soking your brush longer to lake yoyr lather a little fuller then when you add a touch if water on each lather it sill be slicker.Quote:
Originally Posted by shenanigans
Ooh, than, an alum block csn add dome slickness if you run in ynder the watter just before touchinf yor face, or you csn try soking your brush longer to lake yoyr lather a little fuller then when you add a touch if water on each lather it sill be slicker.Quote:
Originally Posted by shenanigans
You may asso just need to attack or from anothwr anhle, sxare tussue never plays fir
Learning about stretching the skin by either using your off hand or puffing your cheeks out or pulling your mouth to one side...etc as well as using the lightest touch possible with the blade will be what does the most for preventing nicks and cuts.