Full beard/chinstrap touchups... Is this possible?

[rawbreed2000]

Sup fellas? I'm a noob with the straight razor experience. I always was curious about shaving with a straight razor every since I was able to shave with a regular Mach 3 razor. I've been scanning stickies and forums about stropping, honing, razors and soaps, ect. So I'm very confident in how I'm about to setup my first experience. Here's the catch.... It's fall here in Georgia, so I usually let my beard grow to chinstrap to start out, then I progress to a full beard as it gets colder. I usually do full shaves during the spring and summer. Enough of the long-windedness! ....my question is am I able to do a bad ass tape job like they do at the barbershop or is this going to become too difficult to do because of the angles? I have attached an example of what I am trying to achieve. These are both from barber shops and I've only seen ppl on youtube do full shaves in the mirror. I've never seen anyone do a real deal touch up like this.... I don't know if there are any folks like me on this forum. But I'm black. If there are other black guys on here trying to use a straight razor let me know! I think I'm the only one that wants to go ols school. Clippers don't get close enough and I'll NEVER use Magic Shave to melt my hair away!

check it out!!
http://

[rawbreed2000]

This is also another one! Pls HELP! I want to be a self Straight Razor taping vet!
YouTube - Ms. Tadasha Cutts

[sicboater]

I think it will be possible for you to get good lines, but it will mean a lot of practice. If you have a barber that you use pretty faithfully to line you out, get some pointers from him! I see the big hurdle (after learning how to shave properly, make lather, strop etc) being the viewing angles you will need to get dead on line. It might mean multiple mirrors and it will mean lots of practice. As far as the basic stuff goes, I too am in Atlanta and I am always willing to help. Send me a PM if you need live demos of lathermaking, stropping or anything else.

Hope this helps and Good Luck!

-Rob

[joke1176]

I think it would be easier to perform precision facial hair...sculpting?...with a straight than a disposable since you can actually see the edge of the blade and where it intersects with your face and you have much more control.

At least it is for me.

[jockeys]

I think it would be easier to perform precision facial hair...sculpting?...with a straight than a disposable since you can actually see the edge of the blade and where it intersects with your face and you have much more control.

At least it is for me.

+1

i usually have some sort of facial hair (i look like a child when i'm cleanshaven) and so i have found the straight to be a far better tool for doing odd beardwork than the disposable.

it'll help if you use a short, skinny razor. i have a little 3/8 spike i use for doing intricate beardwork.

[rawbreed2000]

+1

i usually have some sort of facial hair (i look like a child when i'm cleanshaven) and so i have found the straight to be a far better tool for doing odd beardwork than the disposable.

it'll help if you use a short, skinny razor. i have a little 3/8 spike i use for doing intricate beardwork.

Where did you get this 3/8 spike? I think I bought the wrong razor! ...check out my new ebay purchase....
Handsome Germany Straight Razor-Ivory?? Minty! - eBay (item 120298106734 end time Aug-31-08 14:29:27 PDT)

[jockeys]

Where did you get this 3/8 spike? I think I bought the wrong razor! ...check out my new ebay purchase....
Handsome Germany Straight Razor-Ivory?? Minty! - eBay (item 120298106734 end time Aug-31-08 14:29:27 PDT)

er, it started off life as a 4/8 spike that had a rather bad frown... so I taped the spine and got a little over-enthusiastic with a dmt325 grit...

[netsurfr]

I don't see this as being a problem. You are just maintaining an outline that your barber has established for you. Even if you establish the lines yourself, it does not seem like much of a problem. Maybe I am not seeing a complexity here...

[PEneoark]

It IS very easy to shape your chinstrap with a straight razor. I use a hair shaper to shape mine while shaving the rest of my face with a Merkur Futur DE before I started to go with a full straight razor shave. Trust me....It's a lot easier than you think


Andrew

[PEneoark]

Oh, and BTW, I have always shaped my own myself. No professional barber needed


Andrew