Thread: Looking for Chin Strategies

Hi,

I'm finishing up on week 3 of 'learning to shave with a straight with minimal blood loss' and so far so good. I am now able to cover all of my face and neck EXCEPT for the chin. And by the chin, I'm referring to the very round part.

For the jawbone, I can simply pull up on the skin and cover the entire area without having to round the razor around anything.

Not so for the chin. I've watched lots of videos and the 'super-shaving-stars' appear to round the blade around their chin. Ya, not gonna happen. I like my chin. My technique is not there yet nor is my confidence level. So that technique is out.

So, do I wait until my technique gets better or is there a way to shave using short strokes but always at a straight angle ?

Looking at Dr Moss's PDF file he seems to cover his chin in two strokes. Is this really possible ?

All tips appreciated.

Thanks!

J

short, firm, quick strokes while stretching the skin both upward and downward at the same time with one hand helped me quite a bit. Also be willing to adjust your razor angle when passing over the tip of the chin.

I'm still working on my against the grain pass on the tip of the chin. Either I'm a slow learner, or I will be preaching practice and patience for the rest of my straight razor days

Somewhere on the forum a fellow put up a drawing that helped me. Unfortunately I can't find it. Here is Razor Central , another site with shaving instructions and other interesting info. Anyhow I take my forefinger on one side about an inch or two north of my chin with my thumb on the other side and stretch up towards my ears. This is about the best way I have come across. The sharper the razor the better. I use a scything motion coming from one side and then the other. Then I come up from underneath.

We all have to find our own way on this one, so practice and blade control is key. Eventually, you'll be able to shave around that curve. In the meantime, I found it useful to go straight down until the curve began. Then I "pivot" the blade down and around - with the heel not moving much and the toe moving a fair distance. Its hard to describe. This made it a lot easier to control the blade and its angle - least for me.

Jordan

I'm not a purest! Definition of a Purest: A fisherman who will only catch fish with a fly and a fly rod. I want the fish and if a worm works the best at the time, I'll use it! And if a fly works the best at that time, I'll use the fly!

The point I'm making here is that I am looking for the best shave regardless of what it takes. After I prepare my razor (stropping), and I do my beard prep, and I have made my wonderful lather, and after applying the lather, the 1st thing I grab is my DE, which I am presently using the Gillette Swedish blades. - I gently shave my entire chin are with the DE. I then proceed with my straight razor finishing the 1st pass, and whatever number of passes I do I will use the straight on my chin area from then on. By using the DE on my 1st pass, it just enables me to get my absolute best shave.

I am convinced that the use of a straight razor absolutly gives me not only my best shave, but the most comfortable shave. As long as I am gentle and don't press with the DE on the 1st pass, I will get the best shave possible. It just makes it easier, and I have no guilt over using the DE in this manner.

IMO!

Steve

Originally Posted by zepplin

I'm not a purest! Definition of a Purest: A fisherman who will only catch fish with a fly and a fly rod. I want the fish and if a worm works the best at the time, I'll use it! And if a fly works the best at that time, I'll use the fly!

The point I'm making here is that I am looking for the best shave regardless of what it takes. After I prepare my razor (stropping), and I do my beard prep, and I have made my wonderful lather, and after applying the lather, the 1st thing I grab is my DE, which I am presently using the Gillette Swedish blades. - I gently shave my entire chin are with the DE. I then proceed with my straight razor finishing the 1st pass, and whatever number of passes I do I will use the straight on my chin area from then on. By using the DE on my 1st pass, it just enables me to get my absolute best shave.

I am convinced that the use of a straight razor absolutly gives me not only my best shave, but the most comfortable shave. As long as I am gentle and don't press with the DE on the 1st pass, I will get the best shave possible. It just makes it easier, and I have no guilt over using the DE in this manner.

IMO!

Steve

Interesting.. May I ask how long you've been using a Straight ?

Thanks to all the posts so far.. Keep 'em coming!

I agree with you though that at a certain point in time, the idea is to get the best shave, not the best shave with a straight.. But on the other hand, lots and lots of people are capable of shaving their chins with a straight. I don't quite see why I cannot.

J