Thread: Newbie checkin

Hi everybody. I'm from Sept-Iles, Quebec so i'm french speaker. For all of you out there who speaks french, is there any special thread or corner you meet in SRP ?

I must say i really appreciate the quantity and the quality of members and informations that is present in SRP. That is simply amazing!

About shaving - I've been shaving with straight razors since a bit more than two months. I really enjoy the experience everytime. My conversion to straight shaving happened when one days, i went to store to buy some replacement cartridges for my ... plastic thing that shave. Saving money for a trip to South Korea, i realize how expensive were these cartridges! Trying to be a responsible citizen and doing my contribution, as little as it is, for recycling, i also realize how absurd this product was. So i begin to wonder were all these beautifuls instruments called troat cutters that we could see in movies were? I searched around in the city for something like a Shavette or whatever. Couldn't find anything! Finally, i went to SRP and after reading all the newbee guides and wiki, i knew it was for me. I want to say a special thanks Sensei Kyle for The Zen of Straight Shaving. Being myself a martial artist, this really made me realize the true essence of straight shaving and made the experience an essential part of a certain way of life (Dō) which i'm evolving in everyday. Crucial stuff isn't it? :P

So developping my technique since two months only, i've encountered numbers of problems, some that i have solved and others i'm still stuck with. Going around, some of my questions are still unanswered. So i would like to ask your opinion guys.

I really have hard times to shave my chin. I'm using a 5/8 round point full hollow and 6/8 round point full hollow. I really can't get a close shave to the lower part of my chin (just under). I've changed angles, went WTG, XTG, ATG, with the toe, with the tip. I found the tip is doing better but i got razor burns and one time i took out a big chunk of skin under the chin... any tips would be welcome!

Second problem, the two sections on each sides of my chin linking to the cheeks (goatee). The hair is so thick there, my razors are catching. Again, really hard to get a close shave. My question is, is the catching related to the caracteristic of my blade? i.e. the fact that it is full hollow.. Should i try a wedge or a smiling blade?

Thank you very much and sorry for that long post héhé

J-P

The chin is the most difficult because it is the most contoured. When you look at the contours of your face you must be able to visualize those curves as smaller flat planes and then adjust your stroke to match those flat planes. As for the area around the goatee, it sounds as if you need to change the angle of the blade as it makes contact with the face.

Barber manuals that I have read recommend that the chin work be done with the heel end of the blade. I suspect that it's because you have better control and more stability with the part of the blade closer to your hand.

I think we need to be sure that the razors you have were professionally honed and shave-ready. It sounds a little bit like you may be using a razor that's not sharp enough. (Brand new razors straight from the factory are NOT usually shave-ready; they are ready to be honed to shave-ready!)

You haven't mentioned your strops, stropping technique, soaps or creams, lather production, or beard softening (called "prep" here for "preparation"). All of these things can affect the quality of your shave to a great extent.

The goatee area that you were talking about will be easier if you're stretching the skin. It may take a couple of experiments to find the right way to stretch and which direction to shave.

Welcome aboard!!!!