Thread: Pulling at chin

I seem to get a good shave on all the flat places -- cheeks, neck, etc. As soon as I go to the chin area the razor starts to grab and pull like crazy and I start to get nicks. I am a novice at this.

Is it the razor or me? On the flat spots the sound the razor makes sounds just like on Lynn's DVD, where I can actually hear the blade cutting through my beard, and the shave is smooth and clean.

I'm assuming if the blade wasn't sharp enough it would pull and tug everywhere. Am I right?

Any ideas?

Originally Posted by ziggy925

I'm assuming if the blade wasn't sharp enough it would pull and tug everywhere. Am I right?

You probably are. Some things to consider:

1. Face properly mapped, i.e. do you know from which angle you have to shave?
2. Blade angled correctly against face?
3. Face properly stretched? Shaving passes - Straight Razor Place Wiki will help for these three points.
4. Shaving videos - Straight Razor Place Wiki has some more videos. Watch and learn.
5. Preparation good enough? Improving your preparation to get better results - Straight Razor Place Wiki has lots of info. Start lathering your chin area first, working the lather into the skin. This way, it will have a bit more time to do its work, while you lather the rest of your face. Conditioner has helped some members, I would also recommend Castle Forbes's pre shave.

That's it really. And yes, the chin is usually the most difficult part of the face, even for more experienced shavers.

Remember to slow down on the chin.I'd recommend small slow gentle strokes, chin and moustaches area need mor prep time.I always do them at the end of the every pass

There is a natural tendency when shaving the chin to lay the blade off to almost 90 degrees. For some reason the hand just wants to open the blade there. This happens with almost everyone including very experienced shavers and you really have to force yourself to bring the blade back to 30 degrees or less. Generally that is what makes the chin a little harder along with the extra angles created by the shape of the chin itself.

Good Luck,

Lynn

Thanks, Lynn, and all. I watched the videos that BeBerlin posted and they helped a lot -- I've already seen Lynn's video, and it's obvious there are as many ways to shave as there are people doing it.

Shaved tonight but I left my chin alone and started on the mustach. I now see how you have to change the angle as you shave over different contours. A skill I'll just have to learn.

The parts of the mustach I got right are very smooth. The parts I didn't got lots of styptic. I think I need to slow down a bit.

Hmmm. If I grow a goatee I've got it.

Another thing to remember is that a lot of people have significantly stiffer, coarser hair on their chins.

This tends to aggravate the fact that the chin is naturally a harder place to shave than the flat spots. It also means that mapping the direction of growth is much more important.

Chin stubble is seriously tough! Try letting some hair conditioner do it's stuff. Leave it on for a few minutes, then rinse off & lather a usual. This may help, alongside the other advice you've been given.
The chin is pretty much the hardest part, & the last place we seem master!

+1 to all the advice given!

The chins definately the hardest area to get right. When I started I used to do the flat spots with the straight and my chin and tache area with my DE. I never thought I'd get it, but one day it just kinda clicked.

Dont give up, just keep at it and you'll get there!

Good luck!

Taking my thumb and forefinger in a U or V shape and placing it on either side, stretching toward my ears helped me out. Using the part of the edge down towards the heel of the razor.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Taking my thumb and forefinger in a U or V shape and placing it on either side, stretching toward my ears helped me out. Using the part of the edge down towards the heel of the razor.

Good idea. Never thought of stretching my chin.