Thread: Skin stretching issue(s)

Long story short....

I had an injury to my left hand @ birth and have no wrist movement nor can I over the head skin stretch either (left hand is shorter than right hand by a hand size)...My question is...would face skin stretching be a good enough idea to try a str8 or am I better with my DE/SE handles?

pcdad

Hello, Pcdad:

The Austrian pianist Paul Wittgenstein (b. 1887) lost his right arm in WWI (1914-1918). After that he devoted himself to piano works composed for the left hand only. Maurice Ravel, of the "Bolero" fame (reference the sex music in the movie "10" with Bo Derrick), composed the Piano Concerto in D Major, (for the left hand) for Wittgenstein.

If you really want to shave with a straight razor, you can do it with a whole series of improvisations.

Trying to visualize your possible physical restrictions, if I were in your place, this is what I would do:

1. Concentrate on shaving with the right hand only.
2. No need to stretch overhead; rather keep your stretching hand in front of your face and stretch from there.
3. I don't try to stretch aggressively. Here I would especially keep my stretching less tense.
4. Use your knuckles for stretching.
5. Since your stretching hand is shorter, you might have to turn your face more toward it when shaving the opposite side of your face.
6. In some parts of the face, tightening and contorting facial muscles works quite nicely. That's what I do. Once or twice I have managed to scare my wife with my facial masks, but she forgives me and my insanity in shaving with a straight razor in the first place.
7. Take your time. Shave a small part of your face at a time: the easiest parts first until you learn the typography of your face and hone your skills more with the straight razor.
8. I would recommend starting with a 5/8" round point razor, because you can maneuver it better than you can the bigger blades. Later go to bigger blades, if you want to.
9. Don't be obsessed by trying for the perfect shave. That will come in time.
10. Concentrate on mastering a technique that works best for you under the circumstances.
11. Also concentrate on your shave preparation with a good brush, soap or cream.
12. Finally this: Piece o' cake.

Welcome to SRP. We are delighted to have you. Look around for the mounds of information, especially in the Wiki. If you have any questions, post them and you'll have your answer in no time from our long list of experts. Good luck to you.

Regards,

Obie

Indeed a pleasure to have you here pcdad.

You will do fine. Be patient, take your time, be careful, start slow working on an area of your face at a time until you become comfortable and confident with the straight razor on that area of your face and do the rest with your other razors until you work your way to a complete shave with the straight.
There are many who only use one hand to shave, 'xman' has some good shaving demonstration videos, I notice that he only uses the razor with one hand.
I don't do all of the stretching with my other hand either, as I am sure that many also don't, I don't even do the move where you reach over your head and pull up by the sideburn area, you can accomplish much by just tilting your head in the proper direction or moving your jaw to stretch the skin like I and I'm sure that many others do.
Again, welcome, and thanks for the thread, I'm sure that it will benefit many.

(Great post too Obie.)

Originally Posted by Obie

Hello, Pcdad:

The Austrian pianist Paul Wittgenstein (b. 1887) lost his right arm in WWI (1914-1918). After that he devoted himself to piano works composed for the left hand only. Maurice Ravel, of the "Bolero" fame (reference the sex music in the movie "10" with Bo Derrick), composed the Piano Concerto in D Major, (for the left hand) for Wittgenstein.

If you really want to shave with a straight razor, you can do it with a whole series of improvisations.

Trying to visualize your possible physical restrictions, if I were in your place, this is what I would do:

1. Concentrate on shaving with the right hand only.
2. No need to stretch overhead; rather keep your stretching hand in front of your face and stretch from there.
3. I don't try to stretch aggressively. Here I would especially keep my stretching less tense.
4. Use your knuckles for stretching.
5. Since your stretching hand is shorter, you might have to turn your face more toward it when shaving the opposite side of your face.
6. In some parts of the face, tightening and contorting facial muscles works quite nicely. That's what I do. Once or twice I have managed to scare my wife with my facial masks, but she forgives me and my insanity in shaving with a straight razor in the first place.
7. Take your time. Shave a small part of your face at a time: the easiest parts first until you learn the typography of your face and hone your skills more with the straight razor.
8. I would recommend starting with a 5/8" round point razor, because you can maneuver it better than you can the bigger blades. Later go to bigger blades, if you want to.
9. Don't be obsessed by trying for the perfect shave. That will come in time.
10. Concentrate on mastering a technique that works best for you under the circumstances.
11. Also concentrate on your shave preparation with a good brush, soap or cream.
12. Finally this: Piece 'o cake.

Welcome to SRP. We are delighted to have you. Look around for the mounds of information, especially in the Wiki. If you have any questions, post them and you'll have your answer in no time from our long list of experts. Good luck to you.

Regards,

Obie

Don't forget Def Leppard's Rick Allen!

Welcome to SRP. I don't know if it is practical or not but you may be able to do it using some of the excellent advice that the previous posters have given. My first thought in reading your post was of Django Reinhardt and his terribly burned left hand. Rather than forcing him to give up his beloved guitar he blazed new trails in jazz with a technique that he adapted around his significent handicap. Give it a try and you may find it works for you.

Just a thought - if you decide to go with a straight razor, posting your techniques, tips and experiences would be an excellent addition to the site. There's really no telling what hidden tricks you'll uncover, and you just may enlighten us all. One thing you'll certainly discover is that straight razor shaving is a journey of constant learning, and a new perspective is always welcome.

In furtherance of Obie's well though-out post, I'd second his idea of crossing your hand across your face to stretch. I use this myself much more than the "overhead" grip. Carefully following my stretching hand with the razor helps me get a close shave - particularly when I go ATG or doing touch ups.

Well... Good luck and hope to hear what you've come up with!