Thread: Chin Difficulties

Not only is angle of blade important but especially with a thick beard the manner in which you move your blade across your face will be important.
Imagine if you will how a guillotine cuts. If you can imagine this and copy the same technique on your chin but maybe not as severe a cant and you will find the whiskers will wipe right off your chin without issue. Some here call this scything or a toe leading stroke. You can also do this as a heel leading stroke where necessary.
It will take a little practice and there is a real chance that you may cut yourself until you get the hang of it but once you do get the hang of it shaving with a straight will be a breeze.

Originally Posted by JMS

Not only is angle of blade important but especially with a thick beard the manner in which you move your blade across your face will be important.
Imagine if you will how a guillotine cuts. If you can imagine this and copy the same technique on your chin but maybe not as severe a cant and you will find the whiskers will wipe right off your chin without issue. Some here call this scything or a toe leading stroke. You can also do this as a heel leading stroke where necessary.
It will take a little practice and there is a real chance that you may cut yourself until you get the hang of it but once you do get the hang of it shaving with a straight will be a breeze.

Mark is right on the money here IME. I am reluctant to post that info because until it is mastered there is a chance of cutting yourself..... and even then. Get comfortable with manipulating the blade and if you try this do it on easy areas. It is the way to shave with a straight though AFAIC.

I've been having a little difficulty shaving against the grain on my chin as of late. i wonder if anyone would be willing to show a video of the different cutting techniques against the grain on an especially thick and stubbly chin??

or if course if they could reccomend one that already exists. thanks!

The chin area is difficult to master-so you must be patient as you adjust to getting the angles and pressure right.It will eventually click-usually after you have developed the XTG and ATG passes.
In the meantime don't murder your chin skin!-do WTG and XTG and finish with a D/E or cartridge.(I didn't do this and when finished looked like i'd done 3 rounds with Sweeney Todd!!)
If you cut yourself use a good antiseptic cream and aftershave balm to heal the skin.
Go slow and smooooth!!
Kind regards

Noggs

Don't get me started on the chin!!

I'm still a new shaver and am still figuring out how to deal with this monster... but I've found it's largely the application of technique that will see you through the chin. In my experience, very small, light strokes (i.e. buffing) seem to work the best. Using this technique I have started to get a nice smooth chin.

Here's a way too detailed description of how I handle it, in this case, using only my right hand.

XTG - For the right-side of my face:
1) Stretch the skin upwards using the left hand and some alum for 'purchase'. I reach around - sort of over the ~top of my head and pull up from the cheek.
2) Shave XTG, along the jawline toward the chin with shorter strokes. I'm holding the razor with my thumb on the top of the tang and moving forward and downward with the blade angled slightly forward. A slight scything motion can work well here.

XTG - For the left-side of my face:
3) Using the left hand, stretch the skin upward from the cheek (or rear/upward from lower near the jaw).
4) Shave along the jawline as before. This time, I use the more 'conventional' grip (thumb on bottom of tang).

ATG - Stretching the skin downward on the neck, I come up from the underside of the chin/neck area and roll the blade up over the chin with a smooth stroke, or careful shorter ones - watch the blade angle.

Sounds more complicated than it is, but between the XTG and ATG, I get a good result.