Thread: A most humble apology...

I only got through a few replies here ,but....I would like to come to your defense here.The humble aoplogy part is fine and I get it.But I have found it sort of confusing to me how much over thought is put into direction and passes and such.If someone were to ask me how many passes I do I would say, mostly 3 sometime 2 if it's a really good day.If someone would ask me whether I go with or against the grain etc.,I would reply ,depends on the day.I guess I,ve just gotten accustomed to my face and just act accordingly without much thought to it other than paying more attention to pressure more than anything. That seems to be the most crucial part to me anyway.It varies and every face is different.But I understand that folks want to use other experiences as a gauge also,it makes sense anyways.everyday is a little different even though for the most part I have a routine now.Just don't beat yourself up too much,it's just shaving after all.......well maybe not juuuust shaving cause everyday with a straight is like going to the barber and getting pampered heh heh and a 3 bladed monster can't ever live up to that standard as we all know. And anyway yer just speakin yer mind and that's fine too..so Happy New Year and many good shaves to you !

And maybe I'm just being arrogant at this point also...don't mean to be as I was new at this myself and was confused with millions of questions and still am now that I'm getting into the honing part..so I'm not exempt. Humble is good.

Hello, LinacMan:

Good show, sir.

The chin is difficult, yes, and trying to get a smooth shave over it often proves to be a battle of wits. It's like two armies facing one another, your blade and the stubble, and every day one wins and the other scratches.

Stay with it.

Regards,
Obie

Originally Posted by LinacMan

Inspecting my goatee before last night, I'd have sworn the hairs all grew from north to south - WRONG! Those suckers must be growing at 15 slightly different angles. I never knew my chin was so complicated! The crazy hair growth pattern coupled with the fact that my chin is fairly pointed and my jawline is relatively sharp, it made for an interesting shaving session. Through sheer will power and determination, in the end I had a nearly BBS shave, fortunately zero blood, and no razor burn. Ironically the one tiny spot that is not BBS was an easy spot to the right of midline just above the jaw line. The reason I missed it is because I was obsessing over the difficult area immediately above the jawline dead center and neglected to inspect my entire face fully before my final rinse.

My chin is very much like yours, and a pain in the ass to shave. Fortunately, I'm in the opposite boat in other respects. I don't have a goatee, and SWMBO is interested in seeing me with one.

Mark,

My philosophy is whatever peaks her interest in me. I'll shave it, grow it all back, grow parts of it back... Now as for the mustache, she's going to have to beg me to shave it, but who am I kidding. If she promises the right thing it'll come off in a heartbeat.

Greg

[QUOTE=markevens;616344and SWMBO is interested in seeing me with one. [/QUOTE]

Greg,

Yeah that chin is tricky. But it's not just the shape of the chin or the direction of the whisker growth. It's also the type of skin that you are shaving. The skin is different on the different areas of your face.

Here is a document that I found on the web about facial skin thicknesses. I was very interested in understanding why certain strokes will leave one area comfortable, and a different area razor burned. Skin thickness, nerve endings, gland content all make a difference in comfort/irritation factor during the shave.

David

Apology accepted. ;-) My entire face is like your chin, stubble growing in all different directions. And my stubble is thick and stiff as a wire brush so shaving is one heckuva challenge. There's a video here that someone posted a couple of years ago in which his first stroke is ATG without WTG first. He explained in the thread that his stubble is very soft so I imagine his learning curve from newbie to BBS shaves was much shorter than mine will be when I reach that goal.

Don't worry about it. Enjoy your new challenge and enjoy shaving. Most important; have fun!
Namaste,
Morty -_-

I use to think I knew a lot about which way my hairs grew, until I started straight shaving.

There is always something to learn.

Pabster

Morty,

My condolences on your face stubble Actually, in a warped kind of way I'm jealous. I've often cursed my sparse facial hair growth. I have American Indian ancestry, so my facial hair is relatively sparse and somewhat supple. I couldn't grow a full beard if my life depended upon it. Some of the cool styles of facial hair that I see other guys sporting are impossible for me to achieve. I guess I'd be willing to put up with all of my facial hair being as challenging as my chin to have the flexibility to wear whatever style I wished. Ah, yes, the grass is always greener...

Greg

Originally Posted by Morty

Apology accepted. ;-) My entire face is like your chin, stubble growing in all different directions. And my stubble is thick and stiff as a wire brush so shaving is one heckuva challenge.
Morty -_-

Hi Greg,
You are a true gentleman ...All of us, at some point or another, have had a nemesis to deal with...yours is the chin. Mine was the chin and the neck...For some time, I wouldn't even dare go ATG in any area. Now, believe it or not, I am more comfortable with the neck ATG than cheeks ATG (weird, I know).

Also, keep shaving that chin area (even though you dislike your looks without the goatee)...if your face is anything like mine, what you may notice is that your chin area (in your case) is probably more "raw" after a shave than your other facial regions...If so, this is probably because your skin is still "virgin" to the str8 around where your goatee was and has not "toughened" up as the rest of your face...keep at it and you'll quickly see a change.

Congratulation buddy .

Originally Posted by LinacMan

So... I've been straight shaving for about 2 months. With the help of Obie and others and my obvious innate straight shaving talent , it's been relatively smooth sailing so far.

To be quite frank, as I read through various posts over the past 2 months I wondered what all the fuss was about - the fretting over angles, passes, etc. Last night I joined reality. For the second time in my adult life I shaved of my goatee (the first time doesn't count as I did it with a safety). Wow! All I can say is that I'm glad I didn't attempt the chin on my first day out using a straight razor! There surely would have been blood involved.

Inspecting my goatee before last night, I'd have sworn the hairs all grew from north to south - WRONG! Those suckers must be growing at 15 slightly different angles. I never knew my chin was so complicated! The crazy hair growth pattern coupled with the fact that my chin is fairly pointed and my jawline is relatively sharp, it made for an interesting shaving session. Through sheer will power and determination, in the end I had a nearly BBS shave, fortunately zero blood, and no razor burn. Ironically the one tiny spot that is not BBS was an easy spot to the right of midline just above the jaw line. The reason I missed it is because I was obsessing over the difficult area immediately above the jawline dead center and neglected to inspect my entire face fully before my final rinse.

My initial plan was to shave the goat just once as SWMBO expressed an interest in seeing me without it, then let it grow back. However, last night my face "tossed the gauntlet", and I'm compelled to rise to the challenge. I guess my chin will remain bare at least until I've conquered this new territory. I don't like my looks without it, but SWMBO said she likes it so I'll not argue

I truly and humbly apologize for any unspoken thoughts of superiority over any of you who have been struggling with your own nemesis - chin or otherwise. Head low, tail between the legs...