A most humble apology...

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...

That's funny! I recently shaved my mustache, I have had it for over 30 years, I had every intention of growing it back once I learned the nuances of the upper lip, but now I can't seem to leave the lip alone long enough to let it grow back.

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

Quote:

---

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. :)

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

Quote:

---

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 -_-

---

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]

Kelly,

I'm even more attached to my mustache than my goatee. I think I look respectable without the goatee but look "wet behind the ears" without the mustache. Although I'm 50 years old, the last time I shaved the stache strangers thought I was about 25 years old. Some may find that desirable, but as a doctor, with age comes respect.

I figure I'll shave the stache when I'm 75 - instant youth:).

Greg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

That's funny! I recently shaved my mustache, I have had it for over 30 years, I had every intention of growing it back once I learned the nuances of the upper lip, but now I can't seem to leave the lip alone long enough to let it grow back.

---

I have a similar jawline and chin, but with one addition: a chin dimple. You want to talk about a pain, this is it. Haven't mangled myself yet but jeezul cramden is it tough.

As penance you must say 50 "Hail Lynn"s.

I used to think as you do. But, as time has progressed I have come to the realisation that, in fact, I am superior to everyone in every aspect. Humbly superior, of course, but still superior.

James.

James,

If you carefully read between the lines in my OP, you'll see that humility is not one of my strong suits. Even though I humbly begged forgiveness, I managed to let it "slip" out that the shave was still 98% BBS. There is a fine art to remaining superior yet appearing humble:w

Greg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimbo

As penance you must say 50 "Hail Lynn"s.

I used to think as you do. But, as time has progressed I have come to the realisation that, in fact, I am superior to everyone in every aspect. Humbly superior, of course, but still superior.

James.

---

I had a similar experience to yours. Having had a full beard for years (I got tired of looking like I was 12), I shaved it off at the end of this school year in order to indulge this latest hobby. In the last several years my beard had grown very thick and wiry, so gave my newbie skills and my Dovo Best all we could handle.

I recently got a Filarmonica DT 12 for Father's Day, and am slowly learning, but yeah, that chin area and upper lip is a bear, what with the constantly changing angles. What is helping with me is good prep, only lathering the part of the face I'm working on while I get up to speed, and periodically refreshing my edge on CrOx/linen, colored newsprint, and lots of stropping on my 3" latigo.

I am now considering going back to a goatee (because those are my trouble spots), which my wife doesn't like because she says it makes me look like a redneck.:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LinacMan

James,

If you carefully read between the lines in my OP, you'll see that humility is not one of my strong suits. Even though I humbly begged forgiveness, I managed to let it "slip" out that the shave was still 98% BBS. There is a fine art to remaining superior yet appearing humble:w

Greg

---

Nah, screw that! What's the point in being superior if nobody knows it? Humble is for wusses! lol!

James.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LinacMan

Kelly,

I'm even more attached to my mustache than my goatee. I think I look respectable without the goatee but look "wet behind the ears" without the mustache. Although I'm 50 years old, the last time I shaved the stache strangers thought I was about 25 years old. Some may find that desirable, but as a doctor, with age comes respect.

I figure I'll shave the stache when I'm 75 - instant youth:).

Greg

---

Im glad you look 25, my kids told me that I look like a perv! Ouch, that hurt!

:rofl2: Hurts the most coming from those you love! :rofl2:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

my kids told me that I look like a perv!

---

nirve9909 Is right the cleft chin has always been a problem no mater what I use to shave and that is why I seldom go with out the goatee. That and the small hollow between the collar bones always gives me trouble to.

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 :beer1:.

Quote:

---

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...

---

Greg,

Not to worry about looking young. I shaved my beard that I had worn almost 20 years and everyone complimented me for losing 10-12 yeas younger. I'll take it cause my beard was almost all white and that brought me here to SRP and Str8s.

Not a bad deal actually.

Lu

Scout,

Remind your wife that in the South, sporting a goatee means that your just trying to "fit in". Plus, it will keep the glare of the sun off of your chin when you fly-fish so you won't spook the trout:)

Greg

BTW, I think it's cool you're teaching your sons to wet shave and your oldest to use a straight. Lynn muted a straight to butter knife dullness so my 12 year old can practice on his peach fuzz. (See http://straightrazorpalace.com/shave...tml#post609069)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

I am now considering going back to a goatee (because those are my trouble spots), which my wife doesn't like because she says it makes me look like a redneck.:)

---

So this morning went better in some ways, worse in others. Because larger areas of my face are now "exposed", I can parse my face up into different areas than I have in the past. In some areas I can use a greater length of the blade. That's the "better" part. The "worse" part is that I had multiple "micro-nicks" (i.e. no pain at all, and literally a tiny dot of blood), mainly to the left of my chin above the jawline. This region I shave with my dominant right hand. Although I'm not certain why this occurred it may be the result of being too aggressive in this area and pushing the blade a little.

Not that I'm in any hurry, but the chin has added 15 minutes to my shave routine. Until I get more comfortable with the chin, I'll need to get up a little bit earlier.

Greg,

My chin is a problem area as well. Don't despair. You'll get the hang of it.

As for the mustache...Every man has to draw the line somewhere. I've only shaved my mustache off twice in nearly sixty years of life on planet Earth; and one time it was an accident.

LinacMan-Thanks for the tip. Problem is, my wife tries hard not to acknowledge my somewhat country/redneck roots (which show their true colors when I get mad:mace:). And my boys just naturally took to wet-shaving: my 16-year old with his Dovo on his slowly-emerging beard, and my 12-year old with his great-Grandfather's old Gillettes on his peach-fuzz.:)He even made us a glazed-clay lather bowl in art, on the side of which he inscribed "Real men shave with a blade." That's my boy!

As for spooking trout, my 12-year old takes care of that for me (though he still occasionally outfishes me, especially on spin gear in warm water!).

Hopefully our boys will teach our grandsons to shave with str8'sinstead of whatever computerized, multi-blade, ultra expensive option they have then.

Monroe,

Okay, I'll bite. Tell me all about the accident:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jhenry

and one time it was an accident.

---

Scout,

I love the quote your son put on the lather bowl. I think SRP needs to have coffee mugs made with the SRP logo on one side and "Real men shave with a blade" on the other side.

Greg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

LinacMan-Thanks for the tip. Problem is, my wife tries hard not to acknowledge my somewhat country/redneck roots (which show their true colors when I get mad:mace:). And my boys just naturally took to wet-shaving: my 16-year old with his Dovo on his slowly-emerging beard, and my 12-year old with his great-Grandfather's old Gillettes on his peach-fuzz.:)He even made us a glazed-clay lather bowl in art, on the side of which he inscribed "Real men shave with a blade." That's my boy!

As for spooking trout, my 12-year old takes care of that for me (though he still occasionally outfishes me, especially on spin gear in warm water!).

Hopefully our boys will teach our grandsons to shave with str8'sinstead of whatever computerized, multi-blade, ultra expensive option they have then.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LinacMan

Monroe,

Okay, I'll bite. Tell me all about the accident:)

---

It happened a year ago in early June--before I converted to a DE and later to a straight razor.

I was using the trusty MACH 3, in a hurry, got distracted and in my haste removed about a third of my mustache on one side of my upper lip. Rather than take the time to even it up--and look like Adolph in the process--I decided to remove all of it.

My wife and daughter freaked out when they first saw me. Neither of them had ever seen me without a mustache. They thought a stranger had entered the house.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimbo

As penance you must say 50 "Hail Lynn"s.

I used to think as you do. But, as time has progressed I have come to the realisation that, in fact, I am superior to everyone in every aspect. Humbly superior, of course, but still superior.

James.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Nah, screw that! What's the point in being superior if nobody knows it? Humble is for wusses! lol!

James.

---

I'm just saying.:w

Since I've shaved off the goatee, I've noticed people at work trying to act as though they're not staring at me. I can tell they are thinking - what's different about him, but no one has figured it out. It's compounded by the fact that I recently started wearing contact lenses, so my looks have changed in the past few weeks.

Greg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jhenry

They thought a stranger had entered the house.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LinacMan

Since I've shaved off the goatee, I've noticed people at work trying to act as though they're not staring at me. I can tell they are thinking - what's different about him, but no one has figured it out. It's compounded by the fact that I recently started wearing contact lenses, so my looks have changed in the past few weeks.

Greg

---

I had the same thing happen to me, both at church and and at work. They may recognize you, but are somewhat hesitant or embarrassed to ask if you shaved off your goatee.

The inevitable question is lurking in the back of their minds...Why?

Quick update. Things have been getting better on the chin shaving, but I was still getting minor razor burn fairly often from obsessively going over the "tough" spots. That is, until this morning. I'd mentioned in an earlier post that hairs grow (as we say in the South) "every which way". That is true, but on the jaw line on either side of midline most of the hairs grow not north to south as I'd presumed, but from north to south and medial (middle) to lateral. This means that my ATG was not totally ATG. This morning I realized this and adjusted to really ATG. Voila, hairs cut with no razor burn.

I keep learning something every day...

Greg,

And that is how it goes. I am still finding minor changes to make myself.

David.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jimbo

As penance you must say 50 "Hail Lynn"s.

I used to think as you do. But, as time has progressed I have come to the realisation that, in fact, I am superior to everyone in every aspect. Humbly superior, of course, but still superior.

James.

---

And we thank you for this!:rolleyes:.....er...I mean:bow

OK Kelly,

Nearly a month ago you posted the statement below, and it's forever stuck in my head. Substitute "chin" for "lip" and here I sit rubbing my naked chin. Not sure whether to curse you or bless you;)

Greg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I had every intention of growing it back once I learned the nuances of the upper lip, but now I can't seem to leave the lip alone long enough to let it grow back.

---

OK gents,

I know this is an old thread, but felt it was the most appropriate place to put this post.

If you look further back in the post you'll see that I said it would take a lot to get me to shave off the stache. Actually that turned out to be untrue as yesterday I actually shaved it off on a whim. For some reason, I decided to not shave (gasp!) for over a week. My scraggly hairs on my cheeks were looking pretty scary, so yesterday I decided to shave including the goatee that I'd regrown. As I was lathering my face, I thought - what the heck - and lathered my stache. My Bob Allman custom plowed right through it like it wasn't there. I didn't try to get the upper lip BBS, but it looked good - rubbing my finger WTG was smooth but rubbing ATG definitely wasn't.

I'll have to say the upper lip is more challenging than the chin. This is the thickest portion of my facial hair (i.e. more hair's per sq in.) and I can now sympathize with guys who have this thick of a beard on their entire face.

This morning things went a little easier, although there were a couple of minor "micronicks" that oozed and one minor nick that forced me to use the styptic pencil for the first time since I've started straight shaving. I'm still a little tentative with the XTG trying to figure out what works best. The lateral aspects of the upper lips were BBS, and the rest were better than yesterday's.

I'm not sure how long I'll keep shaving it - like Kelly, I may have to keep shaving it until I somewhat master it. I'm not sure I like how I look without it - about half the people who comment like me without it, the other half say grow it back. We'll see...

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.