Thread: 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

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

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

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.