A couple of problems with a straight

I've been shaving with a straight for just a couple of months now, and I have to say that I really enjoy the quality of the shave I'm getting, especially in the under the chin 'jowl' area. I do still have a couple of problem areas though, so I thought I'd ask for some tips.

My left hand dexterity doesn't seem to be improving, and I'm having a lot of trouble getting a good shave on my left side. My first pass (downward) is usually the best, but an upward pass is almost unthinkable due to lack of coordination with that hand. Also, my straight is a spike, so getting close to my ear on this side can be a bit ... disturbing. Some touchup with a DE is usually necessary on this side. I end up with a great smooth shave, but I feel like I'm cheating.

Problem number two, the tip of the chin. For everyday shaves I sometimes end up missing just little spots along the chin line that I need to touch up. For shaves when I might have missed a day or two and my beard is thicker, it makes it harder to start the stroke because I don't want to force it and lose my chin.

I don't have an answer, but rather a related question. I am even newer to straight shaving, and have been doing okay. However, I am not using my left hand - not sure I trust myself with something sharp in my "off hand." Is this absolutely necessary in order to get a good shave. I seem to be doing alright the way I am going about it, but I thought I'd ask.

I guess I'm in the "me too" club. I've been shaving with a feather for about 2 weeks now and I'll do a few swipes with my left hand (mainly the first couple of downward passes on my left cheek area), then switch to my right hand for the finer work. Mainly I use my right hand for the entire shave on both sides (2 passes, not doing 3 passes yet).

Will I be excommunicated?

-- Gary F.

There is no problem at all using only one hand if you'd like. Its your face, you do what you want. The benefits of using both hands are long and distinguished but that doesn't mean much. There should be a few spots that are hard to get with your strong hand only on the off side, but with some light creative stroke design will allow you to get every last whisker. I'm not an advocate of against the grain passes on your cheeks, so I'm either no help or I'll become your new wisdom, but the straights shaves close enough with an across the grain pass as long as I angle the stroke toward my chin. Thats plenty close for me. Now, on my neck, I always need to go against the grain, but thats me. Maybe every guy is different.

For the chin line I have to plead, ignorance. Where is the 'chin line"? The only thing I can tell you about the chin area is that the razor should be sharp, that you shouldn't start the stroke on the chin if you can help it, and that I like to pull the skin and take short strokes. For under the jawbone I like to pull the skin up with the opposing hand and pull the skin above the jawbone and shave the new "cheek" area and then let the skin go back to the area under the jawbone.

For the ear and spike issue, I recommend running the tip of the spike sideways across the side of a hone a few passes so it isn't ultra sharp to cool its chances of nicking your ear.

I have to admit I'm not a big fan of "stroke" advice. I think you have to find your own way, but in the help files there are stroke diagrams in the barbers manual that may be helpful. I found that in under a month the strokes you need become obvious. You live with the quality of the shave all day, and have plenty of time to think about what works and what doesn't.

For me its an upward stroke on the neck and lower lip, everywhere else is pretty unimportant.

The first two times I used only my right hand but had a really hard time figuring out how to see around my arm, so was convinced by some of the experienced members here to just start using my left hand. Keep in mind that I am pretty uncoordinated with my left hand. Still, I think it was a good decision. I have maybe 8-10 shaves under my belt, and while my left hand is still a little shaky compared to my right, I have not been cutting myself any more with it.

Infact, I cut my ear like SharkHat has talking about with my right hand the second time I shaved. I could see it unfold, but couldn't stop it. I saw it hit my ear lobe, but felt nothing...I was just staring at the mirror like :eek: waiting for the blood. It did bleed for a while, but it wasn't all that bad in the end. No scar or anything.

Right now, I only use my left hand for 2-3 strokes on and around my left cheek (only with and across the grain). Other than this spot, I can use my right hand and still see what I'm doing.

As for my chin line, I usually stretch the skin here my contorting my face...holding my mouth open and dropping my chin, etc. This at least helps, but doesn't eliminate the need for me to do some other stretching with my hands.

I have not been shaving even as long as SharkHat, so I'm not sure how much weight you should give my techniques. However, this has been my experience thus far.

Most guys are the same I think. the off hand isn't completely comfortable and it only gets used for a few key strokes. In general, I think it's a good idea to use that off hand for those key strokes.

Having said that. those key strokes don't really exist for me so I don't even bother any more. My determination to get good with my off hand just kept leaving red zebra stripes on the left side of my jaw. On nick a few weeks ago and I was done with all that. i looked for the strokes that I benefitted from using the off hand and came up with one and that only if I haven't shaved in a few days.

Bill, however, gave himself a nasty cut on the neck, right on his jugular(thankfully not deep enough) bu NOT using his off hand. Luckily, I don't have any whiskers growing in that area myself. Does make me think long and hard about whether a few more zebra stripes are wirth getting back on the off hand horse.

X

It is difficult to shave well using one hand but it can be done...As you get more comfortable with shaving, you will become innovative in finding ways to hold your razor to get a close shave...when experimenting make sure you hold the razor with light pressure and stretch your skin tightly...practicing both of these actions will greatly reduce the chance of bleeding to death...An easy way to get used to shaving with the other hand is to practice with something dull like a comb or letter opener...hold it like a razor...when you start shaving with other hand stretch & lite pressure along with a narrow angle of shaving against your face till confidence and comfort level increases...remember we all have been there

I think most will agree that spike razors are a more advanced type of razor and not recommended for someone starting out. As you learning to do this thing you have enough to be concerned about without worrying where that spike tip is in relation to your face all the time. I agree if your going to use one as a starter grind down the spike edge a tad so its rounded off.

As far as one or two handed shaving goes its a matter of your own style and what you can do and gives you the result you want. Us southpaws are lucky in that living in a righthanded world makes us more ambidexterous so for me I can switch off pretty much when ever I want but even so I won't switch off doing my neck against the grain its strictly my left hand all the time.

Can I just ask, is there are use for the spike apart from apart from keeping yourself on your toes? I'm sitting here at work shaving in my head trying to work out if I'd need to get into any areas with it, and I can't think of any. :shrug:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by drsch3

Can I just ask, is there are use for the spike apart from apart from keeping yourself on your toes?

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I love the spike. Was my first shave and many since. Gets right up under the nostril on the sideways pass.

X

spike or no spike doens't really matter to me... as long as the razor is sharp I'll get there.

I find the spike does in fact help me get the mustache area pretty easily. The only time it concerns me is near my left ear when I'm using my left hand.

I started using my "off" hand (left) in just some comfortable areas: sideburn, cheek. Then I "branched out" gradually, until now I use my left hand for the entire left side.

The reason I like using both hands is, it reduces the number of cross-hand maneuvers I have to make when stretching the skin. I don't like to be waving the blade back and forth across my other wrist all the time. By using both hands, I can keep the skin-stretching arm up and over my head or forehead most of the time.

That said, I've changed my routine two or three times in eight weeks, and probably will again. I'd like to pay a genetic engineer to grow me a third arm so that I could finally get under the chin properly.

Deepweeds

Well, i must say you guys are either more dextrous or braver than i with your off hand. I have been shaving off and on with a straight for the last 2 years or so. I have yet to be able to convince myself to use my left hand. I do contort a bit and a couple areas i shave blind but still manage to get a good shave. Maybe i will practice on a balloon first with my left before trying it on my face. :hmmm:


Jmy. Ellis