Shaving the chin line

I am reasonably proficient at shaving most of my face after a couple of months with a straight razor, rarely cutting myself and getting a very nice shave most of the time. However, I really have trouble with the line coming out from the chin toward either ear - usually I have to finish this area with a my safety razor. Any tips on how to shave this area better? By the way, I have two razors both 5/8, a Dovo and GGG (from Shefield, England), both of which currently seem to be shave ready. Thanks. Rich Greenberg

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Originally Posted by rgsccr

I am reasonably proficient at shaving most of my face after a couple of months with a straight razor, rarely cutting myself and getting a very nice shave most of the time. However, I really have trouble with the line coming out from the chin toward either ear - usually I have to finish this area with a my safety razor. Any tips on how to shave this area better? By the way, I have two razors both 5/8, a Dovo and GGG (from Shefield, England), both of which currently seem to be shave ready. Thanks. Rich Greenberg

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If I understand your question, try this: go crosswise against the grain, and streeetch the skin. It's more of an E-W/W-E motion than N-S/S-N. Occasionally, you can even stretch the skin up above the jawline to where you're shaving flat what is normally a curved section of epidermis. It works for me, and I hope it'll work for you. If I didn't understand your question, and answered it wrongly, disregard everything I just said.:D

If you are having trouble with either the cross or against grain motion try going diagonal motion so you are covering the same area. I used to do this in the beginning, it helped me when my technique was not steady enough to keep from cutting myself. It also helps a lot for people who havent yet gotten good at stretching the skin properly. I still do this at times and it works wonders.

For me, this gets the hit in the finishing stages of the shave.

1. Open my jaw and perform facial yoga.
2. Stretch the sking from above on the cheek.
3. Perform an upward pass toward my stretching hand, all the while moving the stretching hand away from the razor's edge. :eek:

Been doing it that way for years so when I picked up the straight for the first time I just did it instinctively.

X

It's all in the hips ....




No seriously, it's all about stretching the skin and finding what works for you. Practice pulling the skin while dry to find a comfortable way for you get that patch past the jawline.

Thanks guys - all good suggestions. I'll try stretching the skin more.

I've also been at the straight for just a couple of months, but am lately getting very good results along the jawline.

I stretch it up from the cheek, pulling the target line into a flat area above the jawbone line (as Joe describes). I shave it as two chevrons: one pass goes outside-to-inside at an angle, the next inside-to-outside of an angle. For both passes, the blade is about parallel to the jawline: it's the stroke angle that changes. The motion is sort of 2 o'clock to 8 o'clock, and 10 o'clock to 4 o'clock. Been getting very smooth lately.

one of the things that I always need to remember on that area:

VERY LIGHT PRESSURE. It's the part of my face that get's a cut the easiest. Lately I've been putting almost NO pressure on the blade while letting it run over that area. That in combination with the above tips gets perfect results for me.

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Originally Posted by xman

...3. Perform an upward pass toward my stretching hand, all the while moving the stretching hand away from the razor's edge. :eek:

Been doing it that way for years so when I picked up the straight for the first time I just did it instinctively.

X

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Wow, that is scary! Typically, you get better results when the skin is stretched behind the edge of the razor as opposed to in front of it but everyone has their preference. As far as the jaw line, I wrap my arm around my head from above and stretch the skin upwards 'til that skin is now on my cheek and I do a downward pass. Then, when I do the sides of my neck, I pull down the skin at the base of my neck and jut my chin out. The jaw line skin is now at my neck and I do a downward pass again. Finally, for my second pass, I wrap my arm around my head from behind and stretch my ear back. Then I do an angled pass following the jawline from my ear to my chin. Works great for me!

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Originally Posted by hardline_42

Typically, you get better results when the skin is stretched behind the edge of the razor as opposed to in front of it ...

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The CLOSEST results are achieved by stretching from behind the growth of the grain because it stands the hairst up to their highest, regardless of which direction the edge is pointing. Since the grain on my cheek and jaw grows downward, for my final finishing pass, I get best results by stetching from above even though I am shaving in that direction. One achieves SAFEST results by stretching from behind the blade.

X

I'll agree with that Xman. You want the hairs to stand nice and tall, which is best achieved by the stretch being in the opposite direction of their growth. This will put your hand in front of the blade at times if you go this route. Fellas, I cannot stress enough, when using this method be damn careful or you'll slice a finger or your face should your grip slip. Dry fingers give the best traction, slow, easy, and no pressure.

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Originally Posted by xman

The CLOSEST results are achieved by stretching from behind the growth of the grain becasue it stands the hairst up to their highest, regardless of which direction the edge is pointing. Since the grain on my cheek and jaw grows downward, for my final finishing pass, I get best results by stetching from above even though I am shaving in that direction. One achieves SAFEST results by stretching from behind the blade.

X

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Close vs. safe :shrug: I guess it's all a matter of degree. The majority of the population would suggest that we're all nuts simply because we use a 'cut throat' razor...what could possibly be less safe? I know that in an earlier thread, X described his process of shaving his upper lip against the grain. Many immediately chimed in with the opinion that this seemed to be dangerous as a quick slip would remove your nose from your face. Rich later reported trying the technique and loving the results. I too am converted although I will admit to going VERY SLOWLY and am still VERY CAREFUL when I do this. However, I was this careful and this slow with my entire shave when I first started with a straight. As I become more comfortable with the technique and have more practice with it under my belt, I'm sure speed and confidence will build.

So, back to stretching in front of the blade...try it, but be careful with it until you have mastered the technique. After you try it, you may decide it's not for you; it may also become your standard approach to a second pass. You'll never know until you try. The great thing about this forum is that you likely would never have considered it unless X-man spoke up in the first place.

Viva la difference,
Ed

For doing Xman's technique, I have started wearing a washcloth-mitten on my stretching hand. Gives me a nice, slip-resistant grip and some protection for that hand. I don't want to end up posting one of those it-could-happen-to-you pics here!

Also, I only do the technique on the cheeks and sideburns...at least for now.

Along with the stretching (carefully), pay attention to the direction of hair growth. It may not be the same pattern on each side. For my pattern I need to go in both E-W directions as well as N-S and diagonally as well in that area. Everyone is a little different. You will get the hang of it.

Monte