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Well just finished up my fifth SR shave. I think I am doing pretty well so far and getting better with every shave.
The only thing is I have a heck of a time seeing where to start at the side-burns and trimming around my goatee holding the razor the proper way.
Any and all suggestions will be most appreciated
congrats on shave number 5, im a beginner at this as well and oddly im numbering 5 shaves as well.
i also get the same viewing problems you mention its a combination of angle, position in the mirror i found, i also stumbled upon one of these mirrors at ikea
IKEA | Bedroom | Mirrors | FRÄCK | Mirror
it has a magnified mirror side to it which i found really helped focus on the normally obscure points
http://www.youtube.com?v=ScGPRsHSkaESometimes I have the same problem!
I have the exact same problem, to get the skin stretched under my jawline I look like I'm going to scratch my head like a monkey and then grab the skin at my jaw and its very difficult to see what I'm doing!
But after a year of shaving I haven't cut myself at these points... actually my razor cuts couldn't be anymore in plain view. maybe I should shave blindfolded...? :nono: or maybe not
Just curious -- are you using both your right and left hands? When I first started shaving with straights, I had the same problem until I started using my left hand as well as my right.Quote:
Originally Posted by RML
I use both hands, right hand ,right side, left hand left side. maybe use right hand for left side burn, left hand for right side?
Yeah, it's been a problem for me too. :thinking: I just discovered that if I jut my chin straight up toward the ceiling, that places my razor hand "above" the bridge of my nose and then I can look "down" past my nose at the mirror for a clear eye shot of those previously hidden sideburns. :tu
Cheers!
Ahhh... I'm trying that tonight. I knew i couldnt be the only one dealing with this!
I only experience this problem on the left side of my face :/ Somehow, on the right side, no problems at all. I think it has to do with how much I turn my head sideways and perhaps I'm not holding the razor with my left hand the same as I do with my right.
When I come down the right side on my face towards my goatee, I can't actually see the goatee (holding my razor in my right hand) so I shave by feel. That is, when I feel the goatee I stop. Then I use the heel of the razor to shave around the goatee; at that point I can see the heel and the goatee. It's the same with the left side, stop when I feel the goatee, use the heel of the razor to shave around the sides of the goatee.
I just mock shaved to see how I do that, and I too block sight of my goatee while shaving my cheek. I don't mind, I simply shave part of my goatee with the heel in that pass. Then again, I think you leave the goatee and I don't?
This is in another beginners thread, it's interesting how he starts out. Its also interesting how he uses his hands for the 'opposite' side of his face!
I've tried and tried to be able to use my left hand but it just doesn't work for me!
Now my son, when he took up the art at 17 could easily use both hands!
Please keep in mind that like everything else about this art, it's mostly personal preference. What works well for one may not work at all for someone else!!
I do agree to just stick to the with the grain until you have that pretty much mastered. When I first started out a few years ago, that's what i did, and then did my second pass the same as the first and got pretty good results. Do I still shave this way, No, but I did stick with it until I was comfortable and getting good results and then I moved to across the grain, and finally against the grain.
Stick with it, it'll come, it just takes time and patience!!:tu
Chimensch's Shaving Video - YouTube
i have quite a long goatee and i have difficulty trying to position my hands because of the sight issue . i have started to use the razor straight with the scales and cut inwards towards the side of my goatee holding the razor much more towards the hinge at the scales with the same hand as the side of my face. plus i use rubberband to "ponytail" the goatee. unorthodox maybe but, trying to use the heel and come downwards i have taken a sizable chunk from the side .