A newb's taut skin.....

Hello everyone,

I am relatively new to the world of straight shaving. I started out doing half my face WTG with great success. My next shave, I attempted the whole beard, with moderate success.

One thing I'm having an issue with is once I'm all lathered up, I taut the skin and take my first pass down the right cheek, and all is well, then when trying to taut the skin anywhere else, my face has shaving cream on it, causing a slippery surface and preventing me from pulling it taut again....

Kind of a minor problem, I know, but any guidance would be very much appreciated.

Thanks
tglenne

PS - I use Proraso soap, if that helps anyone....

Hi, sounds like you're off to a good start.

A couple of things to try with regards to stretching. 1) Try rubbing your fingers on the alum block if you have one. The downside to this is the alum tends to kill the lather. 2) This applies to the first option also. Shave a small area first to give you some lather free skin to stretch from.
It does take some time to get this shaving thing down pat but it is well worth the effort in the end.

Stretching the skin can be a problem. I keep a wash-cloth nearby and wipe my fingers on it and occasionally use it to wipe off the spot where I want to put my fingers to stretch the skin. It will all become second nature after a few more shaves.

Congratulations on a great start.

I've started using a washcloth on my face to stretch while shaving. I've also worked out ways to shave strategically to get areas clean so I can use those areas to get purchase to shave other areas more easily. Skin stretching is definitely the key to closer shaves.

2nd on the alum block. i use a sponge to wipe my blade off between strokes, and after i wipe it off, i dab my fingers on the off hand on it and then on the alum block. works like super glue.

Every time we have this topic come up about stretching the skin I always remember one of those Star Trek Movies where the bad guy has this alien skin stretching machine that eventually is used to kill one of the bad guys. You don't need anything as extreme as that and as usual muscle isn't the key it's knowing how to gently stretch the skin the right way as opposed to really stretching it. Everyone is different in what is required and you really have to learn to map out your face and neck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Every time we have this topic come up about stretching the skin I always remember one of those Star Trek Movies where the bad guy has this alien skin stretching machine that eventually is used to kill one of the bad guys...

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For sci-fi skin stretchers, I always think of Lady Cassandra from Dr Who.

http://straightrazors.me/str8pics/drwho/cassandra.jpg