Thread: New shaver trouble

Yes I mean defined, and I too have noticed that they have more mass on their chins than I.That's a good idea to use the heel, because I find that I cut myself when using either the edge or the point of the blade. Thank you for the input, some very good ideas escott. I got a much closer and better shave using everyone else's tips, but accidentally went overboard and ended up giving myself a nice little cut on my chin lol. Well next time I'll try it with the toe and see what happens.

I am no expert (only 4 shaves in) but I want to share whats working for me. my grip on the razor was to tight and stiff. I was scraping the blade over the contours of my face. razor burn. I eased up on that death grip and relaxed and let the razor do its thing. closer shave and no burn now. good luck.

I have the same 'problem' i.e. NOT a Charlie Brown face that 'melds' with my neck (not that there's anything wrong with that :-). I found lately that a scything stroke is very effective in that area; it allows me to shave with one pass; yet do a ATG pass on the jawline and just above the jawline. That video is classic, but I could never emulate it at this stage (9 weeks in). Also, he uses different hands that I (I use RH for right side, LH for left). I have a razor with a spike point (apparently not good for beginners but I'm sticking with it), so find the heel invaluable for cutting in around my goatee, moustache and the hair under my bottom lip. Try scything at the jaw line, pulling the skin up; or course, I think you'll find it helpful...

BTW, +1 on the overlapping stroke, when I started I was doing long strokes, overlapping is the way to go. Don't overdo it though, too many overlapping strokes may also lead to taking too much skin off, 'cause shaving with a straight razor DOES remove skin; unlike a disposable where the blades sit ABOVE the skin and 'pull' the hairs out (or so I'm told)...

I also have a very defined jawline, neck, chin and I too have noticed that a lot of the shavers in videos on YouTube have soft, rounded or baby faces that in my opinion (although I could be wrong) would make for an easier shave. I try and poke my tongue out inside my mouth in various places where I can to make my unrounded face become flat. Also as a beginner I try and stretch the skin up over areas like my jawline but my fingers and face are that darn soapy and slippery I have great trouble performing this even when I try and wipe the suds away, so I scrape the razor along my jawline towards my ears and then back towards my chin which works quite well.

I'm glad you made this post because it is a good reminder for me to slow down and use short strokes. I was running way early this morning and for whatever reason I rushed my shave this morning. The result? Three small nicks and I can still feel some stubble in spots; I still had a decent shave, however, I have done better in my previous shaves using slow and short strokes.

Time for me to slow down and smell the lather.