Thread: Almost a full shave

Well, I'm making progress with the straight razor. I'm getting comfortable with WTG and XTG with the side of the face and WTG along the neck. Today, I tackled the chin. It's my toughest growth. At first, the blade just stopped. So, I lathered up again and let it set. I got through it, but my skin is definitely irritated. I still can't get under the nose.

Those are typically the tougher areas for most of us to get. Just take your time and watch some videos of others and how they do it. If you can find a video of someone with similar shaped features/face it can help as well. So if you both have pronouced jaw line you see how they do it and try and apply some of the same angles and technique.

It all comes with time. You will hit some Aha moments where it becomes simple and clear and then move on to the next problem area.

Baby steps right? I was the same when I started DE but slowly got better as time went on.

Well, I got under the nose on Sunday, although I cut myself. I noticed that when I hit tough whiskers, I tend to shorten the stroke. Is that good or bad? When I hit resistance, I backed up and the blade bounced. It was like watching slow-mo as the blade bounced up and came down to kiss the skin leaving a little cut. Dang, these things are sharp.

Short strokes are good on tough whiskers. I use the buffing motion to advance into them, and also for my final pass over tough zones like around my chin. When you back up, don't lift the blade from your skin and keep it at your shaving angle--the spine lifted just one or two spinewidths off your face. That should help keep it from biting you again.

Were you shaving with, across, or against the grain when you got cut? I've never dared to go against the grain under my nose. I do a WTG and/or diagonal to WTG up there.

It was WTG.

I'm shaving with a 7/8 - it's a big blade. It's easy to use on the cheeks and neck, but tougher to handle on other areas. One thing that I noticed is that the handle has a lot of weight out there; not like my 5/8 razor. Sometimes the blade will twist in my fingers when I flip the handle around to get another angle. Could I just be using too big of a blade?

I've got a 6/8 coming in to compare handling.

Yeah, a big blade is hard to manuever under the nose. I can use a 6/8 under mine, but a 5/8 is easier still.

Originally Posted by roughkype

Yeah, a big blade is hard to manuever under the nose. I can use a 6/8 under mine, but a 5/8 is easier still.

+1

I have three 4/8 razors (Le Grelot, Heljestrand 24, & Strega) that seem to be made to get under the nose. I have a feeling they were used for subtle cleanup by men with moustaches. They are great. You can pick out a single hair with ease. I can use a 5/8 or 6/8 under the nose but it does take a little more care and effort.

Happy Shaving!

Larger razors can be used under the nose. I don't have any under 6/8 and have used razors up to 10/8 under the nose without a problem. The "coupe de maitre" technique begins with the razor perpendicular to the skin, so it doesn't matter how wide the razor is. This is a potentially dangerous technique and must be used with care and "no pressure", but it allows a larger blade to do quite well under the nose.