Shaving Around Goatee

I just wanted to get a little input about shaving around my goatee. As much as I LOVE shaving with a straight razor, the though-t has entered my mind to take it off, so I will have even more to shave. However I am a creature of "keeping things the same" (I have had the same job for 22 yrs, the same hair style for 35 yrs, etc...), so the goatee is likely to stay put.

I still have a lot to learn and am finding strokes that work for me daily. Here is my current technique with some of its successes and problems. I know a lot of this is personal preference and I have to find what works for me, but it never hurts to hear from those that have already "been here and done this" and then try what they have learned to see if it works for me. My first pass is all downward stroke except for a little patch on the right side of my neck that gets an upward stroke.

My issue comes when doing my doward stroke. As I come from my sideburn and work my way inward, when I get within an inch or so of my goatee, the heel of the razor starts to catch and pull on my goatee. I seem to only be able to shave with the toe or about the middle of the blade, so to get close to the goatee the heel gets into my hair and pulls.

What I do is get close enough so it doesnt get in there and then do a sideways stroke starting at the goatee line and going out toward my ear. I have thought of all kinds of crazy strokes (like going cross handed with the toe closest to the goatee line and then continuing the doward stroke, but being new I think better of trying any contorted cross-handed silliness.

Any input appreciated and thank you in advance. Sorry for the long post.

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Originally Posted by xdman09

I have thought of all kinds of crazy strokes (like going cross handed with the toe closest to the goatee line and then continuing the doward stroke, but being new I think better of trying any contorted cross-handed silliness.

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Your cross handed silliness is just what I was going to suggest. I'm guessing you're already shaving with both hands? Since you're still fairly new, now's the time to develop the new muscle memory with cross hand shaving. Just take it slow and really pay attention to your stroke, otherwise you'll be reaching for you styptic pencil in short order. Hope this helps and keep us posted.

Yeah I shave with both hands, but I'm a little unsure about that move, so I'll wait untill I have some confidence in trying it. I do on my second pass cross over and do a sideways stroke from my ear to my goatee line with the toe pointing up. The left hand is feeling more natural all the time, so I may give it a try in time. Thank you.

When doing the sides of the goatee I use the heel of the razor to catch the hair I want and it prevents the rest of the razor from catching in the goatee itself.

For a clean up and straightening the edges of the goatee, I usually take the full length of the edge and line up with the side of the goatee and do a short stroke towards the ear.

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Originally Posted by xdman09

What I do is get close enough so it doesnt get in there and then do a sideways stroke starting at the goatee line and going out toward my ear. I have thought of all kinds of crazy strokes (like going cross handed with the toe closest to the goatee line and then continuing the doward stroke, but being new I think better of trying any contorted cross-handed silliness.

Any input appreciated and thank you in advance. Sorry for the long post.

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I simply use my left hand to shave my right side along the line of the beard, then switch. You really have to get comfortable using both hands on either side. For instance, I was able to get a BBS shave all over but for two spots along both sides of my adams apple. The hair grows upward from the base of the neck toward the ear on an angle. The only way to angle the razor properly to catch these hairs ATG was to switch hands – left shaving the right, right shaving the left. Its awkward at first but you quickly get the hang of it.

First thing is it sounds to me like perhaps the heel end of the edge is not sharp enough? Perhaps I am misunderstanding what you mean.

If I use the heel against my goatee I just angle the razor outwards - the point of the blade off the face and an inch or so of the heel end against the skin. However, you can always do the same thing with the tip of the blade by changing hands - left hand on left side of the face, right hand on right.

I stretch the skin away from the goatee as well - pull the skin of your cheek toward the top of the ear so that the goatee actually moves and you will see what I mean. You get a cleaner line that way.

Finally, check out some of the videos in the videos section of the forum. There are a few in there of men with goatees and I even have one somewhere, although it was not intended as a goatee shaving tutorial. Those videos may give you some visual ideas on the best way for you to approach yours.

Good luck.

James.

I always use the heel to shave around my goatee. I do my sideburns and side of my face area first, then sort of sweep in towards the goatee, I stop when I feel the resistance of the blade up against the goatee rather than see it. I then use the heel to cut down around the outline of the goatee (chin area). I prefer razors with nice square heels for this.

I shaved it all off a while ago as I felt I needed to shave my entire face with a straight at least once! (it's all back now). My 'goatee' is three separate bits; moustache, soul patch and goatee; none joined to the other...

well the best way to shave a goatee is to lock it's head in a stanchion and cut it down with shears then dry shave it.

oh wait, that is how to shave a goat...

nevermind. :)

jim

I do pretty much the same as you except opposite; I go from my ear toward my goatee on my cheeks, right hand/left side - left hand/right side, I feel. This lets me get a nice straight line on the sides. I do the bottom of it upwards (ATG) in to the goatee. On that stroke I come up underneath the longer hair to the roots and I can feel when to stop, RH/LS - LH/RS. If I need to shape it I only need to do so on the bottom. In that case I use my brush to paint the hairs down to my skin. I can then put the edge of the razor on the hair and cut it at on a straight line. That stroke goes from my chin down towards the adams apple, RH/RS - LH/LS. My beard hair is straight as opposed to curly, that may make a difference. My razors are all straight edge as opposed to smiling as well.

Yeah, I just do the regular WTG and get in within a few mm's of the edges with the heel, then use the blade to shave into the goatee and go by feel as Carl has stated, then I do the standard ATG and come in within 1mm with the toe of the razor aling the sides. Underneath and on the curve to the sides are done by feel and that's good enough for me.


Mick

I have never watched a goatee shaving tutorial as you can tell by the following. I lay the razor over my goatee and shave to my sideburns. If I decide to go the other way I use my left hand on the right side. Sideburn to goatee. Along my jawline I go under my sideburn and turn going down my neck. A good transition. I have a harder time right handed going up on the right side of my neck using my right hand so I usually use the left. Whatever works for you but don't make it harder than it is.

Tim

Some good advice here so far, I've not much to add. For the record I currently wear a goatee (I guess you'd call it an oversized goatee), and have off and on for many years, so I do understand what it's like.

If the fancy has struck you I'd recommend shaving it off at least to see what it's like. You can always grow it back...

My hair on the sides of my goatee grows kind of down and out toward my ears, so my first pass has to be either down or out toward my ears, otherwise it is almost going Against The Grain and is not the most comfortable. Thanks for all the input everyone, it definately gives me some ideas.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

Some good advice here so far, I've not much to add. For the record I currently wear a goatee (I guess you'd call it an oversized goatee), and have off and on for many years, so I do understand what it's like.

If the fancy has struck you I'd recommend shaving it off at least to see what it's like. You can always grow it back...

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I have kind of a small chin and slight overbite which is magnified without the goatee, so I will probably keep it. However, at the rate I seem to be acquiring razors and seeing as how I have been tempted to try a morning shave and an evening shave just to get my straight fix in, you never can tell when the urge for more realestate to shave may overcome my reluctance to let go.

Or you could try shaving your head! A bald head with a goatee can look good. Some may even say "handsome" :p

James.

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Originally Posted by xdman09

I have kind of a small chin and slight overbite which is magnified without the goatee, so I will probably keep it. However, at the rate I seem to be acquiring razors and seeing as how I have been tempted to try a morning shave and an evening shave just to get my straight fix in, you never can tell when the urge for more realestate to shave may overcome my reluctance to let go.

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

Or you could try shaving your head! A bald head with a goatee can look good. Some may even say "handsome"

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You're own thoughts don't count as other peoples', James.... :p

It might be worth it just to see the look on my wife's face when I emerged from the bathroom with no hair. :rofl2:

That's the spirit!! :tu

James.

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Originally Posted by xdman09

I just wanted to get a little input about shaving around my goatee. As much as I LOVE shaving with a straight razor, the though-t has entered my mind to take it off, so I will have even more to shave. However I am a creature of "keeping things the same" (I have had the same job for 22 yrs, the same hair style for 35 yrs, etc...), so the goatee is likely to stay put.

I still have a lot to learn and am finding strokes that work for me daily. Here is my current technique with some of its successes and problems. I know a lot of this is personal preference and I have to find what works for me, but it never hurts to hear from those that have already "been here and done this" and then try what they have learned to see if it works for me. My first pass is all downward stroke except for a little patch on the right side of my neck that gets an upward stroke.

My issue comes when doing my doward stroke. As I come from my sideburn and work my way inward, when I get within an inch or so of my goatee, the heel of the razor starts to catch and pull on my goatee. I seem to only be able to shave with the toe or about the middle of the blade, so to get close to the goatee the heel gets into my hair and pulls.

What I do is get close enough so it doesnt get in there and then do a sideways stroke starting at the goatee line and going out toward my ear. I have thought of all kinds of crazy strokes (like going cross handed with the toe closest to the goatee line and then continuing the doward stroke, but being new I think better of trying any contorted cross-handed silliness.

Any input appreciated and thank you in advance. Sorry for the long post.

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hi xdman09, im sorry if this has been posted on this thread, but due to a little sickness i been able to havent read all the posts and im sure the experts here have great advice which i will read in a while since i have faced a similar problem when i started shaving with a shavette quite a few years back and hopefully they will be able to correct me too.

when doing the first pass with a straight (going north to south), i just leave a little bit of stubble around the goatee, and get rid of it in the second pass which i do from chin to side burns, it helps with accuracy and since my grain slants a little bit towards the sideburns (like / chin \), it is easier for me to do such a pass. also, since i shave daily with a straight, the stubble is not to inconvenient to do an initial XTG pass. well, i hope you get the message amidst all the blabber.

hope it gets easier for you and happy shaving!
hal.

Shaving around a goatee with a straight is easy. The length of your beard hair will dictate how you will need to approach 'cutting it in'. With longer beard hair you may bea able to get away with a straight down stroke to make the edges look clean. Short beard hair may require going in a better angle and get atg to get that nice crisp clean lines your hoping for. Good luck with that.

PS: i had a goatee for years and years, now i switch the facial hair up from a chin strap to a fu manchoo. the change is nice, some what unexpected and is a good way to 'change your look' with out changing your look. Getting rid of the goatee is just a matter of that, getting rid of it.... once you take that leap it opens a whole new world....... you'll see....

I don't have a goatee, but for the past year have had a full beard to trim around. I have used my straight almost daily for about 6 years. I think the general principle would be to get more comfortable shaving with both hands and then practice going wtg, xtg and atg using both hands. In a few weeks, you will develop your own technique that works for you, your face and your goatee. Everyone is going to do it a little differently so just get comfortable exploring how to do it on your own as often as you can. Remember, success will be ultimately measured in the number of shaves you do, not how many posts you read or write. -Scott

Everyone here has pretty much said it all IMO. Good thread. I just want to add that I have shaved with a short beard(no sideburns) a goatee in various configurations and with moustache connected and not connected. Shaving with facial hair is like a golfcourse.It's a challenge of rough and fairways.You are the skilled greenskeeper of your face ?.....:):w

That or the crazy sunstruck loon, hooning around the joint, doing burnouts on the green in a golf buggy :)


Mick

Point taken....true enough.

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Originally Posted by Nightblade

Everyone here has pretty much said it all IMO. Good thread. I just want to add that I have shaved with a short beard(no sideburns) a goatee in various configurations and with moustache connected and not connected. Shaving with facial hair is like a golfcourse.It's a challenge of rough and fairways.You are the skilled greenskeeper of your face ?.....:):w

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Be the razor......nunanananananaaaaaa
Sometimes it calls for the old Billy Baroo.

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Originally Posted by Nightblade

Shaving with facial hair is like a golfcourse.It's a challenge of rough and fairways.You are the skilled greenskeeper of your face ?.....:):w

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Do you mind if I make this my post sig?

I'm a little sad now! What was wrong wih what I said, that you didn't want to add it to your Sig line?! :p


Mick

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Originally Posted by Pyrateknight

Do you mind if I make this my post sig?

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Ha ha , sure,feel free.:)

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Originally Posted by MickR

I'm a little sad now! What was wrong wih what I said, that you didn't want to add it to your Sig line?! :p


Mick

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Sorry Mick. It just has a pizazz to it I like. You were a close second.

What about me? I can say something witty if you like, just give us a sec and I'll come up with something...

Actually, no, seems not.

I also sport a circular beard. As a barber doesn't use only one tool to cut ones hair; a shaver doesn't need to use only one razor to shave their face.
I use a straight for most of my face but for the area around my beard and mouth I use an old gold Schick Injectable. Finishes it right with out any problems.

I've been shaving with a straight for over a year and I have a goatee. What works for me is to get close to my goatee with a downward stroke and then I stretch my skin towards my ear and do a sideways stroke into my goatee, I found that I can keep the line straight by using this technique. I also switch hands for each side, and use my right hand for the left side of my face and left hand for the right side. For some reason that portion of my face ends up with the smoothest shave.

I have a full goatee all connected. I shave rh/rs lh/ls. I take my free hand and for my right side I take my left hand moving goatee tightly left and use the heel (as said by carl) to cut the line then another pass with the razor more flat (blade tip closer to face) and continue til flat. Has worked perfectly for me. My goatee hairs are fairly long 2 1/2" long. Hope it works for u aswell!

For mine, on the left side I shave from the direction of my left ear straight into the left edge of my goatee. I then buff around, and again into, the edge for touching up. On the right side, I start directly on the right side border of the goatee and shave towards my right ear. I start with the blade almost perpendicular to my face, press in a little towards the skin/ beard border, then shave to the right while flattening the blade out to about 30 degrees. I do all of this with my right hand. For underneath the chin I do essentially the same as the right side above starting at the border shaving towards the Adams Apple, and then come back into the beard from the Adams Apple.