Hand stationary, move your head?

There are a few factors that led me to this discovery. First, this is NOT the motion I use for most of my face. ONLY the hard to shave/delicate areas get this treatment, but I've found it works for me. Basically, I have some very touchy areas on my face, to include a pronounced beauty mark on my upper lip and very deep divot where my bottom lip meets my chin. I've been a trumpet player for nearly 15 years, so my lips are very thick. I also, for various reasons, do not possess what one would call a steady hand. Especially when fine movements are required.

I've found that holding my razor steady and stationary (using my weak side hand as support) at a guillotine pass angle, bringing my face to the blade, and VERY gently turning my head against the blade produces MUCH better results than attempting the same motion around my mouth using motion with my hand. Anyone else found this? I can't say that it's a great idea, just that it works for me, and it DOES work (for me).

I can't say I've ever done it, but since every face is different, it stands to reason that everyone would have a bit of a different technique.

Looks like an interresting trick. Do you have essential tremor?
I sometime hold the scales with my other hand to keep the motion steady on tricky parts.

I use it all the time..with a SE or DE. I found that it does not work at all for me with a straight. Then..I haven't been using a straight for 60 years either.
If it works, it is not dumb!
~Richard

I can't say that I've done this either, but it almost sounds like you're replicating a scything stroke. Hard to tell by the description alone....

I had to go shave to see what I really do!

... and yes, me too move my head.

(Me too, I too?)

I trust the fine motor skills of my hand far more than those of my neck, so not for me :)
In fact, it soulds a little dangerous to me... Be careful please :)

Yes I do that too mostly for my chin.

Lemur- "I too" is the proper one

Occasionally I'd use two hands to help get a problem area when starting out.

Whatever works for you!

After reading this, I paid attention during my shave this morning.
I move both my hands and my head, as well as my jaw during the shave. For instance, as I shave my cheeks, I start with my head in a normal orientation, and hand with the razor at the sideburn. As the hand comes down toward the jaw, I tilt my head to the side.
When I shave the side of my chin, the hand is stationary and I move my jaw slightly and tense the cheek muscle, essentially tightening the skin and passing it under the razor.

I had never given it any thought before; I guess that's just how my technique developed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tchuko

Looks like an interresting trick. Do you have essential tremor?

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I do not. I had a service related severe cold weather injury to my hands a few years ago. It looks fine, but it never fully healed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

I can't say that I've done this either, but it almost sounds like you're replicating a scything stroke. Hard to tell by the description alone....

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Yes. I do short buffing type movements.

If you watch shave videos on YouTube, you'll see a few guys that do this, and they are quite skillful with it. I've also seen guys hold the razor still and contort their face, especially around the mouth and chin. Straight shaving is like playing an instrument...there are basic guidelines that you start out with, but in the end you will develop your own techniques. If it works for you and provides a comfortable shave, enjoy.