Thread: Hello from Portland

Originally Posted by athair

I've read a lot of posts suggestion XTG be from ear to chin (assuming downward hair growth), why so consistently toward chin?

Personally I like to go from ear to chin for XTG on cheeks because I can "anchor" my other hand on my ear and use it to pull the cheek a little tighter. To each his own. YMMV

Originally Posted by athair

I've read a lot of posts suggestion XTG be from ear to chin (assuming downward hair growth), why so consistently toward chin?

Not that I have thought about it until now but, if you go from ear to chin and slip, the razor will fall off the front of your face, going the other way (which I do on the left) you have an ear to stop the razor.

I should have opened with welcome to the forum sorry. And my response above could be complete nonsense too.

Welcome Athair. You landed in the right place. The quality of help and the quality of attitude is hard to match. The honorable Razorfeld tells you right about the benefit of getting some face-time w/ experienced others. I'm no 'meister' of anything, but I do love helping guys fall in love w/ their shaves. If I can be of help, pls. let me know.

The whole ear removal potential actually makes the ear to chin theme make a lot of sense.

Originally Posted by athair

The whole ear removal potential actually makes the ear to chin theme make a lot of sense.

I don't think you would remove it, it would just be a bit "flappy".

Pinklather, Thank you for the offer. I'd love to get some advice in person at some point but I can't think of any time I'd be able to in the near future.

Originally Posted by athair

Pinklather, Thank you for the offer. I'd love to get some advice in person at some point but I can't think of any time I'd be able to in the near future.

Even an hour or two would help; teaching yourself is not necessarily easy. But even using email or PM to discuss what you have done will help immensely and could be done at work, during breaks of course.

The more I think about stropping the more I think I need to get some face to face help. I think I'm going to watch a lot of videos for now and start negotiations with my partner for a child free block of time long enough to actually meet with someone. (Pinklather, you may hear from me sometime)

Originally Posted by athair

The more I think about stropping the more I think I need to get some face to face help. I think I'm going to watch a lot of videos for now and start negotiations with my partner for a child free block of time long enough to actually meet with someone. (Pinklather, you may hear from me sometime)

I did teach myself, though I don't think my flip technique is great. However my stropping does seem to work. Afdavis and jimbo both have good stropping videos. Just take your time, most people say that stropping fast really is no more effective than stropping slowly. My strop is full of little nicks, all pretty much in the same area. It doesn't stop it working.
If you can do as you say I think it would be of immense benefit.

Originally Posted by athair

I think I'm going to watch a lot of videos for now (Pinklather, you may hear from me sometime)

That's the way to go athair! You will not only learn a great deal in a short time but will also have a very satisfying visit enjoying his company, his artisanal beard making and his HUGE parrot that he refers to as "that buzzard". He only call me 'honorable' because I listen to him (some of the time!). And take a razor and he will hone it with a memorable edge.