Thread: Need suggestions- chin burns in 2 spots

I've gotten very good shaves the last 2 weeks or so and have found a routine that works quite well. I'm regularly getting very smooth and comfortable shaves. I have only 2 spots on my chin that get razor burn no matter what angle I use or how light the pressure.

They're right on the jawline and if you were to take your thumb and index finger, place them on the jawline of the chin directly underneath the corners of the mouth, that'd be where I'm having trouble. It's the only spot to suffer any burn on my entire face now.

I'm not quite sure how to eliminate/reduce this. I was thinking maybe a touch up on my chromium oxide bench hone just to smooth things out. Another thought was to try and stretch the skin up over the jawline but that is a tough area to do that in.

I feel my razor is sharp since the rest of the face goes well (including the mustache area) and I can use very light pressure and get close shaves.

Open to any suggestions.

Those areas contain the stiffest whiskers for many men, including myself. You may need to avoid going directly against the grain there, and just do an extra cross-grain pass in a different direction, or maybe do an angling-against-the-grain pass. Whatever you do make sure your blade is angled a bit.

Also, you may want to try shaving that part of your face with the heel of the blade instead of the middle or tip. Since the heel frequently sees less use than the rest of the blade it may be a bit sharper than the other areas.

Originally Posted by mparker762

Those areas contain the stiffest whiskers for many men, including myself. You may need to avoid going directly against the grain there, and just do an extra cross-grain pass in a different direction, or maybe do an angling-against-the-grain pass. Whatever you do make sure your blade is angled a bit.

Also, you may want to try shaving that part of your face with the heel of the blade instead of the middle or tip. Since the heel frequently sees less use than the rest of the blade it may be a bit sharper than the other areas.

Good advice, I hadn't thought of doing an extra XTG pass. Thanks MParker!

It might just be my face, but I've found I can stretch that part of the skin into a more shaveable position by diagonally stretching the skin at the corner of the mouth up and toward the top of the ear. Kind of makes your cheek bulge up near your eye.

Combining that with mparker's X grain advice could work... or not...

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

It might just be my face, but I've found I can stretch that part of the skin into a more shaveable position by diagonally stretching the skin at the corner of the mouth up and toward the top of the ear. Kind of makes your cheek bulge up near your eye.
..

although new to the pleasure of a straight razor, that is exactly what I do - it pulls the difficult area up alongside the mouth so it's easier to reach.

my diifcult areas are in the same spot under the chin on either side of the mouth and the left lower neck - being right handed it's a contortionists nightmare to get the angle right

Originally Posted by Jimbo

It might just be my face, but I've found I can stretch that part of the skin into a more shaveable position by diagonally stretching the skin at the corner of the mouth up and toward the top of the ear. Kind of makes your cheek bulge up near your eye.

Combining that with mparker's X grain advice could work... or not...

James.

That's very similar to what I had been thinking about. I'll give it a go next shave and see what happens. I think you're right in combining it with mparker's X grain advice.

Thanks

I'd suggest lots of stretching and very little pressure. It's a hassle for my chin so I only do this when I want it extra-clean.

Hey guys, I just wanted to say thanks for the suggestions. This morning I stretched my skin above the jawline as suggested and also did a couple XTGs instead of an ATG (keeping the blade angled to the hair). Went great - not a hint of razor burn anywhere

Good job. Nice when it come together right.

Originally Posted by RichZ

Good job. Nice when it come together right.

Sure is, still a lot to improve on in terms of technique (stropping, honing and shaving) but improvements are coming now and it's been really enjoyable for the last three weeks or so.