Thread: Shaving the Chin

I'm still new to straight razor shaving so I'm no expert. For me (so far) the key is very short strokes around the chin (and jawbone for that matter). Anywhere there are rapid changes needed in the razor to skin angle. On areas like the cheek where my face can be made to be flat I can do longer strokes if I want to. Keeping a consistent angle to my skin with the razor as I round the chin is almost impossible for me. So I watch to see that I like the angle of the razor then do a very short stroke. Then I adjust the angle of the razor and do another very short stroke. The cheeks by comparison can be done with long strokes. My chin always needs a second pass it seems. By shaving my chin/neck area first I can then relather everything and do one pass over the entire face. Of course that means a second pass over the chin and neck under the chin where my beard is the thickest. I hope that made sense.

Jack

The chin was my hardest area to master. I think we all differ in beard growth so it is easy for some. I can cut my chin easily, I really have to be gentle and use a scrubbing type stroke

If we were on tv we wouldn't need to worry about chins, necks or any other specific spot. If we were on tv we could lather our face then one stroke from an ear, down around chin and back up to the other ear and we would be done shaving, have a smooth shave and also have a pretty girl hanging on our arm. Anything less and I'm suspecting false advertising.

jetuxs,

I shave the chin in three passes, one with the grain and two across, using buffing strokes and strategic stretching.

Originally Posted by Obie

jetuxs,

I shave the chin in three passes, one with the grain and two across, using buffing strokes and strategic stretching.

+1 on your technique, that's what works for me also

Originally Posted by Obie

jetuxs,

I shave the chin in three passes, one with the grain and two across, using buffing strokes and strategic stretching.

Originally Posted by cubancigar2000

+1 on your technique, that's what works for me also

Are there any good videos showing stretching the face in different places and/or directions? I pull my cheek up to get the skin on and just under my jawbone up on the front of my face on a flatter surface. That's all the stretching I do with my fingers. Any other stretching is just using my facial muscles. Lots of people have said it's pretty important or even essential.

Jack,

Yes, stretching is essential to a good and safe shave. Since faces are different, and different skins, too, there is no specific pattern for stretching. Each shaver will have to create his own pattern.

I have viewed many shaving videos and found most to be worthless, and some improper for newbies. Lynn has several excellent shaving videos. So does Geo Fatboy. Shaving the chin is included in these videos, but I have never seen a video dedicated to shaving the chin.

Originally Posted by Obie

Jack,

Yes, stretching is essential to a good and safe shave. Since faces are different, and different skins, too, there is no specific pattern for stretching. Each shaver will have to create his own pattern.

I have viewed many shaving videos and found most to be worthless, and some improper for newbies. Lynn has several excellent shaving videos. So does Geo Fatboy. Shaving the chin is included in these videos, but I have never seen a video dedicated to shaving the chin.

Most of shaving with more attention to detail seems to be face specific. In addition to being face specific my face seems to have a couple of differences between my right and left side. I trained my left hand to shave the left side. So both sides should be able to be shaved with the same stroke direction. There are still spots that are accessed best using different razor positions or something depending on which side I'm working on. I'm going to try different stretching techniques for my chin. My chin also seems to jump out in front of the razor asking for a nick.

The chin was my last hurdle to a great shave. It took me a few months to really get it down.

I push the skin on the side of my face up and backwards starting at a point roughly below the outside of my eye and level with the top of my earlobe. I then push my jaw towards the oposite side of my face using my jaw muscle, then i generally shave diagonally downwards from the corner of my mouth.
I also use my lip muscles to help with the stretch at different points.
I sometimes will move my chin subtley during the pass to alter its relative angle too.