The infamous jawline

So I've been straight razor shaving for a few months now and I still haven't really learned the best way to shave my jaw line. The rest of my face I can get a very nice shave but on the jawline I can only get an "OK" shave. I have a pretty sharp jawline and that makes shaving it all the more difficult. Any tips and/or advice from gentlemen who experienced/experiencing the same or similar problems. Oh and in those little shallow ares around the esophagus are a bit problematic as well, any advice on those?

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Originally Posted by Nickayl

So I've been straight razor shaving for a few months now and I still haven't really learned the best way to shave my jaw line. The rest of my face I can get a very nice shave but on the jawline I can only get an "OK" shave. I have a pretty sharp jawline and that makes shaving it all the more difficult. Any tips and/or advice from gentlemen who experienced/experiencing the same or similar problems. Oh and in those little shallow ares around the esophagus are a bit problematic as well, any advice on those?

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Same for myself, lots of sharp angles, only advice I can give is stretching, for that area, I lean my head back, raise my chin, to either the left or right, depending on which side I'm shaving, and use my other hand to hold or pull down the skin at the bottom of my neck area.

That, and of course, practice...good luck, that's a tough area for sure.

Always was my Achilles heel, but have cured it with stretching and facial contortions, yanking the jaw the other way and changing direction of shaving. Only place I ever got a cut and got tired of it. This worked well for me!

As said above, in addition I will do a down pass on the cheek, grab the cheek and pull the jawline from beneath the jaw, up over the jaw once the cheek is cleaned of lather. Same coming up the other way. Tough spots shave more easily if you can stretch them flat IME.

Two things which have already been mentioned, so I'll just add something that it took me awhile to figure out. On the jawline when stretching, I shave about 2/3'rds of the way down my cheek then with alum tipped fingers, pull up which move the skin of the jawline up so you are shaving it above its resting place. Then what Sharptonn says is underreported: When going ATG if you do this in 2 directions in problem areas. This really helps in the hollows in the neck. 2 minutes behind JimmyHAD.....the reverse of his method.

I suppose, after reading everyone's responses, that the idea is to make things as flat and tight as you can manage and shave in a direction which will be effective and safe! Also, puffing air in your cheeks in combination with all above tightens things up for me. Looks silly! Good luck! :gl:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

As said above, in addition I will do a down pass on the cheek, grab the cheek and pull the jawline from beneath the jaw, up over the jaw once the cheek is cleaned of lather. Same coming up the other way. Tough spots shave more easily if you can stretch them flat IME.

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+1

As it's difficult to shave around tight curves, try to pull the skin to where it's flat (or make a face that flattens the skin in the particular area you want to shave).


B

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Also, puffing air in your cheeks in combination with all above tightens things up for me. Looks silly!

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I don't get that Tom, can you post a photo ? ......... :rofl2:

Thanks for the info so far I will certainly use it on my next shave!

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I don't get that Tom, can you post a photo ? ......... :rofl2:

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Problem is, you must shave quickly and take a breath. Otherwise, you get dizzy! :roflmao

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Problem is, you must shave quickly and take a breath. Otherwise, you get dizzy! :roflmao

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I think, I may be some kind of a Ninja Shaving Mutant (NSM): I can puff my face and breathe though my nose. :hmmm:



B.

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Originally Posted by beluga

I think, I may be some kind of a Ninja Shaving Mutant (NSM): I can puff my face and breathe though my nose. :hmmm:



B.

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Come to think of it, I suppose I can too? After all, I am still alive! :D

"I know not what I do!" My new sig!

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

As said above, in addition I will do a down pass on the cheek, grab the cheek and pull the jawline from beneath the jaw, up over the jaw once the cheek is cleaned of lather. Same coming up the other way. Tough spots shave more easily if you can stretch them flat IME.

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same approach that I use , except I found that going diagonal worked for me with this same stretch ,

Dizzy Gillespie would have been a great master of the straight razor if he had chosen to......circular breathing and he could inflate his whole head.

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Originally Posted by beluga

I think, I may be some kind of a Ninja Shaving Mutant (NSM): I can puff my face and breathe though my nose. :hmmm:



B.

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I have the feeling the OP is of the younger variety. As you age....well, as I age, I notice that I am more and more using Gumby techniques for shaving.....pinch an inch of face and pull it 4 inches away to flatten and shave it.

It is a learning curve for sure but you will master it. Lots of practice and skin pulling techniques will get it done ( of course these areas require a very good edge on the blade also) It took me months to master. I went through the pick up the DE because it is easier stage in that area but finally got it. Now I am learning all over again because I am using a Kamisori grind and have to learn the neck area with only one side of the blade