Thread: Face stretching, not just for the wrinkly mugs.

Evening gents. Even though all the video's and FAQ's and senior members on here all extol the value of proper face stretching while shaving, I never did it much.
I guess part of me figured grimacing and sticking out my chin were enough as I have fairly taut skin still.
Well, tonight I was using a #14, wider blade, and I thought, no, I need a bit more control tonight.
So I held my sideburns for the WTG and my neck for the ATG passes.
Sometimes, prior to tonight's shave, the razor would skip a bit on my up strokes, almost wrinkling the skin a bit on the way up. Didn't want that to happen with a new razor. Does not happen when you face stretch at all.
The shave was much closer, the alum lit my face up post shave and I was really BBS in both directions..
So I guess this is just to share my own stubbornness, and delayed break through in wet shaving.
Mentors and mod's, thank you for being clear about the value of it. Wish I thought that was as important as all the other aspects of this way of shaving when I started. It is.
Always learning.
Thanks.

If I don't stretch my skin, I'm sure to get nicks. I do it religiously with a straight and a DE, and I'd probably do it if I had a cartridge now too.

No matter which razor I use, I always stretch the skin..... If not stretched or "tight".... That blade will jump or wrinkle my skin as you said. I have a narrow face/ skinny face. Puffing my cheeks out and making some of the most God awful expressions...... Which I'm sure we all do.

I agree with the above posts.

If I don't properly stretch the blade will bite.

You cannot over value stretching the skin. Glad you found this valuable tool in your journey! I don't have my skin banjo tight, just kind of hold so it doesn't move and bunch up. If I hold it tight it gives some irritation, but of course YMMV, happy shaving!

Yes it is an eye opener, plus you better get used to it as you get older the skin ain't going to stay as tight as it once did. Tc

Thanks for the feedback and observations from your own experiences gents.
I was lucky in avoiding cuts with my non stretching ways. It really is, for me, the last part of the straight shave equation. Woke up, still smooth faced, and still a little sting from the morning Pinaud. I think I will lighten up the stoke on the ATG in conjunction with stretching.
I almost posted this in the beginners thread, but thought here was better. It's something I should have done from the beginning. And yes, we aren't getting any less wrinkly with age..
Cheers.

What you need is that alien face stretching machine from that Star Trek Movie. It should make shaving a snap.Just watch the setting.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

What you need is that alien face stretching machine from that Star Trek Movie. It should make shaving a snap.Just watch the setting.

You just watch and Gillette will market one with a single setting then in a few years one with 5 settings then in a few more 10 etc

I do believe that Obie is the only one amongst us older crowd who doesn't need to do this - it's all down to his Hollywood face apparently.