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I am interested in hearing from you guys about shaving the chin. I would like to hear your strategies, your little tips and tricks for a neat close shave on the chin...without nicks. I have watched every video and read every post on shaving the chin...and I am still occasionally nicking myself on my non-dominant hand side of my chin. I have no problem shaving every other part of my face...just my chin is driving me crazy!
I pull the skin tight and shave from my cheek toward the center of my chin. This east-west motion seems to work the best for me, provided the skin is TAUT. You'll find what works for you eventually, I got many nicks myself before I found what worked. Remember that everyone's chin bone is shaped differently.
First north to south. Then south to north. Finally from cheek to center of chin from both sides. On all passes I stretch the skin with fingers and tongue.
I just grew a goatee :rolleyes:
Couldn't help myself....
I shorten up my strokes on the chin and this helps to make the required angle adjustments. I also use the face/chin muscles to either point the chin or pull it up depending on the situation. Sometimes I re-lather and/or re-strop when it's chin time. I do believe I use an unconventional grip on the razor for a certain part of it as well.
It's all in the wrist, and the skin stretch and the short strokes and the curves require an ever changing razor roll to maintain a great angle. When in doubt use less angle and more stretching or holding. The chin tends to be real wiggly for me so it requires more holding.
I finish the chin with my DE...still. Been shaving with a DE for a long time, just recently started straight shaving but I still go easy on some areas and I'm still learning. I guess once you master the chin you've graduated from the str8 razor academy.
Never a good thing to rush anything and shaving should be relaxing. One step at a time and don't let yourself feel inferior to anyone because nobody was born taught. It's all trial and error and lots of patience...and a steady hand lol.
You may have already done this, but if not, now is a good time to properly map your beard growth using this nifty little app: Whiskarmap.
Then, think about why you are nicking yourself. There are two ways to do that: either you are moving the blade sideways (and that should be easy to fix), or you are keeping the blade at too steep an angle, and applying too much pressure.
It might help to have someone watch you shave, and make you aware of errors. The wife found that a rewarding pastime, albeit for the wrong reasons ("ha! more blood! haha!"...). ;)
I'm still working on my chin after a couple years. I got the wiggly chin skin that defies stretching. I have a horizontal old age crease across my chin under my lip that defies all razors. I'm getting there with all the great advice.
I am quite certain it is not the blade moving sideways...I am very attentive to that. It is more likely poor angle and too much pressure. And because it is on the side of my non-dominant hand I am inclined to think it is probably too much pressure. I just need to be more mindful of what that blade is doing at every moment!Quote:
Originally Posted by RobinK
...same reason I grew a moustache 40+ years ago...just couldn't get that upper lip. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by gflight
You beat me to it! For the chin issue, I would use a mirror to get reeeeaaaallllyy close and watch the blade as you shave a bit at a time. This is easier with really thin lather, where you can see the individual hairs. Also, try to think of cutting them "down" and not completely off as you shave. It has helped me develop pressure and stroke direction for ultra sensitive spots.Quote:
Originally Posted by gflight
When I first started with a straight and had just about the whole face down the chin was the last real estate to master. (I have a full mustache).
Each time I would start down the chin this critter on my left shoulder said full speed ahead just straight down and around your chin and down your neck. But this critter on my right shoulder said you do that and you gonna slice yer chin right off and you'll be enroute to the hospital with your chin in a baggy.
Well I just froze and then one day I said the hell with it and you know what. I just went straight down and around the chin and down the neck like it was nothing.
So the moral to the story is once you develop facility with the razor there ain't nothing you can't do if you have the courage.
I'm trying also, cut myself the last 2 times, I think left to right or right to left is better and yes a tight skin is a must.. I cut myself real good the other day(going too fast) using a super sharp Landers Frary & Clark. Its my sharpest one yet, I've trying use it as a bench mark for the rest of my razors, so far its been a trial.Quote:
Originally Posted by Whizbang
This morning I put some of your good advice into action and had a great shave...no nicks, cuts, abrasions...and most important no blood! I went slow, paid extra attention to angle and pressure and ensuring the lather was full and wet, worked fine!
Having the same problem with my chin, I will try some of the advice here when I shave this morning.
Another strategy that seems to work for the chin is to do a first pass with a DE or SE and then do a second pass on the chin with a SR. It is going through the copper wire thick chin stubble on the first pass that is so difficult. The first pass with the DE/SE covers that...then develop some muscle memory with a second pass with a SR. Seems to work fine. Eventually won't need the first pass with a DE/SE.Quote:
Originally Posted by supersets
I found out by chance that the "really thin lather" portion of Dinnermint's great advice is key. A tube of Neutrogena Men Sensitive Skin Shave cream fell out of my cabinet onto the floor, snapping off its plastic cap. I shave with soaps and creams, brush and straight. I only kept the Neutrogena around to provide extra glide for using gift soaps of dubious quality but sweet intention. My kind benefactors were thrilled that I tried the soap they found, and I was thrilled that the Neutrogena kept me from harsh shaves. Otherwise, it went unused... until gravity took over.Quote:
Originally Posted by dinnermint
Once the cap snapped, I could watch it dry out slowly or use it. So I used it for straight razor shaves. It became that "really thin lather" than Dinnermint mentions as an easy way to see what is happening with the chin. With the thin "whitewash" of Neutrogena Shave Cream, my callous disregard of the contour of the right side of my chin was exposed. My clumsy, non-dominant hand, under-the-jawline strokes were shown to be inconsistent frauds, explaining the stubble often left there. I found out exactly why I occasionally got nicks or redness in certain places. In only took ten or so shaves, but I became much, much better at my straight razor shaving, especially on my chin. This improvement lasted when I returned to the thick lathers of the heavenly soaps and creams I love. I remembered what I saw through the whitewash and applied it to my regular shaving.
Did the Neutrogena have the scent, loft, or luxurious feel of my regular soaps and creams? Well, no, not at all, but it was a hell of a lesson to use it.
If you try it, keep the hand you use to stretch the face out of the cream, or it will lose all traction when it touches the Neutrogena.
I like the sound of this and will try it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Whizbang
I don't shave daily anymore so I have heavy growth when I do shave.
Practicing with butter knifed GD has help develop some muscle memory etc. but the chin and a couple neck hollows still challenge me.
Pushing seventy my face is slowly sliding off my skull creating creases and crevices at angles that defying straight razors. Har! ;)
Let me know how this approach works for you. I have been getting good results so far.Quote:
Originally Posted by jmercer
This morning I changed things up a bit. I went through my usual prep, then lathered just my chin, shaved it with a SE and then lathered my whole face (including chin) and then shave all my face with a SR. Worked like a charm. I am going to do this for a week or so and then try it with just the SR.
This along with adding more water to my lather made all the difference to me. I also found that instead of taking a lot of short, choppy strokes if I relax a bit and follow the contour of my chin things work swimmingly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Whizbang
My chin is coming alone fine. I'm just taking my time. One thing I have learned from reading here and watching videos about SR shaving, is that time is of the essence. Going fast doesn't promote a good safe shave in my short experience.
I finally got around to reading this thread and I will share something that used to help me long ago when I was less adept with my straights.
For the chin, with all of its curves, I found that I got much better control by shaving the chin primarily with the heel end of the blade. Shortening up on the blade ended up reducing the torque on the blade during the shaving stroke because the contact point is closer to the fulcrum of the lever, which in this case is where your hand is holding the tang.
I no longer do this sort of choking up on the blade, but I did find it helpful years ago. I actually forgot that I used to do this until I read this thread.
This morning I tried using the heel of the blade as you mentioned in your post. It worked well...I think it is a matter of making it habit and using this approach over the longer term. The chin has always been a trouble spot for me even when I was DE or SE shaving. My skin on my chin just seems to be more prone to weepers. I just have to be extra careful and use a light touch. Good advice. Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Utopian