Thread: Razor strokesIi

Strokes and number of long and short really depend on the part of my face. Cheeks basically 2, down and across and they are long strokes. Mustache area I can probably do in one except for the little hairs that hang off the nostrils. the rest mostly 2 or 2 and a touch here and there meaning around the chin area. My issue is the corners of the mouth and the soul patch area under the bottom lip. these buggers don't go easy for whatever reason and need multiple angle attacks. I chalk it up to skin being rather loose and no bone support and hair also being rather wonky for me in that area. I get there though but those spots usually piss me off.

I'm all over the place.
Long on my cheeks mainly, but I have to go with a medium stoke on for XTG due to some sinking cheek areas.
My neck has weird grain so it's a long stroke half way down and short stroke from bottom to half way up.
Around the lip/chin is very short using the heel. This area drives me nuts!!!

Granted my strokes are changing as my experience goes up.

The length of stroke varies for me, from day to day, from razor to razor and depending on which part of my face I am shaving. I let the feel of the shave dictate these things for me.

That is the beauty of this hobby, there is no one way to get it done. Modern razors are designed to be used in a certain way which may not work for everyone (they certainly don't for me) but straights can be used in ways that suit you and may not suit another.

For me any irritation that I used to get was down to pressure more than it was down to the length of stroke. If a long stroke feels uncomfortable, shorten it up. If you are getting good results with short strokes have a go at longer ones. I just change it up, if something works it stays in my routine, if not it is out.

I don't think that length of stroke matters except to the extent a razor needs to be cleaned of debris. Women usually shave with long strokes (legs). Men don't have long lengths.

Last winter in FL I got a shave from a young cuban barber. I told him I shave with a straight and I was curious in his stroke. The blade was diagonal. He said it cuts down on the irritation. His comment about how it is easier to push dirt when the blade is at an angle then horizontal made sense. The next day I tried it and felt so much better. Less resistance. Try it on your neck, it makes a big difference.

Originally Posted by BanjoTom

The trick, for me, is to shave the lather - not my skin. ... Few of us do this consistantly perfect.

These are a couple points I'm going to file away in my memory... and hopefully be able to recall later. Thanks!

Originally Posted by jkatzman

Last winter in FL I got a shave from a young cuban barber. I told him I shave with a straight and I was curious in his stroke. The blade was diagonal. He said it cuts down on the irritation. His comment about how it is easier to push dirt when the blade is at an angle then horizontal made sense. The next day I tried it and felt so much better. Less resistance.

I've seen that in some old barber manuals, i think of it as more of a slicing action instead of a chopping action.

In all things, shaving,honing & stropping, a longer stroke is prone to variability.

Don't get me wrong. Not saying to use a one inch stroke for stropping just to use whatever is consistently repeatable.

Everyone has already said it, but as someone who is just still learning after 3 years, I'll say it again...it's not the strokes, it's the pressure in combtnation with what your face contours allow. I use mostly short first strokes, then do a second pass with longer cleanup strokes.

But, as others have said, it's your blade, your face, and most importantly minimal pressure that let you know what works for you. There is no formula!