Thread: Chin area question- New member

New to the site and not an expert by far but been using a straight razor a few months. Luckily no stitches, I picked it up pretty quickly. I am using a Hart 5/8" with a round tip. I still have a hard time I guess in the chin area where another guy would have a goatee. I got the sides and neck pretty good but no matter what method I use, I constantly find on the chin it feels like it's ripping and it's uncomfortable and I wind up giving up and using a regular razor there. I used shave soap soap, a glide gel I found online and I use conditioner before I shave. I let my face heat up and hairs soften in hot water and shave in the shower. Any tips or ideas? If this is not the place to post this I apologize, just let me know where is.
Thanks,
-Bill

Hi Bill, welcome to SRP. For starters I'll move this to 'shaving with a straight razor' where more guys may see it and reply.

The knob of the chin is one of the most difficult areas to shave clean for a lot of guys, and I am one of them. One thing I'd advise is to take the thumb and forefinger of your stretching hand and form a V, or a U, and push up on the sides of your chin, above the knob, and get the area tight.

Short buffing strokes may work better, and a shallow angle, with the spine closer to the skin. You'll have to experiment with it. Other than that, AFAIK, the razor has to be good and sharp to get the chin and neck area comfortably and cleanly.

It just takes time,msomething your not doing right is more than likely the problem, sounds like your prep is good, let's knock out a couple more problems; stretching, it's very important,
Angle changes for different areas of your face, practice using less and then use a little more and find out the correct angle, now for the biggie, if you have used your razor for a few months and your stropping isn't up to par, then your probably dealing with a sub ar edge.

A sharp blade is required for the tougher areas like your chin. Who's honing for you?, was it ready when you got it? The last Hart I had in my hand with their edge wasn't ready to my standards. So you might want to see how your shave goes from a pro honing.

Also like Jimmy said, short buffing strokes work well on the chin using only the toe or heel, and laying the blade almost flat to start( depends on if the blade is right)
The stretching he mentioned us great advise, standing those hairs up really gets your blades cutting action going.

So look at some f these ideas and go forward. Tc

short buffing strokes helped me with that problem area. That and attacking from different directions. It definitely takes time to get used to all the angles of the chin and other curves. Don't give up.

Welcome to SRP!

I can't help with the chin but these guys have given you some great info.

Enjoy and have fun

Welcome to SRP.

I would never try to shave in the shower. Get out to a good mirror so can see what you are doing.

Agreed - shaving in the shower with a straight is a dangerous thing to do - you need to see what you're doing at least from a technique point of view and safety.

If you start to lose the grip and drop the razor, natural reaction is to try and grab it - never a good thing with a straight, will always end badly, needless to say if it lands open on your leg or feet, just a blood storm waiting to happen, and we'll just leave out the possibility of it taking anything off on it's way down to cut your legs or feet......

Missed that. Good point, straights and the shower, not a good thing. Besides the obvious it thins your lather out too bad, I shaved in the shower quite a bit when I was DE shaving, my lather never was too good. So no it's a bad idea. Tc

Fellow could step in the shower singing bass and if the razor slipped out out his hand come out singing soprano ..........

Shaving with a SR in the shower takes some balls...maybe even takes some off!