Thread: Left side of chin still defeats me

I have been using a straight razor on and off for a number of years now. I am retired so I don't need to shave every day - once a week tends to be my frequency and I have very wirey stubble. I stopped using my straight for a while after I had heart surgery because I was on blood thinning medication and was worried about bleeding but I am off this now. I can get round more or less all of my face and neck except the left side of my chin. With the grain direction being different from the right side and having to use my left hand I just don't seem to be able to find a way. On the right side I pull the skin tight and draw the razor from the chin towards the ear. Shaving down from the front of the chin to the neck is also an operation which I have difficulty with and feel nervous about but this is less of a problem. Because I can't do everything with the straight I finish off with a safety razor but I would love to dispense with this last step. Any tips would be gratefully received.

Yes, the chin can be difficult. I only use my left hand to do the down word side burn stroke on my left side and my right for everything else. Have you tried it with your right hand? (which direction is the beard growth on you left (difficult)side?

This happens

My left chin takes more work than the right chin. Nature of the beast!

Re. "having to use my left hand": are you left-handed, or switching to your left for that side of your face?

If the latter, i.e. you're naturally right-handed, then I'd suggest just trying to use your right hand on that troublesome bit. I never did get around to learning to shave left-handed, and so I make use of a fair bit of contortion to get those tricky to reach spots. But it *is* totally doable with one hand. You just have to find which (admittedly weird at times) combination of reaching, stretching, and shaving works for you.

I'm naturally right-handed, and I am really glad I decided not to consider my off hand as an all but useless extremity. Thankfully, I no longer have to master advanced yoga moves in order to get a great shave. During the learning process, I do think I wound up with more cuts owing to my dominant hand. Go figure!

I'm a staunch believer in mind over matter.

Try some alternative grips. Perhaps something like a pencil or reverse hold will allow you to reach this area. I find that my angel of attack really gets effected by my beards direction. Really look for which way it goes and then practice strokes WTG using a butter knife find what is comfortable then switch to the razor. This for me helped a lot. I also have, very recently, found that a heavier blade with a different tip really made my control better. Perhaps another heavier razor with a less hollow grind will handle your wired beard better too.

I am a right handed shaver. In order to get some spots, I have to use the contortion method. Left side burn is not a down stroke but the ear is pulled back and a pass is made from the ear junction out toward the eye. It works well and leaves a very straight clean line. The chin takes an additional pass as it is an awkward spot. My problem mostly stems from my poor eye sight. Putting on my glasses to find out that I have a few renegade whiskers by my right ear or directly under my nose, seems to be my fate.

And just to piggyback on the above post, I think trying a heavier blade might be good too. The least it does is give you a good reason to buy a new razor. I used to shave with a full hollow Geneva, and then switched to a pair of Thiers Issard blades from AOS. I have totally fallen in love with my old Joe Eliott that Outback worked on. Heavier blade and sharp as can be. I enjoy it way better than the finer blades.

Originally Posted by MrZ

I am a right handed shaver. In order to get some spots, I have to use the contortion method. Left side burn is not a down stroke but the ear is pulled back and a pass is made from the ear junction out toward the eye. It works well and leaves a very straight clean line. The chin takes an additional pass as it is an awkward spot. My problem mostly stems from my poor eye sight. Putting on my glasses to find out that I have a few renegade whiskers by my right ear or directly under my nose, seems to be my fate.

And just to piggyback on the above post, I think trying a heavier blade might be good too. The least it does is give you a good reason to buy a new razor. I used to shave with a full hollow Geneva, and then switched to a pair of Thiers Issard blades from AOS. I have totally fallen in love with my old Joe Eliott that Outback worked on. Heavier blade and sharp as can be. I enjoy it way better than the finer blades.

Never turn down a chance for a new blade!

NigelW I have found that as I get older the directions of my facial hair has changed. So it has been necessary for me to use different grips in different directions In order to obtain a bbs smooth shave. In that regard I have discovered that I get a better result consistently with Japanese razors. I also get a great result with an old Tom Harrop Razor. I now prep before the shave. I've used different soaps and brushes. And I shave every two days. I'm pleased with my results and I encourage you to continue on your own journey to obtain perfection. Hell, I'm a banjo player and left handed. If I can do it there is no reason that you can't do it.

I’ve been doing this for many years but I still spend more time on my chin and the line around my lower lip that I do on the entire rest of my face.