Thread: The Goatee Massacre

For the 11 months or so that I've been shaving with a straight razor, I've had a goatee and mustache. As my year anniversary for continuous straight razor use has approached, I had planned to cut off all that facial hair and see what shaving my lip and chin areas was like. Well, I jumped the gun this weekend, with pretty rough results!

I trimmed everything down with a clipper and my Friodur cut right through the remaining stubble, but boy! I had no idea how tricky these areas were. I got more cuts in one shave than I've gotten in the last six months total. I shaved again today, this time with my Ichihara (Tosuke-handled) razor and it was easier going, but still lots of razor burn.

I'm going to review posts here, watch Lynn's DVD again, and re-read Dr. Moss' great guide and hopefully get a handle (yuck, yuck) on shaving these areas. I will work on this for the next few weeks, but I am going back to my goatee, sooner rather than later. The goateee gives my middle-aged face back its chin and shaving just cheeks and neck is a snap. Kudos to the newcomers who start with clean-shaven and bravo to all of you who do this every day!

Dan

Yeah, not only are those areas a little tricky to get the hang of, but because your upper lip and chin has been wearing a fur coat for so long, those areas have forgotten what it's like to have a blade pass over them. As a result, they may be a little more sensitive for the first little while.

Definitely. Every year or two I decide that the goatee and moustache need to go. And every year or two I very quickly go to ground, become a recluse, and hide my face from public view until they grow back! I look like Uncle Fester without them...

Last time I did it I remember thinking how sensitive the skin under those areas is. White and pasty, sensitive as a newborn's, and very easy to get burn or irritation. Also, tiny little pimples in the chin crease for some reason.

Anyway, I feel your pain and understand completely the desire to get that Furbee tenanting the realestate under your nose as quickly as possible.

James.

It's funny you should bring the goatee up. I grew a beard almost 20 years ago when I was a younger guy but have been clean shaven ever since.

You mentioned how difficult it is to shave the chin/lip areas. Know matter what I do, or how good my technique gets it literally takes me 1-2 times as long to shave just my upper lip and chin area as it does all the rest of my face and neck!! I've often thought "man, if I could just do some quick passes on my cheeks and keep my neck clean.....

I've given serious thought to growing a goatee for the first time for those reasons but have not done it yet.

Don't get me wrong, one of the things I like most about straight razor shaving (I shave this way exclusively) is the ritual and the relaxed enjoyment it brings. Admittedly though, since I only shave that way and shave that way most every day, I'll have to say the lip and chin area, to really get them smooooooth with no irritation and the time it takes me to do that does at times become irksome and it's something if I'm pressed for time that I actually mildly dread.

Chris L

Originally Posted by Chrisl

Admittedly though, since I only shave that way and shave that way most every day, I'll have to say the lip and chin area, to really get them smooooooth with no irritation and the time it takes me to do that does at times become irksome and it's something if I'm pressed for time that I actually mildly dread.

Chris L

I get that way when I expect perfection. If I'm in a hurry though, I'm perfectly satisfied with one pass with the grain. It's just as presentable as it ever was before I used a straight and even though it isn't silky smooth, it still looks fine and feels fine with the grain

I thought it said Goatse Massacre, and I have no idea why I feel disappointed that it did not
I've been on the net for too long I think

Wow, it's great to hear I'm not unique in this! And I never thought about my skin being extra-sensitive after being under cover for so long. It's white, but only where there's not razor burn! Too bad I'm not blue-blooded, then the whole area would have a real patriotic theme!

Dan

My wife isn't a "fan" of my goatee, but since I've been exposed to the sun, any shave now would result in the sunless area goatee. I guess I'll just have to wait until fall to think about shaving my goatee off....

Well, Im not shaving mine off!

I agree the mouth area can be tough...but eventually it will get easier.