Thread: Chin area

Do you do any sort of stretching on your chin? I find that my chin is the most complex area to shave..also the area right under my chin...

I'm just learning my chin area. Lots of curves and direction changes. Yeah, it's a bit complex. I have learned that I am having to use different angles and positions to get it. The skin is tight enough, the whiskers are also tougher there too...

Like the rest of your face, the chin needs to be stretched, it also helps if you break the contours of your face(espeially the chin) down into small flat planes. This will mean a lot of short strokes sometimes seemingly hair by hair. Stretch the skin in a direction that enables you access to the whiskers.I hope this helps, also try biting the lower lip(lightly) to stretch the skin.

I don't stretch it like other areas with my fingers but just use those muscles to stretch it. Then I just go straight down the chin and around to the underside. It takes practice but works good. I used to go E-W and W-E straight across my chin but stopped that because for the added effort and possible irritation the quality of the shave wasn't really any better then just going N-S and S-N.

Grow a Goatee, then you don't have to shave your chin, plus it looks cool!

I found that I could not get my chin area smooth until I finally learned how to keep my razors sharp. Once i have done that I can now go up against the grain up the chin a bit. Stretching the skin is one thing for sure but the blade had to be scary sharp for me to get those guys as they are the toughest. The other thing that came into being just recently that has definitely helped with the chin is the sudden ability to use a scything motion with the razor while going sideways across the chin. Don't ask me how to as I hear it's kinda dangerous but one morning I found myself doing it. In fact this technique has helped my shaving overall. Talking with an SRP member here named Bruce at a local get together here in my area recently he told me one of the simplest yet most profound things about straights.

"I spent the longest time trying to decide which part of the blade to use with each stroke until I realized that you are supposed to use the whole razor to shave, not just a part of it."

Good luck,

Sean

Over 20 or so years of Str8 shaving my chin, I have 2 bits of advice

First, during your pre-shave prep,make sure you REALLY allow your chin whiskers to absorb the heat from the hot towels. And finally-SHARP RAZORS- when your blade can cut chin whiskers without pulling you KNOW your blade is sharp!!

The best way I've found, so far, to shave my chin is to do one WTG pass while only tightening the muscles in my chin then do an XTG pass while stretching the skin with my free hand.

The XTG pass begins up one jaw bone toward the ear about 2 inches from the point of the chin and goes to the point of the chin. Repeat on the other side.

I do not try ATG on the chin as I believe I would end up bleeding to death if I tried. However, I can get a BBS chin as described.

I have to echo what has already been stated: that a sharp razor will alleviate many of the issues with shaving the chin. I usually shave WTG, then XTG/ATG depending on the area. For me, I get great results using the heel of the razor to shave my chin. More control and less chance of digging into me skin.