How to shave mustache and chin area? Hair tough.

Hi everyone,

I'm about 6 shaves in, and I love straight shaving so far. I am pretty OK with my cheeks, and I'm still working on my neck technique, but my real issue right now is the mustache and chin area. I cannot seem to cut this hair without heavy resistance. I can cut a few hairs then it just stops, and I don't want to force the blade cause I know I'll cut myself.

Is there a trick to doing this area? They are the most important areas for me because they are the most visible and grow the fastest, and I end up having to do them with a multi-blade. Any ideas? Thanks.

-Jon

I had the same issue until last week. Last week, I got the razors back from Bart :) So sharper definitely helps in cutting with little pressure (pretty obvious, really). The first shaves were ok, now they're almost good. IMO more experience will help, it will come over time. Skin stretching, mainly to the side and then shaving the side helps a lot, too. And a tiny bit of pressure with a very shallow angle should improve things further. Dont apply pressure if you know you're going to cut yourself, change the angle or the direction, progress slowly, carefully. The more you shave, the better you become at it. Take it easy! Chi va piano va sano :)

Those were the toughest areas for me too. Still are but I shave them now with ease. Skin stretching techniques and good preparation were one thing but the main thing for me was a truly sharp and shave ready razor.

It did take me two or three weeks of daily straight razor shaving to stop using a DE on the chin and mustache. One move for the chin that worked well for me is taking the forefinger and thumb of the stretching hand on either side of the chin and stretch up towards the ears. Tightens it up well. :gl:

Several short strokes followed by a longer clean up stroke helps too. The stubble can be too tough if you're trying to tackle it in one plough (plow in U.S.?) through it all. It also seems to help if the strokes are confident, which can be hard going if you're aware that it's a problem area for you! If it really seems to resist it may be down to the razor's edge. Is it up to par?

I had to adjust my routine for the mustache area. With a cartridge razor I would usually start in the middle of my upper lip and then work my way to the outer edges. At first I couldn't do this with a straight, damn nose gets in the way!! Nowadays I stretch my upper lip to one side as much as I can and tackle the sides first and then touch up in the middle region. And if your lip needs a bit of a closer shave it is really easy (due to stubble reduction) to do a x-grain pass across the lip from there. I hope this makes sense..........

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Originally Posted by ben.mid

Several short strokes followed by a longer clean up stroke helps too.

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That's how the barber who shaved me once did it. Ironically, she cut me on the chin!

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Those were the toughest areas for me too. Still are but I shave them now with ease. Skin stretching techniques and good preparation were one thing but the main thing for me was a truly sharp and shave ready razor.

It did take me two or three weeks of daily straight razor shaving to stop using a DE on the chin and mustache. One move for the chin that worked well for me is taking the forefinger and thumb of the stretching hand on either side of the chin and stretch up towards the ears. Tightens it up well. :gl:

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I'll have to try that move!

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Originally Posted by Cornelius

That's how the barber who shaved me once did it. Ironically, she cut me on the chin!

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Cos I'm going to entrust my face and vital fluids to some chick that is more used to razzing her lower legs in the shower, if she can be bothered!

'She', indeed.

The short strokes are a good method. The other thing to remember that the chin area changes alot in a very small space so your blade angle will have to change as well. So were you are able to cut some then the blade just stops you need lower your angle of attack at the point that your blade is stopping. Its one of those area of the face you really have to study and learn before it gets really easy to shave.

Like a lot of the others have already said, a good skin stretch is vital on both mustache & chin.

For the upper lip, I open my mouth as wide as possible & grimace to stretch whichever side in working, toward the corners it helps to also poke your tongue under the lip. That naturally means small, narrow swipes.

On the chin is another big gaping expression, with my lower lip rolled up over my teeth & the non-shaving hand pulling up towards my ear.

Works for me anyway :)

I had major issues with my upper lip when I first started. It took me the better part of a month to get in the groove. I do that move "coup de grace" :rofl2:to get from my nose down. You'll get to the point where handling that big blade is second nature, then you'll be lopping those whiskers off with ease. Just keep at it, it will come.

It took me a very very very long time to be able to shave the chin/mustache area with a straight.
I feel like i can do it now. The Chin with a really really sharp blade i go with the grain. across the grain.
I am not going to brother going aganist the grain yet.

I have a problem with the area with the left underside of my chin. My first pass with the grain goes great but for this area. The problem is a combination of odd hollows and concaves in my chin, and the peculiarities of my right-hand control of the razor. It feels like everything I've learned about shaving with a straight needs to be done upside down and backwards with this area -- like shooting a target behind you, over your shoulder using a mirror to sight.

I"ve found two things that continue to help to where I get a little better each shave: first, I take my time setting a grip and air-shaving (if you will allow) a few times, mimicking the actual shaving stroke I'll need for the area, before setting the blade to flesh; second, I watch one or more of the many good shaving videos out there as soon as I can after shaving (Chimensch's is a good one). It helps me focus on what I need to do with the area, and to re-inforce what I've done that works. It gets a little better each time.

Cheers,

Jack

:p If you get to frustrated you can join me in goatee land where the stubble roams free and only the easy spots needs to be shaved. I grew the goatee originally because that part of my face tended to destroy my old disposables. Later on it grew on me and I decided to keep it. :chapeau