Touch Ups

Hi Guys,

Thought this would be an interesting topic. Normally when I shave I do a with the grain pass and an across the grain pass. The chin which is actually the heaviest in an already heavy beard does well with just a with the grain pass. On the neck I just do with the grain and back up passes. Rather than do a third pass or against the grain, I usually go back and touch up the spots where there is a little stubble left like the jaw line or the hollow between the jaw and chin or maybe the side of the chin. This seems to work pretty good for me.

When I first started doing touch ups like the cross grain on under the chin or that hollow area I spoke of, I would get a nick now and then as I was changing the angle of the blade to pick up the whiskers in those tricky spots. Eventually, I learned to use my index finger to simulate the razor in those areas and give me an idea for how to use the razor in the same spots. That has really worked great over the years and I still, after all these years, look forward to my daily shave and that incredibly smooth result.

So how do you guys handle the touch ups??

Lynn

Hi Lynn,
I'm sorry, but I do not quite grasp what you mean with the next sentence.

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Originally Posted by Lynn

Eventually, I learned to use my index finger to simulate the razor in those areas and give me an idea for how to use the razor in the same spots.

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As for doing touch-ups. I usually shave North to South during my first pass. Apply a light, translucent but slick coat of lather and perform a second pass where I aim to cut precisely ATG.
After that I relather the usual suspects on my jawline and on the hollows of my neck and clean them up buffing style (ATG).

Bart.

I go WTG,XTG,ATG.And then I have to do some scary,acrobatic from top and down scyth moves on my neck to get a total BBS.I usually do that with very thin lather.And all of this I do in a 4x mag.mirror.Usually works without much bloodshed...
I really envy you guys who get bbs in just two simple passes!
Kristoffer.

Good point, Lynn. I think that kind of sums up my goal with shaving - be able to get that "3 pass shave" feel, without having to do the three passes.... This is a great tip to get all of us further along that path.

Bart, I think he means to do this; run your finger ATG and feel for the little bit of stubble poking up. That let's you know where to touch up, and where to skip. Exactly what I do on days when I don't feel like doing a 3 pass shave, but still want bbs.....

I still don't get BBS but what I usually do is one pass WTG then another pass of WTG/XTG and finally I'll go back on some problem areas. I still can't reall go ATG. I've tried a few times, but the razor seems to stick. I can do ATG on my cheeks and part of my neck but not all of it and my upper lip can be tricky too.

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Originally Posted by Dups

what I usually do is one pass WTG then another pass of WTG/XTG and finally I'll go back on some problem areas. I still can't reall go ATG. I've tried a few times, but the razor seems to stick. I can do ATG on my cheeks and part of my neck but not all of it and my upper lip can be tricky too.

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This is basically what I do too. ATG I save for small touch ups, anymore than that and my razor starts to stick as well. I don't think it's a technique issue, just that my razor isn't quite keen enough.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

This is basically what I do too. ATG I save for small touch ups, anymore than that and my razor starts to stick as well. I don't think it's a technique issue, just that my razor isn't quite keen enough.

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I don't think it's my razor because it passes all other tests with flying colours..Maybe I'm not being aggressive enough with my stroke or my prep isn't good enough..I don't think I need to go ATG on my face to get a smooth shave but ATG on my neck would really help.

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Originally Posted by Bart

Hi Lynn,
I'm sorry, but I do not quite grasp what you mean with the next sentence.


As for doing touch-ups. I usually shave North to South during my first pass. Apply a light, translucent but slick coat of lather and perform a second pass where I aim to cut precisely ATG.
After that I relather the usual suspects on my jawline and on the hollows of my neck and clean them up buffing style (ATG).

Bart.

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When I feel a little bit of whisker left and determine which way it is growing, I then use the index finger to simulate the path that the razor would take to clean it up. By doing this first, I have a great idea of the path and the angle needed from the razor and cut down on my chances of getting a nick by just taking the razor to it. After a few times, you get the hang of it and no need for the finger simulation, but when taking on a new area and a tricky angle, it really works.

The easiest spot for nicks used to be under the chin where I had to kind of shave at an angle after having gone down and then up. There was some cross growth. By using the index finger after a couple nicks I really zero'd in on the path of the razor which took care of the nicks. It's funny, but the spot between the jaw and chin is more a slight deviation from the with the grain or down stroke at just a little angle. That seems to work best after having tried with, across and against.

Tis a fun sport, eh......

Lynn

Lynn

Thanks Lynn, I get it now.
I wish I would have known and used that tip about 2 weeks ago when I tried a rather awkward angle of attack, on a stubborn spot between the end of my jawbone and my earlobe. It probably would have saved me my worst nick so far. It's healed, but the scar is still going to be visual for a while.:shrug:

Bart.

Of course some of us are so wonderful at shaving we just don't need to do touchups. Har, Har. And if you believe that one...

For me it's WTG first pass then ATG on the neck with XTG on the cheeks / sideburns second pass. Cheeks are light enough that XTG works nicely BBS.

This is a great tip for a new guy like me. I'm getting better, but my blade angle can be a bit harsh at times. With 3 passes, there can be areas that start to get pretty irritated.

This gives me something to think about.

Dave

I sometimes find that I have missed a little bit each side of my chin, or just on my chin - just a few hairs. I always find them about 1/2 hour after my shave while sitting at my desk, so I get my razor and do a quick touch-up by feel.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

This is basically what I do too. ATG I save for small touch ups, anymore than that and my razor starts to stick as well. I don't think it's a technique issue, just that my razor isn't quite keen enough.

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I had that problem also, it was my angle of the blade. I would always have a little nick there till I figured it out!

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Originally Posted by rrp1501

I had that problem also, it was my angle of the blade. I would always have a little nick there till I figured it out!

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Was that because the flat of the entire blade was in contact with your now smooth/bare skin and the blade kind of gripped your face, or was it the whiskers were not being cut because of the angle that kept the razor from moving?

started to do some 'blade buffing' on the spot right under the nostrils and at the very corners of the mouth, that seemed to work rather well for me.

There's always the Turkish flaming Q-tip. :D

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Originally Posted by RayG

There's always the Turkish flaming Q-tip. :D

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mmm, do tell... :hmmm: :p

Just under the right side of my jaw the beard grows almost sideways so I have to reach over my head and pull the skin up onto the jaw line, then angle the blade horizontally with the point aimed at my adams apple. It's just the one spot that's really tricky and I can manage it with water alone. It's pretty easy to see at the end of my shave vid. It took me a while to figure out, but it's dead easy to do now even though it's a tricky manoeuvre. The funny thing is I forget to do it half the time and am part way through my day when I discover I'm not BBS in that spot.

X

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Of course some of us are so wonderful at shaving we just don't need to do touchups. Har, Har. And if you believe that one...

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Of course I believe this, thats the same way it works for me!:D

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Originally Posted by tpoof

mmm, do tell... :hmmm: :p

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YouTube - A Close Turkish Shave @ Ibos's Icmeler

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Originally Posted by Lynn

So how do you guys handle the touch ups??

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I use a different stroke for the touch ups. It's sort of a combination of blade buffing and the scooping motion you use on the upper lip just below the nose...except the scooping is done at a much shallower angle. I find by doing that I can get the hairs I'm after quicker and with less discomfort than by trying several passes at different blade angles.

I almost hesitate to mention this because I don't like to foster bad habits (even though I have plenty and with shaving it's all about what works right?) but you can use the scooping stroke if you are having trouble finding the proper angle while making an ATG pass. By using very short strokes and varying the blade angle from very shallow to almost nothing you can make up for a lack of beard prep, technique and/or sharpness. I've used this trick from time to time when traveling or when I didn't have time to hone and needed to milk one last BBS shave out of a razor.

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Originally Posted by AusTexShaver

I use a different stroke for the touch ups. It's sort of a combination of blade buffing and the scooping motion you use on the upper lip just below the nose...except the scooping is done at a much shallower angle. I find by doing that I can get the hairs I'm after quicker and with less discomfort than by trying several passes at different blade angles.

I almost hesitate to mention this because I don't like to foster bad habits (even though I have plenty and with shaving it's all about what works right?) but you can use the scooping stroke if you are having trouble finding the proper angle while making an ATG pass. By using very short strokes and varying the blade angle from very shallow to almost nothing you can make up for a lack of beard prep, technique and/or sharpness. I've used this trick from time to time when traveling or when I didn't have time to hone and needed to milk one last BBS shave out of a razor.

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That sound like an interesting addition to the arsenal of advanced shaving techniques. If I understand correctly, your use sort of a short "rocking" buffing stroke?
Although I never tried it, I can see it work very well on patches with swirling hair growth and such. Time to do some more adventurous moves on that face, eh?:D

I'll keep you posted.

Bart.

Thanks Ray for sharing that video.. first I've seen of such a thing... reminds me of singing pinfeathers off of a freshly plucked chicken... lol

Thanks for the cool vid Ray. I would love to go to that barber shop for the post shave/haircut massage. I could do without the barber tapping me with the little hammer though :gaah: What was that about ?

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Originally Posted by Bart

That sound like an interesting addition to the arsenal of advanced shaving techniques. If I understand correctly, your use sort of a short "rocking" buffing stroke?
Although I never tried it, I can see it work very well on patches with swirling hair growth and such. Time to do some more adventurous moves on that face, eh?:D

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Well I don't know if I would call it "advanced" or not...like my patent pending vibrating stroke it's more of an advancement in years than technique.

Based on your description I think you understand. It's hard to describe the actual motion but "scooping" is the closest thing that comes to mind. The blade starts at a 10-15 degree angle and reduces to 0 as the razor moves thru 1/4 to 1/2 inches of travel. It's also easier to do ATG than WTG as you can think of it as grabbing onto the hairs and prying them out.

Give it a try and let us know how it works!

I actually do a 4 pass shave due to the fact my hair grows in so many angles and my skin seems to appriciate a second XTG befor I go for ATG. From time to time I might have to go back and touch up along the curve under my jaw line on my right side, most of the time I don't. But at the same time my shaving time is a Relaxation time for me so the extra time for the extra pass is SOOOO much more relaxing!