Thread: Having trouble shaving the Jaw line

I been shaving with a St8 for about a year I have a DOVO 5/8 and a Begnal I can't remember the size but I been having a hard time shaving underneath the jaw line I do a normal shave then an X shave then Agaisnt the Grain but it somtimes it feels very bumpy when I under the jaw line. I was hoping if you guys gave certian techniques in shaving underneath the jaw line that is the only place I can't get it right.

I stretch the skin to create flat area's to tackle. I find that getting it very tight helps get a closer shave. Also, when going ATG i keep the razor angle quite flat relative to the skin.

I drop my jaw so my mouth is wide open and the skin from under my jawline is stretched and moved up towards the lower cheek. Then shave diagonaly downwards from under the ear to the chin. This works for me.

Can anyone actually get a shave as close with a straight edge as with a DE? I'm trying - but so far no success.

Originally Posted by wfr308

Can anyone actually get a shave as close with a straight edge as with a DE? I'm trying - but so far no success.

On the vast majority of my face, I get a considerably closer and longer lasting, smoother shave with a straight than I ever could with a DE. There are, i will admit, tricky spots that are still slgihtly better shaved with a DE. One spot on each side of my neck, where the hair grows sideway in an area that can't be stretched flat enough and the razor won't fit perfectly to go ATG, and right under the tip of my chin, no matter how I stretch. Both are very good, and getting better still, after months of straight shaiving, just not QUITE as good as a DE shave in those areas.
Everywhere else, especially in the sideburn area and the upper lip, nothing has ever given me a smoother longer lasting shave than the straight.

Originally Posted by wfr308

Can anyone actually get a shave as close with a straight edge as with a DE? I'm trying - but so far no success.

the only place i dont is my upper liip, because i dont want to slice my nose off going ATG

I do the same as the previous posters. In my case I pull the skin up or to the side and go in whichever direction works. Over time I mapped my face and I now know the direction and angle of attack that works the best for me.

I get as good a shave with a straight as I did with a DE most of the time. If I don't on a given day my razor needs a touch up or I slacked on my technique. That is talking about closeness. On comfort the straight is better for me then any DE/blade combo I ever found. BTW, I don't go ATG with a straight on the upper lip but I couldn't go ATG with a DE on my upper lip either....... not comfortably anyway.

Originally Posted by wfr308

Can anyone actually get a shave as close with a straight edge as with a DE? I'm trying - but so far no success.

Closer and more comfortable afterward. Keep at it and at some point you'll get the combination of technique and equipment that gives a great shave.

Originally Posted by nobby

I drop my jaw so my mouth is wide open and the skin from under my jawline is stretched and moved up towards the lower cheek. Then shave diagonaly downwards from under the ear to the chin. This works for me.

Thats just what I do. Works out so that the skin normally AT the jaw line is moved up a bit (or the jaw moved down) so I never actually shave where the jaw is at the time I am shaving. (To repeat what you said in different words.)

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

BTW, I don't go ATG with a straight on the upper lip but I couldn't go ATG with a DE on my upper lip either....... not comfortably anyway.

I'm a mere newbie with a straight but I think I got the upper lip figured out! I have had a mustache for over 40 years and just shaved it off two days ago -- needed more places to shave with my new toy!

At last night's shave I was afraid to do very much in this area so left LOTs of stubble. The annoyance of this stubble drove me to re-shave just the mustache area this AM.

I used absolutely NO pressure, or as little as I could manage, against the skin and only did the tiniest little bit at a time. I was able to go in all directions, doing the easy ones first. Constant re-lathering. I used just the tip of the blade. It took a long time but no cuts. The results were mediocre but that's par for the course in my case.

There was a bit of razor burn and a couple of small weepers that the styptic cured. I attribute the burn/weepers to the skin in that area not having been shaved for forty years so it is quite sensitive. Also those particular whiskers are really tough.

So for me it boiled down to concentration and patience.