Thread: The Patch that won't go away

I shave with two hands. Right handed for the left side and left handed for the right side. I shave WTG and then ATG and receive a BBS for my effort except for a small 2" x 2" square patch of rough that extends from the point of the left side of my chin to about mid jaw and then up to the upper lip line and back. I have tried everything.

Warm water shave, pressure, XTG, inflating my cheeks and lips, another pass, angle changes.

It still exists. What is up here.

Dunno. I'll tell you this, I have two spots on either side of my skinny neck adjacent to my windpipe. There is not only a hollow there but the whiskers are some of the toughest in my shaving area and grow askew.

I found that I had to experiment with which direction was most effective to attack them and also with what I'll call creative stretching. It took a handful of shaving sessions before I finally figured mine out. Good luck with yours.

Originally Posted by singlewedge

I shave with two hands. Right handed for the left side and left handed for the right side. I shave WTG and then ATG and receive a BBS for my effort except for a small 2" x 2" square patch of rough that extends from the point of the left side of my chin to about mid jaw and then up to the upper lip line and back. I have tried everything.

Warm water shave, pressure, XTG, inflating my cheeks and lips, another pass, angle changes.

It still exists. What is up here.

I have the mirror patch - exactly what you're describing, but on the right side. My efforts to get it BBS sometimes damage the skin a little, too. Because of that, I've learned to just not sweat it unless I'm shaving a 2-3 days worth of beard, in which case I can really go to town on it.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Dunno. I'll tell you this, I have two spots on either side of my skinny neck adjacent to my windpipe. There is not only a hollow there but the whiskers are some of the toughest in my shaving area and grow askew.

My right side in particular, is a PITA there.

Trial an error, try different strokes.

Originally Posted by gregs656

My right side in particular, is a PITA there.

Trial an error, try different strokes.

Funny thing is.... I always stretched toward the ear on the same side as the whiskers. One day I grabbed the skin on my windpipe and stretched in the opposite direction, i.e. towards the opposite ear and that flattened the area out to where I could get it.

That is on the left side. On the right side stretching toward the ear on the that side works.

single,

I may have this backwards, but for WTG I use right hand for right side and left for left. Have you tried this approach?

Backwards I am, without question, with my one-handed, back-handed, XTG/ATG second and last pass, until I get under my nose, then it's right on left and left on right. At least this is how it looks in the mirror.

ain't this a grand adventure?

I too have that same patch on the right side. The only way I've gotten that close to being smooth has been with about 8 passes with a fresh blade in a DE, each pass from a different angle. It sucks, but there's nothing that I've found that works. Let me know if you figure something out, though.
J.

I read this with interest since my hairs go in many different directions in this area. I attack this area with a three fold: XTG pass at slightly different angles. Somewhere within these passes, I am hitting the area with ATG treatment and I love how smooth I get it.

Good Luck!

Pabster

I too have difficulty here, partially because until a couple of months ago I didn't shave my chin. I think my problem is maintaining the angle as I come over that area. I can get it real smooth with XTG, but dare not go ATG (most of my face can't handle that abuse) so settle for what I get. it is hell of tricky for me though and probably takes the most concentration of my whole face.

Red

Gentlemen,

I have determined that shaving with the straight razor is similar to facing a geometrical puzzle, or using a specific strategy for solving a difficult problem.

Most of us seem to have variations of the same problem: the patch that won't go away.

I have a sliver of hair heading north on the right side of my face, where most other hair heads south. Unless I tango with the straight razor, this blasted sliver lies there, sticking its tongue at me. Most of the time it wins the battle, but little by little it knows its days are numbered, because my strategy against it is beginning to work. I use the razor as if I were etching with a fine point.

The hair under my jaw, on both sides, points eat and west. The only way to wipe it off is to come at it against the grain with the razor held vertically straight across the neck: from ear to neck on both sides. No matter how I stretch the skin — thus far — nothing works except the move I mention. Not that I try it. No. That is a dangerous move. It works well with a double edge, but the straight is another story.

There are other rebellious spots on my Hollywood face, but everything will be accomplished methodically, with the proper strategy. I suppose making a big deal out of the whole adventure is part of the fun of shaving with a straight razor.

I am working on my strategy and I know I will win.

Regards,

Obie