Thread: Chin Music

No, I am not talking about my days of having my butt handing to me in the kickboxing ring, I am talking about razor tugging on the chin. My Dovo 5/8 round tip seems to shave just fine (from a beginner's perspective) on the cheeks, sideburns, neck and mustache areas; but it tuggs on the chin area. I know my hair is more course there, but what is the deal? Is this blade sharpness, angle of attack, skin stretching or beard prep?

Please don't say, "Stephen, you amateur, it is all four."

start with the easiest variable like beard prep. What do you do now? Have you tried using a softening hair conditioner and letting it sit on there a bit? Maybe try shaving that area last so the whiskers can soften under the lather a little longer?

I'm the same as you, personally. Those are the hardest whiskers on my face. To get a close shave, I almost invariably have to run over that area 2 or 3 times in different directions.

I do not use soap in the shower; I use a skin cleanser. I then place conditioner on my beard. After the shower, I do a partial lather, strop my razor and then finish the lather. The hope is that the partial lather will begin to soften and moisten my beard while I strop.

I read some useful hints on skin stretching in other threads, so I began trying those. I figure I will hit gold sometime; I just need to keep digging.

Personal lesson learnt: If you are a beginner, and you think your razor is shave ready, it is not. So Bart kindly changed that for me. Happiness ensued.

You're not the only one. I've started SRshaving about two weeks ago and after some noobie problems with making a good lather and using the blade in the right angle I kinda got the hang of it. Exept for the chin. I'm able to use both left and right hand. I can pull off a WTG and ATG shave without cutting myself. And apart from some minor nicks I haven't mutilated myself. But when trying to shave the chin the razor pulls instead of cuts.
I've tried every angle but every time I have to pull my safety razor out to shave my chin.

Dont know if this will help or not, but here goes. When you look at the contours of the chin try to vsualize them as small flat planes and adjust your stroke accordingly. Its the only thing I can think of without bringing up angles and preps.

You can also try going XTG, left to right and right to left just under the chin. This will reduce the stubble some more, making ATG easier.

And, as mentioned in lots of other posts, try short scything strokes.

Have you tried a sawing motion?

Seriously, I'm really getting frustrated as well, unsure how much of my poor shave is technique and how much is dull blade.

Frustration with a straight razor, however, seems to be a potentially dangerous combination.

I'm trying to relax, take more care with all the non-cutting skill areas, and I've PM'd my local hone-meister.

It's so many new skills/knowledge areas all at once with this hobby -- perhaps that's why it's so darn baffling when things don't come together!

Originally Posted by BrentonC

I've PM'd my local hone-meister.

Have you considered contacting your local SRP mentor, yet?

I know for me the chin is also a big pain in the butt. I've found a bigger angle of attack (not straight 45 degrees) helps alot. For me, it's hard with the mole that's on my chin. it's a land mine, that gets tripped occasionally. Good luck.