Thread: touch up passes, techniques, oils?

On the second pass I shave across the grain (from ear to jaw and across my chin). Like others I pull the skin up and shave following the jaw line. When I do my neck on this pass I use a scything(arcing) motion that starts just above the freshly shaved jawline and ends at the base of the neck. I shave the chin the same way, only i just concentrate on that area. The same kind of motion you use when peeling an apple.

Originally Posted by Dr_Phong

On the second pass I shave across the grain (from ear to jaw and across my chin). Like others I pull the skin up and shave following the jaw line. When I do my neck on this pass I use a scything(arcing) motion that starts just above the freshly shaved jawline and ends at the base of the neck. I shave the chin the same way, only i just concentrate on that area. The same kind of motion you use when peeling an apple.

I think the problem we're addressing is that ideally we would need to shave forward under the chin, which is nearly impossible. A scything motion would still need to have that forward movement, so it doesn't really avoid it. I have done such a movement moving forward and most down, but it doesn't really help.

Sam,

Keep working at it. Today I was able to achieve a 100% stubble free shave under my jawline when felt across the grain. My final touch-up pass was using the heal of the blade under my jawline ear to chin.

I'm still working on the base of my neck - I'm at about 95% stubble free when felt across the grain. I have a feeling this will improve when I get my round nose razors back from the expert honers. Currently all my razors are spike tip.

That being said, these are simply experiments to improve my form allowing me to achieve a totally stubble free shave when necessary. My daily shaves do not require this level of closeness.

I would encourage you to keep at it and not be tempted to use a DE or anything else to shave these problem areas. The days I've been tempted and resisted were the ones I made the most progress with my str8 by following David's Uthe's advice to try different techniques. I firmly believe a totally BB shave is possible and using anything other than a str8 will impede the learning process.

As soon as I got a decently sharp straight razor I put the Track II down for good. Working at it with the straight is slowly covering all the bases and limiting myself to that tool is making me consider new techniques. It is still a challenge in one or two spots to get that perfectly smooth feel against the grain, but it's so slight and so small an area now that nobody can tell, but me. When my gal commends me on my smoothness, I don't bother telling her about my self criticism. She's happy. Let her think what she likes.

X

X,


That is me too. I dropped the mach3 for good as soon as I got proficient with a str8.

I am still having to use the mach 3. Just don't trust myself with the straight on my neck yet. I was under the impression that going against the growth would lead to ingrown hairs. Is that only true on the first pass?

Originally Posted by The Dragon Master

I am still having to use the mach 3. Just don't trust myself with the straight on my neck yet. I was under the impression that going against the growth would lead to ingrown hairs. Is that only true on the first pass?

I have been shaving against the grain from the very first str8 razor shave. I have never had an ingrown hair from it.

Originally Posted by RichZ

I have been shaving against the grain from the very first str8 razor shave. I have never had an ingrown hair from it.

Same here. I think if you want that really close shave, you'll have to go against the grain to get it. But, that's just my opinion; your mileage may vary.

It doesn't matter what I do I just can't get my neck really silky smooth with a straight. I tried all the different preps and fancy strokes.Most of the time its not that big a deal if I really want to go the extra mile I have a traditional japanese razor which is shorter than a straight and has a fixed blade and with that I can do the job.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

It doesn't matter what I do I just can't get my neck really silky smooth with a straight. I tried all the different preps and fancy strokes.Most of the time its not that big a deal if I really want to go the extra mile I have a traditional japanese razor which is shorter than a straight and has a fixed blade and with that I can do the job.

I'm a pragmatist. I have no problem with that. I get the neck so clean with a Featherjector taht I don't think I'll ever stop using it. In fact, I'm so happy with it that I even use it to finish after a DE. I've been a DE shaver for over 40 years and I've been getting what I thought was the best clean shave on my neck. The Featherjector proved otherwise.