Chin questions

So I am new, and I've searched for what I am looking for but can't find it directly.

Good sharp razor by Lynn (Dovo). Also have a few I sharpened myself, and while not as good as Lynn (the man), all can mow down arm hairs at 1/8 inch above the arm (mine don't grow up that high!).

Skin prep is waht is recommended with two hot towel sessions. I've used conditioner in the shower, and not. I can get a good comfortable shave on cheek, neck and only an occasional nick...

...But man, when I try for the chin it's awful....lots of tugging and pulling. I look at the video's and think that others can't feel pain, or have razors that are much sharper than mine!

Any advice? Angle, stretching, etc? I think I have good sharp razors, and I haven't screwed with the SRP one from Lynn except to strop it. Just can't seem to get comfortable on the chin....

Jon

Hi Jon, welcome to SRP by virtue of it being your first post. Obviously you've been doing the homework and reading the forum. The chin is my toughest spot. I leave it for last and let the lather work longer. I tend to use the last third of the blade towards the heel. I will take my thumb and forefinger and put it on either side of the chin and stretch towards my ears to tighten it up.

Talking about the tip of the chin as for me the sides aren't that difficult. I also will come up from underneath and also from side to side with short buffing strokes that are at a shallow angle. Hope this is of some help.

I may not know enough to tell you how to get those tough chin hairs, but I have been around long enough to be able to say that the chin is a difficult spot for a lot of people here. I've read many post about it and it seems to be one of the tougher spots to learn, but at least you are not alone in your troubles.

Actually the tip of my chin is the last hurdle standing in the way of my first BBS shave. I get closer every shave.

I also have trouble with my chin area, and like TheBaron, it's usually the only part that stops me getting BBS. Because of how my beard and 'stache grow, I do two ATG passes, rather than the traditional WTG/XTG/ATG - it's the only way I can get a decently close shave, even with a freshly honed razor, proper prep and stretching. I take the bulk of the stubble off all areas with the first ATG pass. I then rinse and feel my face ATG to feel the spots that need to be gone over again. This invariably involves my chin getting a second (or third sometimes) going over - I stretch it as much as I can and use multiple ATG angles as I buff each area in order to get all the litle bits of stubble.
If you own a DE, going back to that and trying this approach may help you work out how to do the chin area - it's definitely improved the quality of my straight shaves since I started using a DE.

As Jimmy and others have said, the chin is the hardest area so leave it till last.

The problem with it is that the angles always change as its not flat. It really does just take some time and practice to work out the best way to get it right for you.

Jimmy has offered some excellent advice on how to tackle this problem spot as well..!

What I do is shave downwards around my mouth and chin and almost run the razor off my face, keeping the angle the same all the way. Then I shave under my chin running down my neck. So all this leaves is the tricky bit where the chin rounds at the base of the jaw, leaving an unshaved strip about 3/4" wide running around the jawline. I do this in little sections and small passes, going WTG first then XTG afterwards.

Its a tough area to be sure, but with practice you will get there..!

Good luck!

+1 on above comments.

I've been experimenting a bit recently with the chin.

Try different directions too - different people's hairs grow in different directions.

• Shallow to flat blade angle.
• Light buffing strokes.
• Skin pulling - I've been pulling the lower lip up and the jaw down. This helps to flatten everything out for me.
• Experiment, experiment, experiment (and keep it light!)

All the best,
Michael.

Like Jimmy, I use the heel of the blade to shave the chin area and just do light, buffing strokes WTG,XTG and finally ATG on the final pass. I open and close my jaw, sometimes jutting my jaw right out to stretch the skin. If anyone saw the faces I pull when I shave my chin they would think me deranged,but it gets the shave really close and comfortable.

Problem area for me too - but mainly because I do too many passes there. I shave it first (at the heel) when the blade is sharpest, go from under the lip and don't stop until well under the chin - so it's one long curving sweep and I do it about three times - left, middle, right. And then a few light buffing strokes. I then do it ATG and try for the one curving stroke (in the opposite direction) but that's very hard and it often doesn't work.
I usually stretch the skin but sometimes find I don't need to - I have a hot shower before and shave with cold water and I find that the cold water tightens the skin so it's firmer but the stubble is still swollen so cutting the hair at skin level will work because it later shrinks back into your face and you're left with a bbs/dfs shave.

Anyway, good luck. I remember when I first started I'd cut it and slice it and generally cut myself up - but one day it just clicked.

Cheers,