Is all the skin stretching going to take its toll?

Ever since I started wet shaving back in June this year and str8 shaving for a couple of months (exclusively for a few weeks), people tell me I look younger. As a 50 something, that's good news. I wonder if, with all the skin stretching I do while shaving, will that trend reverse and will I end up with more wrinkles than usual over time? I mean, I realize we all get more wrinkles over time, but I mean: Does all that stretching of the skin while shaving cause more wrinkles?

And how about the older shaver? Does it become a challenge to str8 shave when you reach a certain age and all those wrinkles getting in the way of a good shave?

Hey flyman,

No, I don't think skin stretching will ultimately lead to more wrinkles as a consequence of straight shaving. Obviously, as time marches on, the skin will loosen up and more stretching may be required than, say, one of our 20 year old members. But the idea of skin stretching is just to keep it taut, not so tight that you pull your jowels over your forehead (a charming image, I know).

Take care,

Ryan

The older I get the less I care. :) Seriously though, like Ryan says, just taut. Snug it up, not overly tight. One thing I am sure of, without stretching the skin you cannot get a decent shave and you risk nicks.

Then there are other problems.

When I get asked, "So how do you handle shaving your chin?"

I have to answer,

"Which one?"

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Originally Posted by flyman

Ever since I started wet shaving back in June this year and str8 shaving for a couple of months (exclusively for a few weeks), people tell me I look younger.

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Perhaps it has nothing to do with skin stretching. Perhaps it's your attitude. I get much pleasure and satisfaction from using a straight razor to shave. Self-improvements like that affect our attitude and behavior in ways that others could find positive but unable to "put their finger on." It's natural to offer a subjective compliment to let you know they notice "something" different and positive about you.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

... One thing I am sure of, without stretching the skin you cannot get a decent shave and you risk nicks.

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That's one thing I never thought I would have taken for granted, but it's easy to do. It's the basic fundamental that's first to go when I get really comfortable shaving. The better I get at it, the more I catch myself forgetting to stretch! As I look back, I can't remember nicking myself while shaving over stretched skin.

Reminds me of that Star Trek Movie with the alien skin stretching machine.

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Originally Posted by LawsonStone

Then there are other problems.

When I get asked, "So how do you handle shaving your chin?"

I have to answer,

"Which one?"

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:roflmao:rofl2:
Sorry; couldn't help it......

Regards,

Razorback

P.s.: have the SAME problem (chin(s)wise that is...... :eek:

I have to admit.."shaving the wrinkles away" would be a great idea though! :gl:

Pcdad

Quote:

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Originally Posted by flyman

Ever since I started wet shaving back in June this year and str8 shaving for a couple of months (exclusively for a few weeks), people tell me I look younger. As a 50 something, that's good news. I wonder if, with all the skin stretching I do while shaving, will that trend reverse and will I end up with more wrinkles than usual over time? I mean, I realize we all get more wrinkles over time, but I mean: Does all that stretching of the skin while shaving cause more wrinkles?

And how about the older shaver? Does it become a challenge to str8 shave when you reach a certain age and all those wrinkles getting in the way of a good shave?

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The amount of stretching should not make any difference.
If you are worried consider the puckering action of an alum
block :) I do not know if it helps but it might...

Do rinse the alum off so your wife or girlfriend does not
get that "ate a lemon" look from kissing your BBS shaven
face.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pcdad

I have to admit.."shaving the wrinkles away" would be a great idea though! :gl:

Pcdad

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Perhaps an anti-wrinkle shave cream?

Botox shave soap anyone?
:beer2:

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Reminds me of that Star Trek Movie with the alien skin stretching machine.

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Or Dr Cassandra, from Dr Who.

http://www.scifiscience.co.uk/img/drwho/cassandra.jpg

My doctor said that he is not quite sure, but thinks, that the reason that men in general don't have as many wrinkles as women is because we use the muscles and stretch the skin of our faces during shaving. Interesting idea.

Take Care,
Richard

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Originally Posted by dirtychrome

Or Dr Cassandra, from Dr Who.

http://www.scifiscience.co.uk/img/drwho/cassandra.jpg

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Haha! I'll have to babble something in French while stretching next time I shave! :roflmao

My Mrs. & friends told me the same thing. 'Said the skin tone was more healthy looking.

I had the same question about the stretching accelerating the floppy face syndrome. 'Don't know if it does, but I wondered also.

at wk 11 or 12, I'm still mired deep in the learning curve, but can't deny, I now love to shave, which hasn't been true since I was a teen first starting. I get it wrong alot. Here's where I think perseverance OR stupidity (not knowing when to quit) work equally well. I'm gonna learn to do this well. It just won't be by the end of the day today.

I have been told to keep the face younger, by using face stretching exercises!!! Well, if straight shaver's look like winning gurner's, whilst shaving! Then I believe we will all look old at some stage in our lives.
I remember, looking in the mirror! One day, an saying " Wow, I look good ", I also woke up the next morning and looked in the same mirror! Expecting the same complementary statement! What a surprise. I looked like the proverbial!!!
Shave, grow old and remain you!!! The rest falls into insignicance.0
.

Hello, Flyman:

As many have noted, strategic skin stretching serves to create a clear path for the blade. It also sets up the beard for cutting. So do strategic facial contortions. I do both, but do not go overboard. After all, we older gentlemen float in softer and more leathery fields.

Regards,
Obie

I should add a more serious answer. The contortions some go through
are exercise of all those small muscles that make a face expressive and
interesting. So in much the same way that exercise of the arms make
arms look better exercise of the face might make the face look better.

As for creases and deep lines for a lot but not all of us that is related to fat below
the skin. In a discussion on strops and the selection of leather a comment
was made with regard to fat, fat pockets and creases. Fat unlike muscle supports creases
with the interesting note that new uniformly deposited fat expands and tightens skin before it
creases and presents wrinkles. A common treatment for women is Collagen filler to fill in
creases, creases that are not supported by subcutaneous fat deposits.

Dieting and the resulting changes in sub-q fat can produce other visible changes.

This sub-q fat (subcutaneous) is one of the more serious tangles in terms of diet
for a lot of us and worse sub-q fat migrates to visceral fat which is oh so hard
to shed and is also bad for ya. Only slightly understood is that sub-q fat
is a major component of the largest organ of the body (the skin) and is responsible
for a lot of hormone production and disruption that is only now being understood.

Well time for me to do some push aways...

Hiya,

Well, I'm not an expert, but I can certainly make up a good story. I gotta figure all that pulling and stretching has to be bad. Yeah, I'd think that after a while the facial muscles would get tired of having to always snap back into place and just say the hell with it. Maybe they'd just end up wherever you pushed em last...........heh.

Most likely though, the skin would just sag badly. Yeah, imagine Walter Mattau in his later years..........you get the idea. Oh, Droopy Dog also comes to mind.

Martin