Thread: Can't see to shave my sideburns

I have a dull razor that I'm practicing with until I get my straights honed. I have watched some videos of people shaving with straights and they always stretch the skin on the side of their face and start with the sideburns. When I try to do this in the mirror, the blade blocks my vision of what I should be shaving. How can I rectify this?

i have the same problem.. the important thing is to look straight ahead into the mirror.. not over the razor so you can see the side of your face..

my remedy has been to hold my razor so the tang points behind me.

My solution is to lead with the point so hand and handle is above eyeheight

Originally Posted by vthomlinson

i have the same problem.. the important thing is to look straight ahead into the mirror.. not over the razor so you can see the side of your face..

my remedy has been to hold my razor so the tang points behind me.

I've had trouble with that too, almost reverting to DEs to get the sideburns done. Thanks!

Hello, breadsticks:

These gentlemen give sound advice. With your continued practice you will resolve this problem.

The general angle for the razor is about 30 degrees and you should maintain that for the cheeks. Experiment with your viewing angle as you stand before the mirror. Improvise and try different positions that are safe.

Regards,

Obie

Shave off the sideburns and you won't have the problem. Just kidding.

I use my finger trailing the blade as a guide. it works for me.

I think visual contact is preferred, but over-rated. I find that paying attention to the tactile feedback from my face is indispensable. Best example so far have been my well sculpted ears, but this all begins at the sideburn. Cutting sideburns straight is the only angle that requires at lead an initial visual orientation - but that doesn't mean that visual contact has to be present for that entire side of the face or even to get the blade very close to the ear. If you can't see the blade as it approaches the ear - stop paying attention to visual and feel the toe end of the blade as it approaches the ear. Whether careful normal strokes or buffing strokes where the edge doesn't leave the skin on the backstroke, you approach the ear until you feel the rise to the ear. Visual or not, it keeps the ears whole, and gives a new and valuable feedback that keeps you aware of what good and bad cutting feels like. By keeping the tactile sensation in mind, you have added early warning when a stroke is starting to go carnivorous.

Originally Posted by vthomlinson

. . .
my remedy has been to hold my razor so the tang points behind me.

My first thought was:

. . . How do you not cut your ear off?

But I bet you're using the heel of the blade against the sideburn, not the toe . . . . <g>

I'll have to try that -- thanks!

Charles

I pull the skin up, position the razor and touch my jaw/ear with the point. I'm usually right on the mark or very close to it so reposition if needed then apply the proper angle/pressure and start the shave. I can't see squat when I'm working the sideburns, lol.

I look in the mirror but do a lot of my shaving by touch/habit. As long as you are careful about how you place the blade and never drag it when placing it it is pretty easy to reposition until you have it where you want it.

Thanks for all the great advice. I think the method of placing the razor where it needs to be, then pulling the skin and shaving seems to be what might work for me. I just want to make sure they stay straight.