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The hair grain under my chin seems to grow completely from left to right. This makes it extremely tricky to shave against it for the closest smoothest shave.
I've tried tilting my head back and sideways and shaving across in a pulling motion with my left hand, but it never seems to get everything.
Any tips for this tough spot? I'm using a 5/8 Boker.
Well, the chin is probably the most difficult area to get. personally, I go N-S down my chin and then E-W and then W-E across and then S-N. In my N-S maneuver I go all the way around my chin and under it and that usually gets everything.
I have the same issue and get best results by reaching over my head with my left hand to stretch up from my cheek just above my jawline, I hold the razor in my right hand horizontal to the ground facing left or ready for an against the grain pass with the tip pointing toward my adams apple. A few careful passes usually does that area very well for me.
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Glad I'm not the only one... thanks guys, I'll try your suggestions.
I find it MUCH easier to go against the grain if during the with the grain pass I go over the chin twice, the second time with a frightening blade angle. My chin seems to take this well, and the beard reduction in prep for the against the grain pass is super. (warning-- I'm using a feather. I don't know how safe this would be with a straight)
I have got this problem between my chin and my Adam's apple. The grain goes from left to right. So what I do: my left hand placed left of the Adam's apple pulls the skin tight (i.e. pulls against the grain). That causes the hairs to stand up as much as possible. With the razor in my right hand I shave as much against the grain as possible from right to left. I usually need two passes to get it shaved as close as I like. One pass from right to left going a bit upwards and on going from right to left a bit downwards. This is both ways at an angle of less than 45 degrees with the grain.
I second using a frightening shaving angle. I learned this from the pro who shaved my face with a shavette. Even though it feels like I'm scraping with my blade and going to regret it later, I've learned to trust that it just doesn't get nicked or razor burned there. I actually kind of scrape it (lathered only, of course) at more than a 45 degree angle, and that's the only way I can clear it out. If I make a <45 degree pass, I will slice myself open.
What does a large angle do to the sharpness of your razor?
I haven't had adverse affects, but someone who knows what they're talking about should answer that one...
I've also found that going much slower than I would normally helps in this spot. Either it gives me better contact between the razor and my skin or allows the hairs to stand on end a little better.