Thread: Stretching the skin "the wrong way"?

I´ve recently found out that when I´m stretching the skin "the wrong way" I get closer but a little sore skin.
What I mean with "wrong way" is for example:
My sideburn grows downwards and when going ATG I normally stretch with my fingers down the chin when the knife goes upwards. The fingers behind the spine.
But if I stretch upwards the hair raise more and when moving the blade against my fingers the skin don't stretch, rather the opposite but the knife gets closer.
I get the closest shave but a very sore skin so I don´t practice it, just tried it.
I guess the right way of stretching the skin is always behind the blade/movement? Right?

One of the reasons to stretch the skin is to raise the whisker up off the face. So if the whisker grows to the right, stretch to the left. However, in the interest of safety, you do not want to stretch the skin in such a way as to present the blade with ripples of skin that are parallel to the cutting edge lest your face ends up looking like a bowl of spaghetti. Stretch mostly in the direction or against the direction of the movement of the blade, depending on the grain of the beard growth for close, effective, and comfortable shaving

You should be able to build on your confidence knowing that you discovered a principle of good shaving through experimentation

I often end up in situations where the blade is moving toward the fingers I am using to stretch the skin, so no, stretching fingers are not always behind the blade. As hoglahoo, mentor to the stars, suggests, often we stretch so as to raise the hair off the skin, and this might mean the blade "brings up the rear" so to speak. Just be careful when you do it though.

James.

If I´m thinking the right way now does this always affect ATG. Raising the hair maximum in combination with ATG means that you must stretch in front of the blade.

Originally Posted by Portra160

Raising the hair maximum in combination with ATG means that you must stretch in front of the blade.

Stretching in front of the blade during a pass against the grain would raise the whiskers higher than stretching behind the blade. But I would not say you necessarily must do it that way to get maximum hair raising. You could employ other techniques, such as looking at yourself in the mirror right out of bed. That should raise every hair on your body if you look anything like I do in the mornings. Or you could stick your wet fingers into an electrical outlet (to get that starry look Jimbo alluded to). The method is up to you to try and to perfect

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

But I would not say you necessarily must do it that way to get maximum hair raising. You could employ other techniques, such as looking at yourself in the mirror right out of bed. That should raise every hair on your body if you look anything like I do in the mornings.

OK I´ll try that tomorrow morning.

Stretching is a good but ATG is not.
Try to avoid and get good shave without going ATG.
Gl

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Stretching is a good but ATG is not.
Try to avoid and get good shave without going ATG.
Gl

I'd say that is very individual, I do ATG every day without any issues.

Originally Posted by Portra160

....snip...
I guess the right way of stretching the skin is always behind the blade/movement? Right?

You can stretch in front or behind the razor.

You want the razor to "see" smooth skin and
not push up a roll that it then cuts into.

A good smooth lubricating lather helps
minimize the need for stretching..

As you noticed depending on how your whiskers
grow one direction will help them stand up
a bit better. Better is a personal better...

So what works best for you is most correct for you.

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

You can stretch in front or behind the razor.

You want the razor to "see" smooth skin and
not push up a roll that it then cuts into.

A good smooth lubricating lather helps
minimize the need for stretching..

As you noticed depending on how your whiskers
grow one direction will help them stand up
a bit better. Better is a personal better...

So what works best for you is most correct for you.

I compare stretching the skin with vaccum a small bathroom rug.
When you vaccum the rug you must put your foot behind vacuum cleaner nozzle and it´s direction
or the rug will crease.