Guillotine stroke?

I'm a "noob," and I've yet to be able to achieve a full reduction below the jaw line with a straight. The problem is the ATG pass (which on my beard runs more ear-to-chin). No way to get a BBS finish without the ATG, but it really does a number on my face. Mucho irritation: rash, weeping dots, pain... you know what I'm talking about.

I've been experimenting with the "guillotine" or "bread slicing" stroke; drawing the blade diagonally from the jawline under the ear to the lower neck, working on a bias toward the chin. Then repeating from lower neck up to the jawline on an opposing diagonal. This seems to deliver an ATG component without the direct ATG attack that is so painful.

Got a much closer, very satisfying shave this morning with this technique, but I'm concerned that I'm just asking for a nasty scar.

Do any of you use this stroke or have any tips or advice?

Thanks!

I use it on all of my physiognomy that I can. It is the most effective way to shave. AFAIC the secret of doing it safely is to keep the razor at a shallow, relatively speaking, angle and never use pressure when doing that stroke. The razor glides on the skin slicing the whiskers. That is the way I've learned it, others may have a different experience with it, but this has been working for me with no cuts/nicks.

With proper angle, stetching and beard prep the danger of using the guillotine stroke is pretty minimal. As Jimmy stated, the blade should glide, and never be forced. Keep at it, you'll get it down eventually.

I'm a newbie also. I'm learning these strokes as I go. So far, only a few nicks!

I think that if you will try an across the grain stroke vs. against the grain or up the face, you will have better luck. I normally pull the skin up over or at least to the jaw line and this really works well. The other tips already given should help as well.

Have fun

I had this problem for a while, until I pulled the skin directly under my sideburn up the way, while diagonally going against the grain towards my chin, pulling up lower down as I shave away the lather. I also manage to get under the jawline by pulling the skin up so that under the jawline comes above the jawline and I do another diagonal stroke.

this is the only way I've found to get a BBS if you haaven't got a round jawline (I have a square jaw). Now if I made a video of it it looks incredibly careless but its the ONLY stroke that I haven't cut myself with. Oh and never try and do it in one stroke, I always do small strokes when I shave that area

EDIT: You beat me to it Lynn with two sentences