So I tried blade buffing...and I have a question about it.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Just in case you haven't tried it, before figuring out all kinds of fancy blade angles and strokes to use it's easier to try all kinds of unique skin stretching maneuvers. Sometimes that works best. If not then you can worry about what angles you need to be using with the blade.

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When starting, its easy to think you're taking the blade to the stubble. On nice, flat cheeks, this is fine. When curves on the face and bizzard directions of the beard combine, you get 'problem areas'. The standard remedy it to use a bit of pressure on the stroke. So now you have razor burn. Spendur (and others) point in a hopeful direction. I tell new guys to think more that by your stretch and stroke - you're not taking the blade to the beard, but taking the beard to the blade - making it accessible to the razor. This won't be an overnight discovery - maybe takes months. I'm still figuring parts out 18 mo. later. Rule of thumb; if you need to use pressure - you're defeating yourself. Work the stretches & strokes and you'll suffer less. Keep working it, but don't take too seriously. Your lesser shaves w/ a str8 are probably already better than your better ones w/ a cartridge.

Also try a cold water splash before the final pass. It seems to contract the skin exposing more of the bristle to be shaved. Once the bristle dries out (i.e. becomes less hydrated) it shrinks back as well so the finish may well be smoother half an hour after shaving.

As others have stated, in this case blade buffing may not ne necessary. The whiskers on my neck grow mostly sideways too. To get a smooth shave I use skin stretching techniques in conjunction with 2 XTG passes, which in my case would be S-N and then N-S. Works a charm for me, but everyone has to experiment with their own growth.

I thought about these things and tried a few things today.

First, it may be noted that I have stopped doing any significant beard prep, and since I've done that I've gotten closer shaves. I shave before I shower, because it seems that the cleaner my face, the rougher the shave. Maybe I need those extra natural oils on my face to facilitate cutting, I don't know. Plus, any effect that conditioner or oils might have on my face are negligible. After 10 minutes of a little conditioner, my beard feels just as rough as it did before. I also find that after I shower, my face is smoother and I can tell which areas I actually missed, which I'd be missing if I shaved after the shower.

I focused on stretching the neck by pulling up on my cheeks. Maybe I was doing it wrong, but it made my skin feel really, really sensitive. I did get some more hair off my face, but I still went to the buffing technique afterward and got most of it off.

One thing that I tried tonight that helped more than anything was actually just a better understanding of the "short and quick strokes' concept. I found that by have swifter strokes I got A LOT more fair off on my first pass. There was a significant difference. I always thought I had been using nice, quick strokes but, much like my stropping, I was wrong.

Progress, right?

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Originally Posted by U2Bono269

But how to I get the hairs that grow side-to-side? It doesn't seem that I can fit my blade in that space comfortably...does anyone do that? I know that if I lift my head up enough, I can fit the blade underneath my chin and shave ear-to-ear, but then I can't see what I'm doing.

What should I do?

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Not a magic bullet but you should be able to stretch a portion of the side of your neck up over your jaw placing it into more easily shaved territory.
It may also help to drop your chin downwards to do so.

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

Not a magic bullet but you should be able to stretch a portion of the side of your neck up over your jaw placing it into more easily shaved territory.
It may also help to drop your chin downwards to do so.

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I do this, but I'm only able to bring a small area of skin up over the jaw to be shaved. My skin just doesn't move all that much. Plus, I have to apply a lot of pressure to get the skin up there and hold it.

To quote Dirty Harry " A man's got to know his limitations"
Yours may simply be resolved by a little more time & practice. Keep at it.

Last night I tried really hard to stretch better and use a scything motion as much as possible. It seemed that I did remove more hair, but it wasn't a magical revelation or anything. One thing I noticed though was that all the extra stretching led to irritation and razor burn of a degree that I haven't experienced in over a month. I don't know if I was using to much pressure again or not, but it only happened in areas I stretched a lot. And it did absolutely nothing to the chin area. I still had to buff a few places and got good results.

Hello!
I read this morning at Badger & Blade forum that when polled most everyone chooses comfort over BBS shave. I agree with this. Comfort comes first so as to avoid irritation. BBS will eventually come as my technique/skill improves. I too have problems with the chin area and with the neck. But I'm trying to be patient and am learning to back off when I feel myself overdoing it. For example, I shaved with my SR on Tuesday, used a DE on Thursday, skipping today and will again use my SR on Saturday and trying for a light touch and not perfection. I have one question. What does it mean when you "buff" a few places? I usually follow-up with a DE if I missed a few places and there isn't irritation in those areas.
Thanks for the advice! I am enjoying the learning curve and appreciate all of you for your time and advice.
Phil in KY