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

I've only been at this for a little over a month, so the idea of trying the blade buff technique when I'm still a raging newbie probably wasn't a great idea, but I tried it anyway. No matter how I adjust the angle of my blade, or the direction of my strokes, or the water content of my lather, I just can't get the hair off my neck and chin.

Yes, there was a steep learning curve to it. I got a little irritation and burn, though less than I thought initially. When I applied my aftershave I didn't get anywhere near the amount of burning I expected, so that was REALLY encouraging. No, I didn't achieve perfect smoothness. But what I did achieve is a much smoother shave that didn't require a DE touchup or anything at all. I feel very smooth with the grain, mostly smooth across it, and a patchy scratchiness against the grain.

It felt REALLY natural and comfortable and I loved it. I think it might be the key to getting the close smooth shave I'm looking for.

But there seems to be one area I'm confused about. While the grain on my neck goes in seemingly all directions at once, predominately the grain grows from ear to ear, side to side. If I buff up and down, or at an angle, I get all the hairs that grow in those respective directions. 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?

U2Bono269,

Good question :)

I have exactly the same issues with the hair growth on my neck :(

I do a very careful ATG scythe stroke in both right-to-left and left-to right directions in these problem areas, and get a very passable result.

There are still a few patches of roughness left, but I learnt a long while ago that a slightly rough but comfortable shave beats an irritated BBS shave anyday :)

Good luck !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

I have done scything and buffing in many directions. I can not get the blade to go east and west under my chin, on my neck. The only way for me to get BBS smooth against the grain, is to use a DE. And then it still isn't perfect.

I can get an east-west motion directly under my chin, but not any lower than that. I wonder if I could pull it off if I could learn to use my left hand; I feel like it would give me the angle I need and I could still see over it. I use one hand to shave because my left hand is so uncoordinated it terrifies me to use it with a sharp blade. I tried my left hand once and I immediately cut myself before I even cut a single hair. Pretty much the only thing my left hand is good for is fingering chords and scales on a guitar....but it took years and years to make my left hand obey those commands regularly.

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.

skin stretching on my neck seems inconsequential. It's a definite help on my cheeks and that line on and directly under the jaw. But stretching the skin on the neck and under the jaw doesn't do anything. I can't even stretch it that well. It's not because of the lather...even now with a dry face if I were to stretch that skin it wouldn't stretch...it's pretty firm. I do apply pressure on the sides of the neck and the bottom of the neck, which provides some stretching and seems to have at least a little effect. But I don't seem physically able to do stretching of any significance.

The thing that has helped the most is facial contortions and shifting the head around to stretch out the skin that way. Previously, I was usually left with a face that looks mostly shaven, but still felt really scratchy and I could feel the stubble sticking on my shirt collars. LAst night I buffed with the blade and I haven't had a single hair stick to my collar today, despite some lingering rough patches. I'm really quite happy with it and I think I can improve it to the point that I get a really close shave.

I have found that stretching is the key to shaving the neck and esbecially under the chin line. I sometimes use a small towel or washcloth between neck and fingers to get the most traction.

I agree. I've been at this about 3 months and started with a DE before going with my 5/8" Dovo Forestal SR. I did find a good two part video on SRP Wicki which I found helpful for shaving hair growing at right angles to my throat. He shows angle or scything across the grain there. Still can't get that area perfect, I get razor burn if I try too hard but I think it is coming along. I think the key is to relax and take your time. Regarding stretching the skin, I initially worried about cutting myself on the jaw line. But I eliminated that problem on the left and right jaw line by pulling the skin up. I got excellent results in those areas. Problem areas are still on the chin, under the lower lip, and either side of my throat. Also, how do you see what you are doing when starting at the side burns? I got a slight scar under my right sideburn from a mishap on my first day with my SR. My starting angle was way to steep. But this is my badge of courage in my search for a great shave. Over the adam's apple has been fixed by either swallowing or pulling the skin left or right. Remember John Wayne in "In Harms Way" shaving in his cabin on board ship? "Bacon and Eggs for me." I continue to enjoy myself and really appreciate all of you at SRP.
Thank You!

I have a pretty good view of my sideburns...the left side is tougher but I can still see it. Sometimes I miss my mark though and leave too much or too little sideburns...but honestly I have that issue now matter what I shave with.

I don't have a prominent adam's apple so that area isn't an issue for me really.

Tomorrow's my next shave day so I'll pay extra attention to stretching my neck. Maybe once I get more comfortable with the blade buffing I'll try buffing and scything together...they've both worked well independently.

Stretching my neck worked well for me, but I still did not get that BBS shave on my neck where my hair grows sideways. What worked for me was the scything motion, and I just used light, diagonal strokes from my chin to my ear, and in reverse if necessary. This gave me a great shave.
IMHO, in that hair pattern on the neck, blade buffing will not take off much more than a single pass if you are not going diagonally. Going up or down the neck, which would be across the grain on those hairs, you should only need that single pass before you start scything. Blade buffing across the grain probably wont get you BBS, so you should save your blade buffing for against the grain.

Quote:

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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?

Quote:

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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.

Quote:

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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