Thread: Tips for shaving my chin?

I've been trying to learn straight razor shaving off and on for several months now, and the main problem is my chin.

My razor basically sticks in my chin hair; it won't glide. I have to push it through, which of course creates a lot of irritation.

I also have this problem with my safety razor. Right now with the safety razor I'm dealing with my chin by "blade buffing," taking a ton of really, really short strokes. Otherwise the safety razor blade just sort of sticks in my chin stubble. I'm only able to do one pass, with the grain.

I don't think my prep is the problem. I use hot water, hot towels, and hair conditioner to get my beard feeling somewhat soft instead of prickly. I tried showering before shaving, but that actually made the problem worse. I also have some glycerine that I use as a prepass lube.

Right now I'm using Proraso green tube cream and a pure badger brush. I have some glycerine soap that I'm thinking of trying tomorrow.

One of my straights was honed by a member, and I've gotten another to HHT-sharp on my own.

Does anyone have any suggestions for coping with a difficult chin?

I feel like if I could just get through a with-the-grain pass without irritating the heck out of my chin I could start using the straight for my daily shave.

Thanks for any tips you can offer,
Josh

What razor are you using? Generally a stiffer or heavier blade copes better with this situation.

It's strange that you're having difficulties with going WITH the grain. If you meant "against" then try doing the chin in 3 passes:
1) with
2) across
3) against
Gradual reduction should do it.

I had the same problem. I do most of my face w/ a single pass against the grain. Only the chin and moustache areas have such stubborn stubble that I have to do 2 passes: on the chin 1st with the grain and then against it.
In the moustache area 1st across the grain and then against it.
I never managed a with the grain pass (i.e. north to south) under my nose!

Firestart,

No, my problem is that I can't get a decent with the grain pass on my chin. I've used several different straights and two DEs. The straights included a 5/8 full hollow and a 6/8 half hollow. (I haven't managed to get my wedge and 11/16 W&B up to snuff yet.)

I've tried reducing the angle to the point where the spine is touching my skin, and I've tried a 30-degree angle and points in between. My goal in the first pass is beard reduction, not smooth skin.

I'm going to keep at it, but the irritation is a big deterent. If I get a bad case of razor burn, I can't even get a decent shave with my DE for days.

I'm going to keep at it, and I'm sure I'll figure it out at some point.

Josh

Well, I just had something of a breakthrough. I spent about an hour and a half on my Saturday shave, which gave me some time to try some different things.

I used the Classicshaving.com glycerine soap, which made a fabulous lather, although it took longer to get going than my Proraso cream.

I was having the same problems with my chin as usual, even when I switched to my DE. Then I tried biting my lower lip and letting my jaw hang down. This stretched the skin on my chin nice and tight, and got it relatively flat.

I was able to get it pretty smooth, although I gave myself some razor burn on one side of my jaw.

Skin stretching is at least part of the answer--surprise, surprise.

The better news is that my straight, which I honed myself, was doing quite well against 36 hours worth of stubble. So my honing is working, and I just need to work on my shaving techinque.

Thanks, everyone, for your replies.

Josh

Originally Posted by joshearl

Skin stretching is at least part of the answer--surprise, surprise.

Josh

I find grinning at the mirror works best for me.

Joshearl, my chin is an absolute horror to shave too. I have a "butt-chin" and quite a few scar tissue mounds from splitting the darn thing in hockey and rugby. I have found that the best method, for me anyway, is to do very short strokes and constantly re-lather.

I know its probably overkill, but i end up re-lathering my chin 2-3 times AFTER my shave, just making quick passes to try and get it all. Hope my 2cents help!

(also note that I only have 30 posts, so there is a good chance I have no idea what im talking about... this could very well be extremely inefficient)

I started growing a goatee the day my youngest daughter was born. She is now 11. I can appreciate that the chin would be tough, regardless of the shape or configuration. I'm just greatful I don't have to deal with it!

RT

I hate shaving my chin. The blade doesn't get stuck in the stubble, it almost seems like it glides OVER the stubble and doesn't cut it! I think it's just my technique so I'm trying several different methods.

Steven