Thread: Specific to Chins - this one is for the bony ones!

I'm a fairly skinny guy (5'10, 130lb)... My face is not so meaty... my chin isn't so easy to just, round over it, more specifically is the sides of my chin, what you could consider the two 'corners'. That is very hard to get right thanks to the less rounded structure of it. I managed to cut myself good the first time ever doing this, the second time nothing... but just didn't seem like the proper way.

any tips?

I worry about something like pictured happening, because my chin is far more pronounced than this guys.

it doesn't really matter how bony your face may be. You just have to experiment with stretching and strokes to get the right combination for you. Often times when we try a new stroke especially when we are starting out it feels awkward but as you do it more and more it feels more natural and you get better at it.

I usually do a N-S and then a S-N stroke there but that works for me. I used to do an E-W and W-E stroke but found it didn't really improve things.

The knob of the chin is one of the more challenging parts. I form my fingers in a V and push up on either side with my thumb on one side and my fore and middle finger on the other, pushing up toward my ears. That is for the knob of the chin. The sides are relatively easy if the razor is sharp. For those I just reach above, on my cheek, with my stretching hand, and pull the skin towards the ear or thereabouts. Keep experimenting with stretching, angle of attack, blade angle and all or that. You'll find what works for you. My phizzog is pretty bony too FWIW.

I have to agree with our peers above. I also have a pretty knobby chin and a defined chin edge, but I think this falls into that practice makes perfect category. If you know how your hair grows, and which stroke directions work best for you, try experimenting with pulling your skin in different directions. Jimmy's explanation is pretty darn good, but I would just add that I have to make sure I have a really slick lather on to get the most comfort on the knob. If you are careful, have a firm grip, and aren't trying to rush through that last section, you shouldn't have any problems.

To attack the side of your chin, try stretching your skin on your jawline from your ear towards your chin, and then shave with the razor vertical (across the grain), in the same direction. I share this problem area and this seems to work for me. WTG usually justs ends up with a cut. Experiment a little bit, you'll get to know the contours of your face after a while, & learn some tricks that work for you.

I'm new as well. Only been straight shaving for 2 months. I have been experimenting with a NE-SW stroke. This would be an XTG stroke for my beard pattern. Its works really well sometimes and not so much other times. I think it depends on my stretching...

The above advice is great - I too am new to SR less than 12 months - and I would say been there done that. The key I have found is with any SR stroke is concentrating to keep the stroke moving parallel to the blade's edge. My cut occurred through a lack of concentration. Fortunately it heals. I stretch as described above and move slowly. I hope this helps.

Another thing I am experimenting with is to move the razor xtg and go West to East. My problem is with the cleft. I have been trying to start with the heal of razor on the cleft and as I move west to east i slice the hairs moving from the heal of the razor to middle of the blade. I have sliced myself on a number of occasions with this so skin stretching is crucial and that you must continue moving the razor west to east as well or you will be posting on the cut of the day thread. ANYONE with any advice on cleft chins please help us out! This is definitely a big problem for me. Also if anyone has a better way of doing what I have just described, please let us know!

Angle, angle, angle! I'd try placing the blade flat against your skin and raising the spine until it will shave. A shallower angle could be the trick here. It helps me in that area of my face.

I've only been straight shaving for a few months but find the tip of my chin and the hairs that grow out of the bottom of my lip are the most difficult. Changing directions, etc did not really improve my success. What I did find that has helped tremendously is that I now shave those two areas FIRST. I soap up just my chin point and my lip area, and shave right after a fresh strop session. I then lather and shave like usual and all is good.