Hi,
Wanted to share a technique I've found with my Feather AC SS and straight razors, and was wondering if others use a similar method.
Background: many newbies to straight shaving like me can struggle in areas where the angle of the skin changes acutely - lips, chins etc. I head shave and do the edges of my beard to keep it neat. For a while there I had trouble with tricky areas such as around the ears and the lower throat. I couldn't find any way to flatten my ears enough to allow the optimal low shave angle with the straight, considering I wanted to go ATG.
Previously I was trying all kinds of contortions, but I got bored of the nicks and irritation. I prize BBS shaves, so lateral thinking was required... I experimented with a different technique, and found it very successful. In fact so successful that I've been using it routinely for weeks now and pretty much forgot I was doing it. I 'remembered' I was doing last night as I've also recently started using this technique on my throat to do the beard edges, and have seen a big improvement in the lining up as a result as well as comfort.
With minimal pressure and careful positioning I place the blade almost perpendicular to the skin at the base of the area I want to shave ATG. Then, keeping the razor absolutely still, just gently rolling it axially up into the grain keeping the blade lightly in contact with the skin. With the axis fixed the blade naturally makes a pass as its angle changes and flattens more against the skin.
It works with the scales fully extended or at right angles. A few strokes like this can get the area BBS, and it has put paid to nicks, stray hairs and razor rash.
ETA: I've used this with the Feather AC SS and a 7/8 straight.
Does anyone else do this?
Luke
Wanted to share a technique I've found with my Feather AC SS and straight razors, and was wondering if others use a similar method.
Background: many newbies to straight shaving like me can struggle in areas where the angle of the skin changes acutely - lips, chins etc. I head shave and do the edges of my beard to keep it neat. For a while there I had trouble with tricky areas such as around the ears and the lower throat. I couldn't find any way to flatten my ears enough to allow the optimal low shave angle with the straight, considering I wanted to go ATG.
Previously I was trying all kinds of contortions, but I got bored of the nicks and irritation. I prize BBS shaves, so lateral thinking was required... I experimented with a different technique, and found it very successful. In fact so successful that I've been using it routinely for weeks now and pretty much forgot I was doing it. I 'remembered' I was doing last night as I've also recently started using this technique on my throat to do the beard edges, and have seen a big improvement in the lining up as a result as well as comfort.
With minimal pressure and careful positioning I place the blade almost perpendicular to the skin at the base of the area I want to shave ATG. Then, keeping the razor absolutely still, just gently rolling it axially up into the grain keeping the blade lightly in contact with the skin. With the axis fixed the blade naturally makes a pass as its angle changes and flattens more against the skin.
It works with the scales fully extended or at right angles. A few strokes like this can get the area BBS, and it has put paid to nicks, stray hairs and razor rash.
ETA: I've used this with the Feather AC SS and a 7/8 straight.
Does anyone else do this?
Luke
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