Can't get close enough!

[IMightBeWrong]

In a couple of trouble spots, that is. I've been shaving every single day with the straight for a little over a week now and I'm having no problem getting a presentable shave with no cuts, and only a nick every other day or so. I feel I'm doing pretty well. HOWEVER! I have to hit a couple of areas with my safety razor for cleanup that I wish I could skillfully hit with the straight.

1. Around my adams apple the hair growth pattern is ridiculous. It literally grows in every direction. Shaving down and up is no problem, however the blade of the straight is so long that I can't find a way to safely go against the grain sideways without nicking something! Since the safety is so much shorter in cutting surface, navigating each direction is no problem.

2. Moustache area. I don't want to make the fools pass but I just can't get BBS no matter how many times I go over.

I know the razor is sharp because the shave is comfortable, removes hair, and it's still the recently professionally honed edge that it came to me with to start. Is it just because my hair is so thick? Should I, when not shaving purely with the DE anyway, just go for presentable and not waste time trying to get closer in these spots or is there some technique for going over them?

 

[noahpictures]

It takes time to figure out all the angles of attack. It's good that you maintained a nice edge on your blade. If you don't try, you won't learn

Fools pass every shave for me. I hold the blade with both hands for extra control. Before going ATG, I do light ATG blade buffing on the mustache area then lather up and do a normal ATG.

 

[smalltank]

I have cactus like whiskers around my throat as well.. I also can only use 1 hand as well.. Pull your skin downward and with the bottom edge of your razor lightly go inward... Very tricky but hey.. That's what experimenting is all about... I never of a fools anything til geofatboy started saying it... Curl your lip to get the upper section.. That's about it...

ST

 

[mdunn]

swirly neck bit:
I have one of these, I just pull it in a certain direction and it basically stands up. its a matter of getting used to stretching and moving your head around to present the hair as best you can. practice practice practice

tough mo:
again, I have this. I stretch my top lip over my teeth, and hold the razor with the blade facing my nose. I support the toe end on the spine with the hand im not using, and go back and forth over it (carefully and no pressure). BBS from that, baby!

 

[Lando]

my moustache hair grows down and laterally, so an against the grain pass is oblique from the corner of the mouth towards the nostril instead of straight up. feels a bit safer than a straight up and down "fool's pass." stretch that upper lip out and go slow.

 

[Shave Ready]

1. Can't help out much with the Adam's apple, other than to suggest pulling the skin away from the apple...too much of a speed bump.

2. On the mustache, have you tried XTG passes? I do a WTG N-S, followed by 2 XTG passes going from ear to nose.

Either way, these are tough areas to find comfortable angles of attack and what will work for you. It takes a while to figure out what works for you and even longer still to do it consistently. But it's worth the effort!

 

[dpmtherrien]

Just keep working at it. As you do your technique will improve as you figure out the best way to use that straight. As long as the shaves are presentable I wouldn't worry about it for now. Things will fall into place as time goes on. Just keep at it.

 

[AjaxLepinski]

1. Can't help out much with the Adam's apple, other than to suggest pulling the skin away from the apple...too much of a speed bump.

2. On the mustache, have you tried XTG passes? I do a WTG N-S, followed by 2 XTG passes going from ear to nose.

Either way, these are tough areas to find comfortable angles of attack and what will work for you. It takes a while to figure out what works for you and even longer still to do it consistently. But it's worth the effort!

+1 both answers are on the money. Pull your skin to the left and to the right of your adams apple and two XTG's on the upper lip -and- pactise, practise, practise. It takes about 3 months to get a good at it and don't be worried about switching to your DE or cartridge razor to give your skin a break.

 

[IMightBeWrong]

Pulling the skin hasn't really helped, but I haven't really thought of it as trying to make the hair stand up as much as I have trying to get it out of the way enough to not cut myself elsewhere trying to maneuver the blade. I should experiment more. Something's gotta work. I also just put some .5 and .25 micron pastes on a strop and went over them. The edge is a little more mirror polished now than it was, so maybe that will help.

I'm glad I learned to sharpen and polish my own knives over the course of the last couple of years. I'm a lot more confident experimenting with my razor than I would be if I didn't know how to put an edge on something already.

 

[IMightBeWrong]

An update, I'm starting to get it. Taking the fools pass and being careful. Takes a bit of time to get it well and not get cut but I'm getting it. I also have started to get really close on my neck. I've found I don't even need to attack those hairs ATG to get smoothness as if I did so anyway. I'm using a small amount of contact at the tip of the razor and attacking them with it at a diagonal upward angle and the neck feels great!

 

[buca3152]

2. Moustache area. I don't want to make the fools pass but I just can't get BBS no matter how many times I go over.

When you get a better hang of the razor, the fools pass is easy IMO. I go one pass up and slightly to the left or right. A slicing motion if you will. Now its VERY slightly to the left or right, if you move it too much sideways you will get cut. One pass without irritation and its all gone. The main thing about straights IMO is a shave ready razor, and knowing what cuts the stubble and what cuts the skin. And also knowing when enough is enough without hurting yourself. It took me 3 months of daily shaving before I was able to get a BBS every time. Avoid the cuts and irritation as much as possible(obviously) and you will get there.