Help with technique

[spiffykyle]

So I am trying to figure out if shaving with a straight is right for me after a couple of years into DE shaving.

My main concern right now is how to shave around this blasted goatee of mine. I took the blade out of my wife's hair shaper and have been trying to work out the logistics of holding a razor and how I would shave and I am stumped trying to figure out how to shave up to (and not through) my beard.

I have looked at some videos and pictures but can't find a resource showing how I would go about this as they are all clean shaven. Can someone help?

Thanks

 

[Huxley]

Here you go.

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI4ak1lJgY4&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

 

[spiffykyle]

Do most people only use one hand? I was under the impression that you normally switch hands.

 

[taffy]

I find it quite hard to swap hands although i always have a go i end up using my right hand.

 

[LaughingAtFate]

Do most people only use one hand? I was under the impression that you normally switch hands.

some do, some don't, it all depends on what they feel comfortable doing. I tend to only use my left doing ATG, when WTG I use my right, Weird, I know, but *shrug*

 

[Pumpkin]

Can't help with the goatee problem...I enjoy shaving too much to keep any facial hair, although I have considered a soul patch using a straight

Do most people only use one hand? I was under the impression that you normally switch hands.

I made a conscious effort to use both hands when I started with straights (18 shaves ago), my reasoning was that I was learning a whole new set of skills anyway whichever hand I used Touch wood, it seems to be working!

 

[HCSchluge]

I use both hands and actually find that my off hand is better than my primary hand for certain strokes. I am not sure I could shave really well with only one hand.

 

[Luc]

Do most people only use one hand? I was under the impression that you normally switch hands.

I use both hands but if you prefer using one, that's fine. I would recommend using both if you are starting so you can get used to it. I never thought I would use my left for shaving (I don't with a DE) but with a straight, it's easier for me. YMMV.

It won't feel "natural" at first but after 4-5 shaves, it will be easier.

To hold your straight: http://www.straightrazorplace.com/srpwiki/index.php/Different_ways_to_hold_a_straight_razor

 

[richmondesi]

Shaving around the goatee is the precise reason that I've heard from a lot of guys to shave with a straight razor. If you want straight lines in your beard, what better tool is there than a straight razor?

Welcome to the enlightenment

 

[heirkb]

Shaving around the goatee is the precise reason that I've heard from a lot of guys to shave with a straight razor. If you want straight lines in your beard, what better tool is there than a straight razor?

Welcome to the enlightenment

I read Glen's post about this and didn't believe him at first.
Then I tried straights. I even got comments from people (silly friends) about how straight my goatee lines were

 

[dpmtherrien]

When I started straight shaving I only used my right hand, but as I progressed along I found it easier to bring my left into use. There were just some places I couldn't get at by just using one hand. however you'll have to find what works best for yourself. There is no right or wrong way to use a straight, so do whatever feels and works best for you.

 

[Woodash]

Yes, this 'mapping of your face' and how you need to articulate the razor to cover all areas is different for everybody. For me, it was (and is) a large part of the learning curve. Also I used to think that a round point razor was the way to go, but now I prefer something with a little more of a point. Mo better for sculpting....

 

[richmondesi]

When I started straight shaving I only used my right hand, but as I progressed along I found it easier to bring my left into use. There were just some places I couldn't get at by just using one hand. however you'll have to find what works best for yourself. There is no right or wrong way to use a straight, so do whatever feels and works best for you.

I can think of a few wrong ways to use a straight

 

[Bothor]

Was just about to make a thread about this very subject. I myself have been learning to straight shave with a goatee/mo. I personally have the hardest time with trying to do XTG on the part just below my beard on my chin. I tried it once and got the angle wrong and sliced into myself (whoopsie) and haven't tried since. It seems the best option is to just go WTG (and ATG if I'm doing ATG) and skip XTG.

It's also kind of tricky working with the part on the sides of my beard which are along the jawline. Hard to see what I'm doing as my hand gets in the way. Apart from those two things I seem to be doing ok. I mostly just do WTG and XTG atm and been learning ATG on weekends cause I seem to be ending up with a bit of irritation from (hopefully just) bad technique ATG.

Here you go.

Is this you? The parts where your skin bunches up while your shaving scares the daylights out of me! I've lightly cut myself when I haven't stretched my skin and it's bunched up like that.

 

[ALL HANDS WORKING]

Very good video, but, if he was using a Feather AC...there would have been blood.

 

[Alacrity59]

I too have a goatee. I'm right handed and although I change hands when I'm awake enough I tend to shave with my right hand only. I start on my right side toe of blade toward ear. . . side-burn first and down my neck . . . mostly with the tip. Mid cheek down my neck with the full blade then along side my goatee trimming close with the heel. Then left side of face toe of blade pointing to my left ear . . . trim by goatee close with the heel of the blade working over to my left ear . . . finishing off with toe to trim side-burn.

Ok this is taking some words. So briefly . . . Then I go from beard to ears on both sides. . . then from ear to beard . . . then up from neck to cheek all over

Where I've gotten into trouble is when I've put the razor to my face on an edge of my beard and tried to create the perfect edge. An ever so slight horizontal move to the blade motion will cause a cut . . . and you feel it immediately . . no matter how slight . . . and there you go another cat scratch that will not go away for at least three days 2.5" long.


Better to get close to your beard on stokes that are parallel. For strokes out from the beard . . . be going in the direction you intend before your blade contacts your face . . . perhaps multiple strokes . . . getting closer to the beard with each one . . . it becomes obvious when you are into the longer hair of your beard . . .so you stop there.

I hope this makes some form of sense to you as I'm not trying to be too precise.

Mike

 

[SliceOfLife]

So I am trying to figure out if shaving with a straight is right for me after a couple of years into DE shaving.

My main concern right now is how to shave around this blasted goatee of mine. I took the blade out of my wife's hair shaper and have been trying to work out the logistics of holding a razor and how I would shave and I am stumped trying to figure out how to shave up to (and not through) my beard.

I have looked at some videos and pictures but can't find a resource showing how I would go about this as they are all clean shaven. Can someone help?

Thanks

Straights kind of default to a goatee for me. I actually have a harder time figuring out how to shave my goatee than how to go around it. It's basically a box around your mouth that you approach from the left, right and below. I usually go from under my ear along my jawline with the razor held vertically in towards the goatee and stop at the edge, and the neck I trim right under my goatee with the razor held horizontally and pushing up until the edge of the goatee. Those three strokes are what defines the goatee for me. Other than that it's just a matter of not creeping into the goatee during the other passes, which isn't hard at all. Like I said, it's much more trouble for me to find an angle where I CAN shave that area than one where I can avoid it.