Ok, guys with glasses...how do you do it?

[BlackAngus]

Ok, I've been straight shaving for a week now, with pretty decent success. However, the biggest irritation I've had so far is trying to get my sideburns. The arms from my glasses get in the way. The only way I can do it is to take off my glasses, and as nearly-blind as I am, that's not really an acceptable solution. Shaving blind is a bad idea, especially with a straight.

 

[azmark]

I'm blind too without my contacts. I don't shave with my contacts about 90% of the time and I'm pretty use to it. My suggestion is just practice and go even slower when you shave but shave without your glasses the entire time. After a while it will become muscle memory and you'll know where to begin and learn the bumps and curvature of your face.

 

[bjh618]

Perhaps a monocle is in order then, sir?

 

[W_B_K]

Wear contacts I can see up close fine, but anything over 2 ft. is way blurry so I know what you mean. I haven't shaved with glasses on so I can't give advice there, but what azmark says is true.

When I started out with straights there were a couple of spots where my vision was blocked (hand or arm in the way with stretching skin) and I was nervous about putting the blade to skin. A couple of times it would result in nicks, mostly because I was trying to fight myself to see what I was doing. One day I closed my eyes and tried it. It was a bit of a eureka moment for me, I could just sense where the blade was! If you are able to at all, try shaving the areas you are having trouble with without you glasses on, then put them back on later. I don't think it will take you long to get the feel of where the blade should be.

Muscle memory really does work. As strange as it sounds, I think I could complete a shave with my eyes closed at this point. It would take longer no doubt and I think my under nose/upper lip area would be the most challanging spot, but other than that I think I'd be ok.

 

[LarryAndro]

With glasses off, I shave first the little swath on each side of my face where my glass' arms cross. Luckily, this is the easiest part of the face to shave. That takes just a few seconds. Then, put on my glasses, and they don't get in the way the rest of my shave.

 

[Troggie]

I just started shaving with my glasses off. Once you get the "feel" of how the razor works you should be fine. Until then what I did was tilt my glasses so the ear hooks were sitting on the top of my head and I could see still.

 

[professorchaos]

I put my contacts in

 

[Bay Rum]

I don't have a problem my forearms are clean shaven

 

[michiganlover]

With glasses off, I shave first the little swath on each side of my face where my glass' arms cross. Luckily, this is the easiest part of the face to shave. That takes just a few seconds. Then, put on my glasses, and they don't get in the way the rest of my shave.

+1

Sounds like the best, and safest option to me. I don't always shave with my glasses on, as they get smeared with lather.

Alteratively, at least until you get more comfortable with the straight, you could shave that part of your face with a safety razor, and then put your glasses back on, and proceed with the straight shave.

 

[BladeRunner001]

Interesting post...I do wear glasses, but do not wear them while shaving. For the sideburns, I almost feel my way. I have also figured a way to tilt my head in such a way and angle (with respect to the mirror) that I have no problem seeing what I am doing. But for the most part, I feel my way around that area

Cheers,
Robert

 

[woodturner]

I initially had problems, but came up with a solution that I know worked in the past and still does, grow sideburns! I've always shaved with glasses on, then for the heck of it, decided to let the sideburns grow a little longer. Visibility problem solved! I think we can bring this style back.

 

[Bertilak]

Ok, I've been straight shaving for a week now, with pretty decent success. However, the biggest irritation I've had so far is trying to get my sideburns. The arms from my glasses get in the way. The only way I can do it is to take off my glasses, and as nearly-blind as I am, that's not really an acceptable solution. Shaving blind is a bad idea, especially with a straight.

I wear glasses but simply shave without them. Perhaps my vision is better than yours. I think I am + (or is it - ?) 2.75-3.00 or there abouts (far sighted) with astigmatism.

I have shaved even more blind for years -- in the shower w/o a mirror. Haven't attempted that with a straight but mostly because of the paraphernalia involved (brush, soap dish, delicate blade).

Over time, and working with my fuzzy image in the mirror, I found it is no longer an issue even with a straight.

 

[wolfmanxiii]

This probably isn't the best idea in the world, but when I started shaving with a straight I did wear my glasses. After I got a feel for it though I just stopped wearing them while shaving. Especially since I take really hot showers in the winter (when I started shaving with a straight) so my glasses would fog up half the time anyway while shaving as showering is part of my prep routine.

 

[Uncle Erik]

Rock some sideburns and keep your glasses on.

 

[BladeRunner001]

Rock some sideburns and keep your glasses on.

With this guys, I worry less about shaving and more about teeth .

Cheers,
Robert

 

[Pinski]

This is a great post.

My solution was to opt for contacts. Apparently as I've gone backwards in shaving technology it's necessary to look forward in optical technology.

Also, as I've started straight shaving, my sideburns have gotten longer. Apparently I'm subconsciously avoiding the higher areas on my cheek.

 

[DavyRay]

Ok, I've been straight shaving for a week now, with pretty decent success. However, the biggest irritation I've had so far is trying to get my sideburns. The arms from my glasses get in the way. The only way I can do it is to take off my glasses, and as nearly-blind as I am, that's not really an acceptable solution. Shaving blind is a bad idea, especially with a straight.

What's your diopter? There should be some distance between your face and the mirror which works for you. Maybe you could shave somewhere where the mirror is closer to your face. The focus distance in the mirror changes about 2X with actual distance. Experiment!

 

[brianw]

Without my glasses, only if I had a death wish.... Lather... put glasses on and go at it. Since a have a very trimmed and edged beard, it would be unthinkable with out them

 

[malocchio]

IN the past two months I have had cataract surgery on both eyes...my distance vision is now much improved,but I have lost ability to close focus...a nice high quality 15x mirror helps a lot,most guys can shave without their glasses with a nice 6 or 7 inch diameter 15x mirror...I got mine from mirrorplace.com

 

[Jim]

Blind men can shave with no problems.