Proper Stretching Technique

[JHP]

My first straight razor is in the mail. As I wait I've been preparing. Recently I started shaving with strong side & weak side hands on my DE to begin developing better coordination with my off-side hand. I've also started adding in a little stretching.

I've watched Chiminsch's video a number of times now, and he does a lot of stretching. Question - depending on your skin, is it possible that facial contortions could provide enough stretching for some guys based on their age, weight, and overall skin-tightness? I've found that if I stretch my skin as tight as Chiminsch appears to do, that I can give myself a pretty good case of razor burn. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong, or perhaps it's a little different with a straight vs. a DE. With my DE I've developed a pretty good repertoire of contortions that serve to flatten and stretch most spots. Is that enough?

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Josh

 

[dpmtherrien]

I think that doing different ways of stretching or facial contortions is going to be something you'll have to just do to find out what works best for you. Anything shaving is such a YMMV thing, that the only way to find whats best is to find it for yourself.

 

[temjeito]

YMMV. In my short life with straights, I've found that stretching is not always required for me to get a close enough shave. Areas where contortions work pretty well for me are around the mouth. I tend to stretch more on the sides of the face.

 

[smalltank]

Where did you get your razor from?...just curious.....get an alum block..works great for skin stretching and helps bigtime with any nicks cuts or weepers..plus it's an option as a deodorant :*)

 

[sarimento1]

also a learner here.
found that using a magnifying shave mirror is great help.
take time, short strokes.
still leaving the tight spots for cleanup with DE.
have fun!

 

[Fast Eddie]

Stretching the skin properly is the essence of keeping your lather white. I usually shave in the opposite direction of the stretch, good luck.

 

[Thomas Martin]

Stretching is the key!

 

[fsturnz]

A combination of either (or both) hand stretching and facial contortions work well for me. Depending on the area of my face, I can get my skinn nearly as taught with facial contortions as I can with hand stretching. When the hand stretching doesn't add anything, I just stick with the contortions. Works for me.

 

[JHP]

Thanks to everyone for the tips. I'm just finding with my DE that I can over stretch, which makes me susceptible to razor burn.

Where did you get your razor from?...

Smalltank, I have an alum block. It does help with gription. I have a straight coming from whipped dog, but I also have a Dovo Palisander coming from The Superior Shave. I'm excited to embark on the learning process. Brushes, soap, lather, DE - the whole wet shaving process took me a few months to master, but I'm so glad that I did. Now that I've been at it for a year, I'm ready to take it to the next level with a straight.

I'm excited!

Josh

 

[smalltank]

good gear!..enjoy..