Skin Stretching Counter Productive?

[delmonte]

I've been noticing, especially today, that stretching the skin, even just by using facial muscles or looking up, etc. isn't helping me get a good shave. I get more irritation and less close, especially under my jaw line. I just shaved, and right now there's a spot I missed, even after doing 3 passes and touch-ups, under my left jawline. The spot is visible, and the interesting thing is that when I look up and expose the neck in the same way as when I shaved and I rub my fingers over that spot, I don't even feel it, but when I look straight and rub my fingers over the spot, I feel the stubble, and I'm pretty sure if I shaved that way I would've gotten it for that reason.

So my theory is that, in some areas especially, if I stretch the skin, the hairs kind of lay down flatter against the skin which makes it harder for the razor to catch, while it glides over skin causing more irritation. When the skin isn't being stretched, the hairs stick out more (which is why I could feel the stubble) and makes it easier for the razor to slice the hairs. Anyone else experience this? For those that have, do you think this holds true for the whole face, or is it something that works differently in every part of the face and neck, meaning you have to know which parts to stretch and which parts not to?

 

[McShaverson]

It could be the way that you're stretching the skin. For instance, if you stretch the skin WTG of your hair then it's going to make the hair lay flat, but if you strecth ATG it's going to pull the hairs to a more upright position. Therefore you just a closer cut and a better shave.

Just a thought,
Kevin

 

[Bulldawg]

snip.... For those that have, do you think this holds true for the whole face, or is it something that works differently in every part of the face and neck, meaning you have to know which parts to stretch and which parts not to?

I utilize the same amount of skin stretching with my DE as when I tried to learn using a straight razor. Personally, I think the key is to use very little pressure on the razor for it to be effective. Skin stretching + too much pressure will likely cause problems. For me, skin stretching is most effective on areas where the hair lays flat against the face. For me that's both cheek areas and the whole neck area.

 

[SiBurning]

Good reason not to rely on a single technique. Figure out what works where, and mix it up to find what works best for you.

With a DE, I usually keep my face relaxed when I go over my cheeks. The razor pushes the skin enough to get a similar effect to stretching. I do the stretching thing in other places where that doesn't work as well. I also do both techniques in some places, particularly on my cheeks and chin. You might argue this requires more pressure, but that's a tradeoff I can handle. YMMV.

 

[strat1117]

Good reason not to rely on a single technique. Figure out what works where, and mix it up to find what works best for you.

With a DE, I usually keep my face relaxed when I go over my cheeks. The razor pushes the skin enough to get a similar effect to stretching. I do the stretching thing in other places where that doesn't work as well. I also do both techniques in some places, particularly on my cheeks and chin. You might argue this requires more pressure, but that's a tradeoff I can handle. YMMV.

Exactly. It's the Goldilocks Theory -- you need to find the technique (or combination of techniques) that just right for you.

 

[Laser]

I found the same problem, especially under my chin. No matter how much I stretched it, I couldn't get a real close shave and the area would actually get irritated. I now do the exact opposite and make sure my skin is totally unstretched. I get a BBS shave every day and no irritation. Give it a try.
I use the Merkur HD with Feather blades.

 

[Ron Gallant]

I am a straight shaver and with the straights I stretch for every pass. Great shaves. However, when I DE shave, I to not stretch. Well at least not the same. I make sure the skin will not fold or pull by mistake. So I stretch enough to keep the skin smooth and no more. If I do, I get razor burn.

 

[mdunn]

assuming we're talking straights here - youve got to make sure youre stretching in the right direction, that is, youre pulling in the opposite direction that the hair is pointing