Good morning, all- I am having trouble with some stubborn whiskers on my chin, so I am turning to you seasoned veterans for some advice. I have been using a 2-pass shave for a few weeks now, and I can shave without any irritation (for the most part.) However, I have a real hard time hacking through the stubborn whiskers on my chin. I have tried multiple directions, various blades, face lathering...but I am still left with these whiskers that just won't shave off. My question is, do I need sharper blades, or a more aggressive razor? Gillette Platinums work pretty well, but only for 1 shave. This morning, I tried the 7 o'clock Super Platinum Black, but I couldn't get through these whiskers even after 4 passes! The Personna Lab Prep blade got through the whiskers, but I felt like I was flaying my skin off! My razor is a Merkur 34C. I also have a Slim Adjustable that I have yet to try out. Thanks!
I also have trouble with stubble on my chin area. You didn't say how long you've been "wetshaving", but its been about two years for me and I've only recently made progress. I find for my goatee area I have to go slow using VERY short strokes. I also shave my chin/goatee area individually so to speak and not as part of my cheeks or neck if that makes sense . I stretch the area more including using my tongue to stretch the skin from the inside. It doesn't really make the area flat as much as tightens the skin in small areas and I feel make the whiskers stand up more. I also buff a little more in that area. Hope this helps. I also would bring that Slim(a very nice razor indeed) into action before buying another razor or even blades. Sometimes that easy adjustability is just what you need to try different things and find a combo that works for you rather than simply sharper blades or a more aggressive razor. You'll be able to try things like the Personna Lab Prep(very sharp blade) on a mild setting(1 or 2) or the 7 o"clocks Blacks on a more aggresive setting(4-6) and everything in between and see if that works. I.M.O. with the equipment you currently have and perhaps some technique tweeking you should be able to at least make some progress toward your goal. BUT don't let any of what I've said STOP you from getting MORE razors if you choose. If theres one thing about people(ME) infected with R.A.D. we LOVE company!!
Good advice from 178-bplatoon. Particularly the idea of the Slim with a very sharp blade, low setting, and buff away... I have a patch on one side of my chin where the whiskers come out flat to the skin - I mean flat, as in don't stand up at all. It is very hard to get them clean in this area, but that is what I do - buff, buff, buff WTG and XTG until it gets it all. You don't mention what soap/cream you are using - try experimenting in that area as well. I know that different products definately make a difference in how well I clean up my trouble spot. To date I have found that Mikes Natural gives me the best cushion and glide for buffing that area without irritating the skin. Just what works for me... Hang in there! You'll experiment, and eventually something will just click and you'll get the results you are looking for!
If you do decide to break out the Slim, make sure the silo doors are open when you turn the adjusting piece. If you keep the doors closed, you'll mess up the internal mechanics of the razor. As for the topic at hand, I save my chin for last and take short strokes, rinsing the razor frequently. Usually after each swipe.
I've never had any difficulties with my chin whiskers... {checks mirror} Ah...we've got a goatee wearer here. As I have only shaved it off once or twice in the last 10 years, I'll refrain from offering any advice, especially since it looks like the advice already given is spot on.
Thanks guys. I have only been wetshaving for a little over 1 month, so certainly technique could be coming into play. I have been using AOS sandlwood cream. Maybe I will try the Slim to see if that helps, then go to some other creams if I still can't get close enough.
You'll catch on, everyone does. If you want to try something with slickness or lanolin, check out the store here. The Wheat Cream and Lanolin soap are products many of us on here swear by, me included.
Thanks, Ryan. I have been looking at the Wheat Cream (as I have seen it mentioned more than a few times) so maybe I will give that a go. Thank God I can ship all of this stuff to my office, or my wife might think I'm nuts!
That's good. The other awesome thing is that there are tons of scents you can choose from. I just used my brand new Lime Wheat Cream last night and I felt like I was in the actual orchard.
I used to have that problem where the chin rounds up (is this where you're having trouble?). It was like shaving a ball there ... only a small portion would get touched by the blade on a stroke. After several haphazard strokes, I'd still leave some stubble. Then that all changed after seeing one of Mantics videos when he got a shave in Vegas, I think. I'll need to go back and watch to be sure. Anyway the Barber showed how to shave the chin. It worked for me! Now the chin is usually one of the smoothest parts on my face. Tough area!
Yes, I recall that Mantic video as well. Very informative. In fact, when I decided to give wet shaving a try, it was his videos alone that convinced me to make the change! Go Mantic!!! As for the chin area, I pretty much do what Ryan does. Very short isolated strokes. WTG, ATG. If you don't use short precise strokes, you''ll just pass right over it like a lawn mower without a blade.
Great stuff...I will be sure to check out the Manticore video. I seem to remember coming across it, but the audio was really bad.
Went back and watched the video ... this is the one I was referring to: He mentions the chin at about 11:45 but the barbers arm obscures a lot visually. "Stretch skin sideways". You can also visually see a little later during the water shave. That's what I do ... "stretch skin sideways" and shave outward (sideways) during the first pass, then inward (sideways) on the second. Only a small portion of the blade contacts the skin, so I need to progressively cover the area ... I go sideways from under the chin and work my way shaving sideways up over to the flatter area above the chin (with several strokes). This (sideways - outward then inward) happens to cover wtg, atg on the chin for me. If I perform a third pass I come up from the throat until the chin starts rounding, then revert back to inward (sideways) again. Any attempts to go over the chin north/south, results in scariness and a poor shave for me. I've got the scars to prove it.
I too have stubborn whiskers right on the point of my chin. What I do is after my three passes, XTG N-S, XTG S-N, ATG with short strokes, and J hooking, I wet my hands and slick up my chin with the remaining lather on my face. I then buff XTG and ATG to get that stubborn area. Works equally well with a Black Beauty set on 6 or my Superspeed Flair Tip with either Feathers or Astras. YMMV.
