finishing: what works for me.

[neilxvx]

So lately I've been getting better and better with my finishing passes.

For all intensive purposes: I'm using a Merkur HD and I'm mostly a method shaver but I use traditional creams every now and then.

Like I said, i've really been getting good with chopping off those last bits of stubble, primarily around my chin, jawline, and underneath my chin on my neck (those are the roughest hairs of my beard.)

I've learned that using my left hand (my non-razor hand) to pull my skin in the opposite direction of the grain, then shaving in what would be with the grain, that I can really yank off that stubble. Now I don't mean that I fully stretch the skin, I simply put one, maybe two fingers on the area and then as my fingers slide in the desired direction the razor quickly follows with a pass. This has really yielded me close shaves without irritation. It takes me a little longer to do this but it's well worth it and works much better than going against the grain.

Tonight was my best shave yet and this method really seems to work for me. I thought I should share as my last thread was about shaving for a comfortable shave. This method, when done right seems to give me a very comfortable, irritation-free shave but yields absolute BBS results.

[T-square]

That's interesting. I will have to give it a try.

[PTurchan]

I will give this one a shot too. The process does seem like it would be very effective in combination with proper blade angle, pressure and pre-shave preparation.