Skin stretching not yet for me?

**Ashe** · 09-12-2006, 01:08 AM

Over the last couple of days I've played a little bit with skin stretching while shaving because I've read that it makes the beardhairs to stand up more (certainly in the lower neck area since these tend to be parallel to the face). Initially I only tried it once or twice during a shave while touching up however during today's shave I tried to do a complete 2nd pass with some form of skin stretching.

Needless to say that today's shave was rougher than the previous days, and not noticably closer.

I guess I have to make small steps at a time. I'm only DE wetshaving since approx a month and I'm still working on my technique. I do manage to not nick or cut myself too often (only once a week or something) and I get very enjoyable (although not BBS) results. I think that by stretching my skin and using the same amount of pressure (almost no pressure but just a little bit because I find my Long Handle doesn't cut beardhairs in the neck and chin area), the "cutting" was done more thoroughly but then not on the beardhairs. I scraped part of my outer skin cells I think although if that were really the case, I would be having a red face during the day (red spots are already gone now after 2 hours after the shave).

Just a question to those skin stretching gurus: is there a difference in technique or pressure you use when you decide to use skin stretching? Is because you're stretching the skin the risk to "scrape off" part of the outer skin cells higher than if you would be using the same pressure but without skin stretching? When do you skin stretch? Is it from the first pass, the 2nd pass, or any other passes? Do you only do it during touch ups etc?

The reason why I'm asking these questions is because skin stretching seems to be one key aspect of getting a proper BBS shave (next to proper prep, lathering and technique -- although I consider skin stretching as part of the technique).

Am I trying to hard too quickly to get that BBS shave? I think I am. I should first focus on getting good technique and very acceptable results shave after shave, week after week before I include something more advanced such as skin stretching in my daily ritual.

Gurus, please advise!

**Kyle Stoner** · 09-12-2006, 01:32 AM

I can say that skin stretching is the only way for me to get really long lasting BBS results on my sideburns...however...on some areas on my neck and botom cheek area, skin stretching just results in 'skipping' and 'dragging' and irritation. It is probably my technique, however.

I also have to kind of 'carve out' a space on my cheeks after I lather to get a space for myfingers to grip and stretch the skin for my shave. So I would also appreciate some guidance in this area!

**crackstar** · 09-12-2006, 04:21 AM

I just cannot do it, for the simple reason that it hurts me like hell when I try, so the heck with it.

Jeff

**GeeQue** · 09-12-2006, 05:21 AM

I only "slightly" stretch the skin at final touch-up...if needed at some area. Lather, slight stretch, no pressure on razor, against the grain, whissssk. Unstretch, feel, ahhhhh

**tjkirch** · 09-12-2006, 06:01 AM

I've also tried to start stretching my skin in the past week or so. I find it awkward, because you have to find places on your face not covered with lather to grab on to

I do think it helps a bit. When the skin is taut, there should also be a lesser chance of nicking yourself - no bulging skin to cut. (At least that's how I imagine it.)

Edit: I've always stretched my skin by moving my facial muscles - this was referring to using my hands in addition.

**mparker762** · 09-12-2006, 06:15 AM

Stretching only makes the hair stand up if you're stretching in the correct direction: If the hair grows downwards, then pull upwards, etc; this effect is generally only important on the last pass. However, stretching should be done on all passes, because if done correctly it makes it more difficult to nick yourself by giving a straighter surface, and because taut skin doesn't give the blade a chance to dig in. Heavy use of stretching is one of the reasons it's possible to shave with a straight razor without nicks or cuts. I'm not sure how you managed to nick yourself more when pulling

**guenron** · 09-14-2006, 04:39 PM

Benjamin,
Before commiting yourself to acts of self abnegation, please read this modest post.

**Ashe** · 10-09-2006, 01:17 PM

Ron, thanks for that excellent reference!

**crackstar** · 10-09-2006, 01:20 PM

From what I was told by a dermatologist, it's not even so great to stretch the skin when shaving, it can cause the skin to lose elasticity later on in life.

Jeff

**Ashe** · 10-09-2006, 01:34 PM

Since I'm still a fairly young guy (28) my skin is still very taught. I stepped away from the skin stretching since even after doing as mentioned in Ron's reference post the stubble is still there and i get a little more irritation on the neck area.

I found a "workaround" by using very short strokes which give me very good results.

**Larry C in Texas** · 10-10-2006, 05:51 AM

Originally Posted by crackstar

From what I was told by a dermatologist, it's not even so great to stretch the skin when shaving, it can cause the skin to lose elasticity later on in life.

Jeff

That's exactly what both my dermatologist and my wife told me. And, at 52 years of age, my skin ain't near as elastic as it should be. Any more stretching and I will be mistaken for Uga, the U of Georgia bulldog mascot.

YMMV.

**mnealtx** · 10-10-2006, 06:15 AM

Originally Posted by crackstar

From what I was told by a dermatologist, it's not even so great to stretch the skin when shaving, it can cause the skin to lose elasticity later on in life.

Jeff

Originally Posted by Larry C in Texas

That's exactly what both my dermatologist and my wife told me. And, at 52 years of age, my skin ain't near as elastic as it should be. Any more stretching and I will be mistaken for Uga, the U of Georgia bulldog mascot.

Guys, we're talking about SLIGHT stretching, here...just enough to smooth out any folds in the skin... not pulling your chin up over your eyebrows!!!

**Dansk** · 10-10-2006, 08:20 AM

I'll stick up for Ron here. I was unable to get a really good shave until I tried his stretching method. It works wonders for me! Fewer nicks and a much, much closer shave.

My only question is what to do with my neck. I have a theory that the stretching I'm doing (pulling down from just below where the hair stops growing) isn't helping as much because I'm pulling with the grain. I can't figure out a good way to stretch it against the grain! Any tips, Ron?

**mnealtx** · 10-11-2006, 12:11 PM

I was under the impression that you were supposed to stretch opposite the direction that you shave, i.e., stretch N on a N-S pass, S on a S-N pass, etc....Ron??