A question about Pressure...How is it defined?

[Duggo]

Hiya,

My only complaint that I have, is minor. It's a lingering minor slight discoloration on my neck that has been there for the last two years.

If it's determined that it's because of too much pressure, how do you guys mean too much pressure?

Does that have connection with how tightly you grip the razor? Am I using too much pressure, if my razor can feel cheekbones/jawbones, as I shave?

My Grip: I grip my Progress along the sides of the razor, and the bottom of the razor, rests on the third finger. I grip the razor way down at the bottom.

My apologies if this sounds like the village idiot escaped from the barber shop.

[rabidpotatochip]

The pressure of the razor against your skin is what is meant. You can grip the razor hard enough to bend it if you want, but usually what causes irritation is the blade being pressed on as it crosses your skin.

Edit: Also, I doubt the village idiot would be able to find the barber shop in the first place.

[dpm802]

I've been using this technique to avoid excess pressure and let the WEIGHT OF THE RAZOR do the work:

Find the balance point of your DE ... span it across your finger and find where the head and handle are equalized. (It doesn't have to balance precisely ... just get it within a half-inch or so.)

On my Merkur HD, this is about 10mm from the top of the knurling. On my Gillette Adjustable, it is on the ring just below the numbers.

This is where you grip your razor, using 2 fingers, 3 fingers or whatever is comfortable. Holding it here will maximize control, and lets the razor do its job without unintentional pressure from your hand.

Obviously, it works best on N/S passes ... but the same grip can be used when going in other directions as well. You may need to grip the razor in other places to touch up other areas, but this grip will work for the majority of your shaving area.

[Duggo]

The pressure of the razor against your skin is what is meant. You can grip the razor hard enough to bend it if you want, but usually what causes irritation is the blade being pressed on as it crosses your skin.

Edit: Also, I doubt the village idiot would be able to find the barber shop in the first place.

I've been using this technique to avoid excess pressure and let the WEIGHT OF THE RAZOR do the work:

Find the balance point of your DE ... span it across your finger and find where the head and handle are equalized. (It doesn't have to balance precisely ... just get it within a half-inch or so.)

On my Merkur HD, this is about 10mm from the top of the knurling. On my Gillette Adjustable, it is on the ring just below the numbers.

This is where you grip your razor, using 2 fingers, 3 fingers or whatever is comfortable. Holding it here will maximize control, and lets the razor do its job without unintentional pressure from your hand.

Obviously, it works best on N/S passes ... but the same grip can be used when going in other directions as well. You may need to grip the razor in other places to touch up other areas, but this grip will work for the majority of your shaving area.

Thanks guys for the help. I'll try the balancing with the finger, and thanks for your input RPC.

What do you think the slight discoloration is due to?

Thanks.

[burnwood]

good advice you got there.



and dont try to steal my idiot place again.

[Barney Stubble]

Could you describe the discoloration?

I'm assuming the skin looks abnormally pale, and if that's the case I have a few theories. But I won't get into any of that unless that is your problem.

[Duggo]

Could you describe the discoloration?

I'm assuming the skin looks abnormally pale, and if that's the case I have a few theories. But I won't get into any of that unless that is your problem.

Oxi describes the condition best. The first paragraph is the pertinent paragraph.

[scoopster]

I guess I would describe pressure as the ratio of force per unit area. So for a given force; if the area is very small (like, say for the edge of a razor blade) then the pressure is quite high. Distribute that same amount of force over a larger area (like, say a brush) and the pressure is much less extreme.

[Duggo]

I guess I would describe pressure as the ratio of force per unit area. So for a given force; if the area is very small (like, say for the edge of a razor blade) then the pressure is quite high. Distribute that same amount of force over a larger area (like, say a brush) and the pressure is much less extreme.

Ok, I guess it was a poor choice of words on my part.

[scoopster]

Ok, I guess it was a poor choice of words on my part.

Not a poor choice at all. I was trying to describe the mathematical definition of pressure with shaving-related examples.

[lpj]

I've been using this technique to avoid excess pressure and let the WEIGHT OF THE RAZOR do the work:

Find the balance point of your DE ... span it across your finger and find where the head and handle are equalized. (It doesn't have to balance precisely ... just get it within a half-inch or so.)

On my Merkur HD, this is about 10mm from the top of the knurling. On my Gillette Adjustable, it is on the ring just below the numbers.

This is where you grip your razor, using 2 fingers, 3 fingers or whatever is comfortable. Holding it here will maximize control, and lets the razor do its job without unintentional pressure from your hand.

Obviously, it works best on N/S passes ... but the same grip can be used when going in other directions as well. You may need to grip the razor in other places to touch up other areas, but this grip will work for the majority of your shaving area.

DPM802

That's a great idea for control and balancing the lightness of pressure. Makes sense. I think I'm gonna use that. Thanks.

Lee

[Duggo]

I've been using this technique to avoid excess pressure and let the WEIGHT OF THE RAZOR do the work:

Find the balance point of your DE ... span it across your finger and find where the head and handle are equalized. (It doesn't have to balance precisely ... just get it within a half-inch or so.)

On my Merkur HD, this is about 10mm from the top of the knurling. On my Gillette Adjustable, it is on the ring just below the numbers.

This is where you grip your razor, using 2 fingers, 3 fingers or whatever is comfortable. Holding it here will maximize control, and lets the razor do its job without unintentional pressure from your hand.

Obviously, it works best on N/S passes ... but the same grip can be used when going in other directions as well. You may need to grip the razor in other places to touch up other areas, but this grip will work for the majority of your shaving area.

Thanks for the idea. I'll try it out tomorrow.

[rav]

I used this yesterday and it makes a big difference.

Now if I can get to speeding up the shave.

[Duggo]

I've been using this technique to avoid excess pressure and let the WEIGHT OF THE RAZOR do the work:

Find the balance point of your DE ... span it across your finger and find where the head and handle are equalized. (It doesn't have to balance precisely ... just get it within a half-inch or so.)

On my Merkur HD, this is about 10mm from the top of the knurling. On my Gillette Adjustable, it is on the ring just below the numbers.

This is where you grip your razor, using 2 fingers, 3 fingers or whatever is comfortable. Holding it here will maximize control, and lets the razor do its job without unintentional pressure from your hand.

Obviously, it works best on N/S passes ... but the same grip can be used when going in other directions as well. You may need to grip the razor in other places to touch up other areas, but this grip will work for the majority of your shaving area.

DPM802,

I tried out your technique all last week, and I definitely saw an improvement; and I used all types of blades, from private label, (in drugstores) to Feather.

Thanks.

[mdo12345]

I found this post very helpful regarding the subject of pressure:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...light=floating

[LastManStanding]

I have never been a fan of the "weight of the razor" advice. I don't know if its my particular hair growth but every time I tried this the blade just got stuck in the first few hairs and didn't glide at all. Additionally, this only works with one pass so it wasn't that good for me as a learning tool. I'd suggest however that you find the balance point for your razor and use that as the gripping point. The use very light pressure and listen to your shave. Once you find out what it's supposed to feel and sound like (light scraping sound, with no skin scraping feel) your technique will get better and better.

Remember, razor burn is the same as rug burn.. keep the blade on the hair and off the skin whilst cutting and you'll be irritation (and discoloration) free in no time. Assuming of course, this discoloration is caused by razor burn....

[bbsupersport]

I used this yesterday and it makes a big difference.

Now if I can get to speeding up the shave.

Why would you want to speed up the shave? Get up a little earlier and relax and enjoy the experience.