shaving an older man (hair, nurse, ears, cause)

[yankeegirl313]

My job requires shaving men. Most of them just have a straight razor, instead of an electric one, and I find myself being nervous while I am shaving them...especially around the chin area, and the Adams apple area.
This man today must have had a dull razor because I stood there for 30 min. trying to get the hair off of his face.
Question: Can I go upward towards the chin, or sideways with the razor, or do I need to stay moving the same direction? Or does it matter?

[Nomadicus]

Is it a real straight razor? Or a safety razor. A straight razor would make me nervous too. My wife has to do this occasionally as a nurse and she uses disposables if need be. Normally you will want to shave in the direction the hair is growing. HTH.

[yankeegirl313]

Thanks.

[ino]

Originally Posted by Nomadicus

Is it a real straight razor? Or a safety razor. A straight razor would make me nervous too.

Normally you will want to shave in the direction the hair is growing. HTH.

Just as a point of interest, and I don't mean to intrude, I shave both ways, first WITH, and then AGAINST the hair. With today's safety razors and disposable ones, I get a closer shave this way. My other halfs' grandfather gave me a shave years ago using the old 'cut-throat' razor, (I don't know if this is what you call a 'straight razor'), and I have to say, it was the BEST and CLOSEST shave I have had in my entire life. I've never had one as good before, or since, and my face finished up SMOOTHER than a babies bum, but I was, in a manner of speaking, 'cutting washers' out of the seat while he was doing it. I only commented here just in case you were considering shaving both ways.