Thread: neck trouble spots

I have an issue the hair on my neck grows in two completely different directions. There is one spot that I can't get to without cutting, under the jaw on the side and must cut at a 45 degree towards my chin. It would work if the blade was half the size.

Any ideas or recommendations for getting the trouble areas smooth without cutting my throat?

Thanks

Practice - some of this just comes with time..
Buffing - using very short pulsing strokes while maintaining contact.
Stretching-skin tension - not only the tension but the direction that you pull
Two-finger work - try extending your thumb and forefinger and shaving in between. This allows you to not only maintain tension but move that patch around a little.

And as Glen says, learn to walk away. Pick up the DE and finish that area off and you might pick up a hint or two in the process.

Most of us seem to have had one or two of those match book sized patches that would not submit...
And then one day they did....
Hang in there...

MJC could not have said it better. We have all been there and faced these challenges. Remember to use as little pressure as possible, You may want to experiment with changing the angle of the blade as well in those areas.

Do you shave with both hands? (not simultaneously, lol) If not, this is a good time to learn -- I found that my left hand gives me angle-access that I don't have, with my right hand. As previous posters said, this is a Time for Technique.

Try tipping your head to that side, and pulling the skin above your jaw and onto where your cheek skin normally is. It may put it onto a reasonably flat area for you.

All, thank you very much for the advice. I have tried everything mentioned but shaving with my left hand. I will try that next. I truly enjoy the process it added 15 minutes to my morning but well worth it.

Here's what I did to learn a technique for those tough spots. I took a very cheap str8 (their plentiful on fleabay, $5 $6 bucks, you know the ones) and dulled the blade to the point where it wouldn't cut butter (didn't take much as it arrived dull anyway). With no chance of getting cut I would practice my technique in the tough to get at areas until I figured out a solution. Usually a combination of grip, changing hands, skin stretching, and sight lines. It's much easier to experiment when there's no chance of cutting yourself. Some will suggest using a butter knife. I found that didn't work for me because it's not the same shape, weight, balance, finger grips and no scales to deal with. The way I did it was the closest replication to the real thing. Once I had an answer I would lather up and move to the real deal. Bingo!! I found my learning time was faster and the curve not as steep. This works.

What a great idea!

I may just do this. Also having some cheap razors around would be good for honing practice.

I had issues with my neck at start. Stretching or pulling skin over may help or even using heel or toe only to shave that area instead of using the whole blade

I've learned that there are a few things that seem to resolve clearing just about any spot..

Stretch... when you can't get to a spot safely or comfortably, move the spot. My neck hollows were notoriously challenging until I stretched them up on to my jaw bone.

Short strokes... preferably strokes that follow closely to the spots being stretched

Less attention to direction of growth... I was a DE shaver for years and direction of growth was critically important. I find it less so with the more versatile straight razor. My neck grows in all directions, yet I can achieve BBS with just strokes from jaw line down, which is WTG, Xtg & ATG all in the same stroke. This is true if I adhere to the first two techniques, above.