Thread: Technique for shaving sideways on neck?

So I got my first straight razor about a month ago, and have been shaving with it twice a week. I feel like I'm starting to get the hang of it, the last two times felt comfortable, and I had no nicks or cuts. On the sides of my face I can get it perfectly smooth by doing a few passes with the last one being against the grain. However, I'm having an issue shaving the front of my neck. My beard there grows sideways (left to right), and all the videos I've seen on youtube show shaving the neck down or up. I can do both, but that gets me only an across the grain shave, which is not satisfactory.

I haven't figured out a way to get the razor in there going right to left. It feels like either the scales are hitting my chest or chin, or I cant get the razor flat against my neck and it would dig in somewhere. Anybody have a solution? What am I doing wrong?

On a side note, I can see how a razor with a square tip would be useful for trimming around the mustache and sideburns. I will probably end up getting one at some point.

I have the same issue and I can say that it might take some time to master that area. It took me what seemed like forever.

OK so right off, know that you might get there without any drama once you get your regular technique down, but if not, try to stretch your skin like a king in that area. As weird as this might sound, I open my jaw as wide as it can and pull up as well as possible to get as much with an "easy" stroke as possible. Then I kind of do some "unorthodox" smaller sideways passes.

I recommend you practice those odd strokes with a butter knife to get a little memory going on as they aren't intuitive. Sure you'll feel silly doing it, but you'll save uber time learning.

I hope that makes sense! Rest assured though, you will eventually get really good at it. Good luck.

Edit - great question and welcome to srp.

I also have this problem, and I'm still a newb too. While I won't say that I've mastered this area, I would recommend checking out the "advanced strokes" in the wiki. In particular I find scythe strokes and slicing strokes (I think this is the right term) quite useful. Good luck!

It took me quite a while to figure out how to get a very close and comfortable shave on my neck. It involves tilting my head to the opposite side while pulling up on my skin. I can go against the grain then, that is center outwards. I cannot come back in the opposite direction, I can however go diagonally from the edge towards the middle. So in the end it is very smooth and comfortable. It did take a bit of experimentation and a couple of rashes to figure it out. For me the neck and chin is all about the stretch.

Id suggest trying to go side ways aswell as up or down so your going diagonally. That and maybe try using just the toe to go sideways in the trouble spots. Id get good with a round point before using a square or live with the inevitable nick. Good luck

you dont have to strife for bbs on your neck. even the most experienced of us will have patches left over we cant get.

Originally Posted by MBR1965

I also have this problem, and I'm still a newb too. While I won't say that I've mastered this area, I would recommend checking out the "advanced strokes" in the wiki. In particular I find scythe strokes and slicing strokes (I think this is the right term) quite useful. Good luck!

+ 1

Still working on it myself (under chin and adams apple area) I have been using very short scythe / slice strokes to work on that area. That being said, still not BBS but getting better.

You can read through this and give it a try. Its what I do every time and it works great......for me.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ml#post1028821

http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ml#post1028898