Thread: My dang neck!

Hello all.

This is my first post outside of introduction so be gentle.

I have a 6/8 TI fox and rooster straight, full ground, new from Phil at classic edge in Canada.

It shave the hairs off my arm above the skin with ease and I can hear each one getting cut. I have been using a lot of prep and changed things around lately to cold water due to the stories I've heard with respect to less irritation. I concur so far but my problem is with the neck regardless of prep type.

Shaving the neck (wtg going s/n) is very difficult despite prep, angle etc as far as I have tried. I can switch to my Dovo shavette (which I trained on first) and it is much easier and effective. The TI stutters, skips, stops and I'm hesitant to continue. I have gotten through about 50% of my neck with very short, buffing strokes. Regardless, my neck has lots of burn and red following.

any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

John

Problems with the neck is probably the most common issue that I have seen in the forum. It will take time to figure out which way the hair is growing and the method to shave them well. I found the front center of my neck is best if I stretch the skin sideways instead of up or down.

Are you sure you understand the direction your hair is growing? For example, my hair grows up for about 1/2 at the bottom of my neck but down the rest except for the center which is a mix. You may need to change up the direction for wtg for parts of your neck.

So true ericd. To get a good angle for my neck hairs I seem to have to get into contortionist's positions worthy of a big top act. But the results are very satisfying and almost no irritation (sensitive skin, can't escape a little irritation). Creox, keep experimenting with skin stretching and angles. It does pay off with a happy face in the mirror. And don't forget an alum block when done. Lets you really know where you have irritated your face. Apply, 30+ seconds, rinse off, balm/aftershave, smile at yourself in the mirror and go out and slay the daily dragon (got to stop reading fantasy novels!).

Originally Posted by Creox

Hello all.

This is my first post outside of introduction so be gentle.

I have a 6/8 TI fox and rooster straight, full ground, new from Phil at classic edge in Canada.

It shave the hairs off my arm above the skin with ease and I can hear each one getting cut. I have been using a lot of prep and changed things around lately to cold water due to the stories I've heard with respect to less irritation. I concur so far but my problem is with the neck regardless of prep type.

Shaving the neck (wtg going s/n) is very difficult despite prep, angle etc as far as I have tried. I can switch to my Dovo shavette (which I trained on first) and it is much easier and effective. The TI stutters, skips, stops and I'm hesitant to continue. I have gotten through about 50% of my neck with very short, buffing strokes. Regardless, my neck has lots of burn and red following.

any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

John

Welcome John . You will hear a lot about technique here and for good reason. It is extremely important however, so is a SHARP razor. If you are sure it's not the sharpness of your razor you can always try a shallower angle. About one spine width off neck but with a properly sharpened razor you shouldn't be having these troubles IMO especially if the shavette can handle it. I hear often that you shave with a different angle with a straight as opposed to a shavette but that hasn't been the case in my experience. I used a shavette for a long time before transitioning to a straight and had problems in the beginning but now that I have a properly sharpened razor I get shaves even better from my straight then I did from my shavette and with the same technique. Just my 2¢. Of course YMMV.

Originally Posted by ericd

Problems with the neck is probably the most common issue that I have seen in the forum. It will take time to figure out which way the hair is growing and the method to shave them well. I found the front center of my neck is best if I stretch the skin sideways instead of up or down.

Are you sure you understand the direction your hair is growing? For example, my hair grows up for about 1/2 at the bottom of my neck but down the rest except for the center which is a mix. You may need to change up the direction for wtg for parts of your neck.

Thank you for the reply.

I thought I knew the growth of my neck hair but now I'm checking out with some wonder and amazement. It feels like it's growing s/n but with more patience I find it is growing....all over the damn place! Hair on either side of my trachea grows at and angle towards it. In the middle it grows a bit towards my right and left sides. The hair on my jaw line grows towards the center...man!

It looks like I'll be taking some extra time with this part of my face next time and see what happens. I'll report back on Monday.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

So true ericd. To get a good angle for my neck hairs I seem to have to get into contortionist's positions worthy of a big top act. But the results are very satisfying and almost no irritation (sensitive skin, can't escape a little irritation). Creox, keep experimenting with skin stretching and angles. It does pay off with a happy face in the mirror. And don't forget an alum block when done. Lets you really know where you have irritated your face. Apply, 30+ seconds, rinse off, balm/aftershave, smile at yourself in the mirror and go out and slay the daily dragon (got to stop reading fantasy novels!).

Thanks for the reply. I do use an alum block and boy are you right. The irritated areas are on either side of my windpipe and right side of my chin. At times a rash is seen on either side of lower part of my neck, below the ear. I'm just not sure why a razor blade works better for me than the straight even when it is quite sharp?

Cheers

Originally Posted by Steel

Welcome John . You will hear a lot about technique here and for good reason. It is extremely important however, so is a SHARP razor. If you are sure it's not the sharpness of your razor you can always try a shallower angle. About one spine width off neck but with a properly sharpened razor you shouldn't be having these troubles IMO especially if the shavette can handle it. I hear often that you shave with a different angle with a straight as opposed to a shavette but that hasn't been the case in my experience. I used a shavette for a long time before transitioning to a straight and had problems in the beginning but now that I have a properly sharpened razor I get shaves even better from my straight then I did from my shavette and with the same technique. Just my 2¢. Of course YMMV.

Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing. How can this straight be harder to pull through my whiskers when my shavette has far less issues? I have stropped and tested the TI a couple of times and it takes off hanging hairs on my arm easily....I've been thinking of sending it back to Phil for a re-hone.

Thanks

I agree with the above posts, but one thing that caused me problems when I first started shaving with a straight was pressure. Make sure your not pressing the razor against your skin too hard. Pressure seems to effect everything to do with straights from honing, stropping and shaving. Practice makes perfect. Don't give up.

Originally Posted by JSmith1983

I agree with the above posts, but one thing that caused me problems when I first started shaving with a straight was pressure. Make sure your not pressing the razor against your skin too hard. Pressure seems to effect everything to do with straights from honing, stropping and shaving. Practice makes perfect. Don't give up.

Thanks for the reply. I'm certainly not giving up...I didn't jump in head first. I cannonballed into this. LOL.

I do appreciate your thoughts on pressure. It's something I am mindful of but find I lose that thought after shaving for a few minutes. Good thing I can grow whiskers fast enough to keep practicing.

Welcome to the most friendly, helpful and informative site on the web!!

You will find members here of all different backgrounds, ages and occupations from all corners of the world and all with a quest for more knowledge about using and maintaining a straight razor!

I have never dealt with the seller of your razor, perhaps some other of your countrymen will join in!

With that said: Was the razor custom honed or did it come with a factory edge?? If it was a factory edge, then it is shall I say ‘lacking’! And that may be your major problem!!

Next; Have you stropped the razor? If so was the shave worse/better/or the same??

Now I also wonder about the s/n are you referring to going from the neck to the chin? If so is this a first pass or a second?

Again, Welcome to an older but better way of shaving!!