Thread: Feeling Accomplished - somewhat. Always open for suggestions.

So I thought I would bring everyone up to date on my progress.
I've been working mostly on my cheeks, jaw line, and under the sideburns, but the last two days I have started on the neck. Not the best shave ever, but I feel somewhat accomplished. I shaved the upper lip and chin with my 5 blade. They are last on my list of sections to learn. I almost removed all the hair on the neck, but on each side of my adam's apple the hair grows toward my ear. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to attack it from that angle instead of straight down to get the hair. Easy though. I think next shave I'll have that section.
Correct me if I shouldn't approach my face this way, but it seems like my luck changed for the better when I approached my face as if I was using a paint brush feathering away on a painting. By this I mean I took certain sections of the blade and feathered away patches of hair. If I found a small section of hair that the blade was missing I would pull that section tight and feather it away.

Looks good so far. For those patches on either side of my adams apple which grows toward my ear I have found that I can grip the "center" of my neck and stretch toward the opposite side. This lifts the hairs and allows me a bbs in that area with a more xtg stroke. Of course this is how I do it, ymmv.

Whatever works to give you a safe and comfortable shave is the goal.

I remember when I first stated using a straight I immediately developed a "buffing" kind of stroke (mainly due to the fact that I was trying to shave with a factory edge instead of a well-honed one) that was not really a recommended way to go. But it worked for me and didn't result in copious bleeding.

As time develops your technique will too. The initial goal, however, is to get a shave. You'll find as you do that you'll start to wonder "what if I tried this?" and give it a go. Some will work, some won't, but eventually you'll build a toolkit of strokes, grips, approaches, stretches, angles etc that will seem second nature to you.

James.

Ya, everyone is diffferent and the neck is the toughest. Going at different angles helps. Sometimes you cannot, but as you go you will learn a scything stroke. Helps more. I, personally, don't worry about a BBS on the neck. Sometimes I get it better than others, but rarely completely perfect! Lazy, I suppose!

+1 for the scything stroke.
I've got those weird hairs on my neck too and scything gets them.

I too do not worry about perfection on my neck on a daily basis. If there is an event where I want my shave perfect or more often if I am sucking up to my wife and want it perfect I worry about it then. Most times If I am in quick shave I do one pass against the grain and one across (corner of the jaw to to chin). If I'm lounging I will throw in a with the grain pass and maybe and second across the grain but only on my chin. The neck only gets two passes and maybe a touch up or I can get irritation.

Looks good - under the chin/neck area was always a trouble spot for me, but with all things, that passed with practice.

Other area that got me a bit was under the jaw line on the neck, but once I got the ATG pass down and was able to do my entire face that way, it's clean shaving.

Only problem with getting practiced and proficient with a straight is that you end up doing such a good job you have to wait 2 1/2 or 3 days to shave again!!

It's just gets better doesn't it...who knew shaving with a straight could be such fun!

Looks like you are progressing well!! Like was said above what ever works for you is all good!! Keep it up your doing well!!

Nice work!

If only I could figure out how to go truly WTG/ATG in the area behind my jaw; the grain is up diagonally toward my ears, and I haven't been able to properly reach it, even with my shorty ATOR.

Originally Posted by Dzanda

Nice work!

If only I could figure out how to go truly WTG/ATG in the area behind my jaw; the grain is up diagonally toward my ears, and I haven't been able to properly reach it, even with my shorty ATOR.

I took my hand and pulled the skin behind my jaw as far onto the side of my jaw as I could. Then shaved it

Maybe I can get my wife to snap a picture for me.
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So here it is....
When I hold me neck to the side I can stretch the skin behind my ear. If pull up on the skin (thumb on side-burn) I can take the blade right up and it will catch the hairs because the are standing up. Then I go right up to my side-burn.