Shaving Across the Neck

Ok, been straight shaving for a couple of weeks now, and so far so good. Doing better then I thought I would!

With that said, I cant get a BBS shave. Reason being is that my neck hair grows across my neck, rather then down, or up.

I just cant get a good WTG or ATG positioning... so I do 2 XTG passes... up, and down. :) Anything else just feels like its cant be done...

So while I get a decent shave, I will never get the BBS I get with a DE if I cant get an WTG and ATG shave.

Any suggestions on technique to try and get a WTG and ATG shave across the neck?

Thanks!
Aldwyn

STRETCH!! Pulling the skin on your neck with your free hand while sticking your chin out and looking up is what works for me. I have similar growth patterns. After a few months of practice you'll have it down.

+1 for stretching.

Mine goes down at outward 45-degree angles, and stretching works. :)


Also, "Shaving Across the Neck" made me think of Columbia Neckties . . . .

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

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Originally Posted by Shaotzu

+1 for stretching.

Mine goes down at outward 45-degree angles, and stretching works. :)

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I have the exact same growth pattern as Shaotzu. I normally go more or less straight up which ends up being more XTG then ATG....but with the stretch gets plenty close. I am not sure I have the mechanics figured out for a true ATG either.

If you go ATG in that area, the blade has to be really sharp and the angle almost flat against the skin.

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Originally Posted by OCDshaver

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

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Nice!!! I am trying that!!! Thanks

Thanks for the tips, gents!

For some reason, I didnt think to hold the blade like in the link... I will give that a WTG try next shave and see how it goes!

As said , stretch standing those hairs up to get at them, playing with different holds and getting your skin as flat as possible,, mostly just need more time with the blade , you can't learn this art in a couple weeks,, I DE shaved for 40+ years !thought I would whip it pretty quick ,, been doing it for a year now! somewhere along 50-60 shaves it started coming together, you will get there , just enjoy the little hurdles you jump along the way , soon it will be routine. Tc

tons of good advice on here. I agree with tcrideshd, it's gonna take time and practice to get it right. Keep at it and the shaves will keep getting better.

I haven't read the other responses....but I have the EXACT same situation my hair on my neck grows from west to east. To make matters worse like you even with 2 XTG passes north and south I never get a BBS.....close yes .... but never fully smooth. Here is my advice/method. #1 On most days I ask myself do I really need a BBS ? The answer is usually no. That is me though. The N-S passes XTG usually suffice with a DFS and no one but me knows I'm not BBS smooth. Now other days the fact that "I" know I am not at a BBS bothers me to no end as I can easily get a BBS with my DE's or SE's that I have used for 20 years. I recently learned the secret !!!! I was dumb founded it was so simple. I was like a kid on Christmas morning. OK think of a DE specifically a slant bar razor. it cuts at an angle correct ? and you get smooth very fast as the cutting action and angle are different. Now fast forward to your straight razor. Do NOT do a standard XTG N-S then S-N XTG pass do them at 45 degee angles so you are actually moving the blade at 45 degree passes still N-S XTG but at an angle. Then the same process 45 degree angles reverse XTG S-N. Using this method has gotten me that BBS shave on my neck I was not able to get doing the "normal" XTG North to south and South to north, but incorporate those 45 degree angles instead of a straight up and down and it shaves MUCH closer. YMMV of course as we all have different hair patterns, but this drastically helped me achieve that BBS on my neck. Hope that helps !

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Originally Posted by Spineshank

I haven't read the other responses....but I have the EXACT same situation my hair on my neck grows from west to east. To make matters worse like you even with 2 XTG passes north and south I never get a BBS.....close yes .... but never fully smooth. Here is my advice/method. #1 On most days I ask myself do I really need a BBS ? The answer is usually no. That is me though. The N-S passes XTG usually suffice with a DFS and no one but me knows I'm not BBS smooth. Now other days the fact that "I" know I am not at a BBS bothers me to no end as I can easily get a BBS with my DE's or SE's that I have used for 20 years. I recently learned the secret !!!! I was dumb founded it was so simple. I was like a kid on Christmas morning. OK think of a DE specifically a slant bar razor. it cuts at an angle correct ? and you get smooth very fast as the cutting action and angle are different. Now fast forward to your straight razor. Do NOT do a standard XTG N-S then S-N XTG pass do them at 45 degee angles so you are actually moving the blade at 45 degree passes still N-S XTG but at an angle. Then the same process 45 degree angles reverse XTG S-N. Using this method has gotten me that BBS shave on my neck I was not able to get doing the "normal" XTG North to south and South to north, but incorporate those 45 degree angles instead of a straight up and down and it shaves MUCH closer. YMMV of course as we all have different hair patterns, but this drastically helped me achieve that BBS on my neck. Hope that helps !

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Is this the scything motion I've been hearing about?

Thanks Spineshank! I've been using scything strokes and they've worked better than anything else I could figure out, although not great. Tried your 45° technique today and after a few adjustments to direction, it worked for me!

Good day for me, I've learned something!

I have the same growth pattern (sideways across neck). It is possible to shave. It is not easy. I experimented with a lot of grips and skin stretching before I got it. I also experimented with a 'simulator'. In my case a razor with no edge. Someone else mentioned a few pieces of tape on the edge works (I haven't tried that). I even simulated with a dull table knife which was as long as the razor and scales.

This is a bit hard to describe. I hold the blade in my dominate hand out in front of me. The sharp edge of the blade is facing me. The spine is towards my feet. I rotate the blade 180 degrees as I bend my elbow closed towards me and rotate my wrist towards me as well. I now have the scales facing vertically up and the blade vertically down. Placing the blade against by throat under my ear roughly, the blade is parallel to my trachea. My fingers and the monkey tail are under my jaw line out by my ear. The blade lies flat against my neck. A minor change in position on the tang with my thumb determines the blade angle to my throat.

If I draw the monkey tail along my jaw line, the blade is making a sideways pass from my ear to my trachea. This pass is relatively easy. The next pass is harder because there is not enough clearance to lower the blade without poking the toe into the top of my chest.

So the other hand vigorously pulls the skin up towards the top of my head. The skin that used to be a inch or so below my jaw line is now on the flat spot of my cheek.

I can repeat the same stroke as the first one and get most of the bottom of my neck. Some scything strokes get the very bottom. What I have described is ATG on my neck. The hair on my neck grows from my trachea towards my ears and stays fairly parallel to my jaw line.

This was the first stroke I figured out (ATG). Next I figured out if I started with the edge facing away from me, when I rotated towards my face I ended up with the blade in the same vertical position but the edge was facing towards my ears. Starting at my trachea, I can go WTG across my neck towards my ear this way. The same stretching is used to gain more clearance for a second lower stroke.

I also use a 10x magnifying mirror. With my chin up, I can see my throat out of the corner of one eye. This gets half a neck done!


To get the other side of the neck done sideways, I have to switch the razor to my non-dominate hand and repeat the same process.

If I go in order on WTG, XTG and get good beard reduction. A very flat angle ATG will yield a BBS sideways neck shave.

I know this is difficult to imagine. I came up with this while trying a grip the spine method. It sort of loosened my thinking. Once you realize you need a completely different grip and both hands to do this with some serious skin stretching? You will figure it out. Make sure you have WTG and XTG working well first and there will be little irritation ATG. At least on my neck more than one pass WTG is fine, two or three XTG can work, I seldom get more than two ATG and only with a very flat blade angle.

Best,

Ed

Having trouble getting my hand, arm and razor into the needed contortion to shave the neck hairs, I thought maybe my wife could do that part.
Then I came to my senses. What was I thinking.

Yeah, don't get her involved.

Heres how to do an ATG across the neck... Notice he doesnt hessitate while shaving...The riddle of steel.:)

Rasiermesser Rasur - YouTube

Trust your sharp steel. And your hand..The riddle of steel.

Good vid! Black beards seem to shave better than wiry blonde with no life in them. My turkey neck is scrawny I use an angle and usually mostly the heel of a blade for the front of my neck. Cow lick on the Adam's apple. Then the toe third of the blade for the sides. Best started with a round point to get the strokes and over time any razor can be used. Getting to a spike is not a long time but as has happened, an ear lobe can get in the way. Chart below has every arrow pointing a different direction on my face.
Have fun!
~Richard
Here is an interactive chart that has been around for a while.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...wth-chart.html

Enjoy!
~Richard

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Originally Posted by HaiKarate

Heres how to do an ATG across the neck... Notice he doesnt hessitate while shaving...The riddle of steel.:)

Rasiermesser Rasur - YouTube

Trust your sharp steel. And your hand..The riddle of steel.

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This guy is obviously skilled with a straight razor, but I am jealous. The passes he does on his neck (I mean the direction of the blade)? Those are all Across the Grain (XTG) for me.

The hair on my neck grows across my neck from trachea to ears, or parallel to the floor.

Best,

Ed

I'm trying the scything motion on my neck, but it feels like poking a Lion with a stick. If it doesn't go right, the clean up will be a mess. LOL

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Originally Posted by EdHutton

This guy is obviously skilled with a straight razor, but I am jealous. The passes he does on his neck (I mean the direction of the blade)? Those are all Across the Grain (XTG) for me.

The hair on my neck grows across my neck from trachea to ears, or parallel to the floor.

Best,

Ed

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Ditto... that is XTG for me as well, as my neck grows east to west./ear to ear.

Note his neck technique? Dude has a 90 degree angle, dragging the blade across his neck!

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Originally Posted by Neckbone

I'm trying the scything motion on my neck, but it feels like poking a Lion with a stick. If it doesn't go right, the clean up will be a mess. LOL

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I know what you mean! Doing that has started my learning curve all over again... but I do seem to get a better shave when I do it.

I also suffer from the malady where my beard 'neath my jaw grows sideways towards my ear. I've only been using straights for about six months, but it's taken that long for me to figure out how to shave that area XTG. I was having the usual problems while shaving this morning, when I stumbled across a technique that seems to work for me. Maybe it'll help some of you as well. Here's what I did:

Using the ipsilateral hand, (right hand for the right side, and vice versa), I used an "upside down" (toe pointing down) grip. I was amazed that I could see what I was doing without any problem, whereas my hand was always in the way before! Today was the first time that I've managed to get a decent shave in that troublesome area, and I'm stoked!

I won't be at all surprised if the more experienced shavers are thinking, "well, duh", but that's OK if this helps anyone.

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Originally Posted by Dzanda

I also suffer from the malady where my beard 'neath my jaw grows sideways towards my ear. I've only been using straights for about six months, but it's taken that long for me to figure out how to shave that area XTG. I was having the usual problems while shaving this morning, when I stumbled across a technique that seems to work for me. Maybe it'll help some of you as well. Here's what I did:

Using the ipsilateral hand, (right hand for the right side, and vice versa), I used an "upside down" (toe pointing down) grip. I was amazed that I could see what I was doing without any problem, whereas my hand was always in the way before! Today was the first time that I've managed to get a decent shave in that troublesome area, and I'm stoked!

I won't be at all surprised if the more experienced shavers are thinking, "well, duh", but that's OK if this helps anyone.

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Another thing I've come to learn about this area, when I get a haircut, I will frequently make sure I can get a straight shave from my old Italian barber as well. Always a great learning experience, and he's old hat now with me bringing in one of my straights for him to use....it's funny to hear him comment on what I've brought him that day.

What I notice he does, in the entire area under the jawline, is actually use what I would describe as an enormous amount of pressure. When he does that area, he uses enough pressure that you want to straighten up like a board...he has never cut me, nor have I had any irritation there, and he pretty much get's it in one pass. He does one pass all over and then re-lathers and then takes his time cleaning up.

When I ask him about it, he says it's a tough area, and getting the blade hard against the skin is what you have to do! He doesn't know nor care to know things like ATG, WTG, XTG...he's in his 70's and he gives you a shave...he's good enough that he can tell from how my beard growth is what areas I do well and what I don't...

So now when I do that area, I know it's counter-intuitive to what we say here, but I increase the pressure, a lot, still takes me a WTG and an ATG in the area, still make sure the blade angle is very low, but at least the results I get now are more consistent...fascinating to listen to him and always a great learning experience.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dzanda

I also suffer from the malady where my beard 'neath my jaw grows sideways towards my ear. I've only been using straights for about six months, but it's taken that long for me to figure out how to shave that area XTG. I was having the usual problems while shaving this morning, when I stumbled across a technique that seems to work for me. Maybe it'll help some of you as well. Here's what I did:

Using the ipsilateral hand, (right hand for the right side, and vice versa), I used an "upside down" (toe pointing down) grip. I was amazed that I could see what I was doing without any problem, whereas my hand was always in the way before! Today was the first time that I've managed to get a decent shave in that troublesome area, and I'm stoked!

I won't be at all surprised if the more experienced shavers are thinking, "well, duh", but that's OK if this helps anyone.

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Same technique I am using and the only thing that works for me too. I also add a good deal of skin stretching so I can go lower on my neck. I point my chin up and the blade is parallel to my trachea with the toe pointing towards the floor. I still need a little scything at the very bottom closer to my clavicles but with patience and smooth strokes it does work. Just about the hardest thing I learned to do with the SR, and I also call it a break through.

Great shaves ahead of you now!

Best,

Ed

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Another thing I've come to learn about this area, when I get a haircut, I will frequently make sure I can get a straight shave from my old Italian barber as well. Always a great learning experience, and he's old hat now with me bringing in one of my straights for him to use....it's funny to hear him comment on what I've brought him that day.

What I notice he does, in the entire area under the jawline, is actually use what I would describe as an enormous amount of pressure. When he does that area, he uses enough pressure that you want to straighten up like a board...he has never cut me, nor have I had any irritation there, and he pretty much get's it in one pass. He does one pass all over and then re-lathers and then takes his time cleaning up.

When I ask him about it, he says it's a tough area, and getting the blade hard against the skin is what you have to do! He doesn't know nor care to know things like ATG, WTG, XTG...he's in his 70's and he gives you a shave...he's good enough that he can tell from how my beard growth is what areas I do well and what I don't...

So now when I do that area, I know it's counter-intuitive to what we say here, but I increase the pressure, a lot, still takes me a WTG and an ATG in the area, still make sure the blade angle is very low, but at least the results I get now are more consistent...fascinating to listen to him and always a great learning experience.

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Interesting! I do notice that when I do my neck? Particularly ATG sideways on my neck, I have a very flat angle and more pressure than anywhere else on my face. I need a good bit of skin stretching to get the skin areas taught and more flat too.

Sure wish I had one tenth the experience of your old barber!

Best,

Ed