Need help with ATG pass on neck

Hey guys, I've successfully made it through my first two full shaves with no bleeding or nicks. I am experiencing some burn, which I suspect will go away as my technique (angle, pressure, etc) gets better. What I need help with is my ATG pass on the right side of my neck. My hair grows from my Adam's apple towards my right ear. I'm finding it difficult to find a way to attack my neck that starts around my ear and goes diagonally towards the bottom, middle portion of my neck. A standard up stroke straight towards my jaw line doesn't get me a real close shave. Any pointers and/or pictures would be much appreciated!

-Brad

I would suggest either scything or guillotine strokes, playing around with blade grips and stretching will help too, but whatever you try take it slowly.

You could perform two up strokes in this area to remove as much stubble as possible and minimise irritation. You could then follow up with an XTG pass. Perhaps this will negate the need for an ATG pass altogether, or at the least give you an acceptably close shave. Experiment (albeit carefully) with skin stretching and blade angles until you find what works for you. Take your time. It will all come together. Good shaving! Cheers.

I have the same problem. Same side and growth direction. I actually have to put my chin down so that I will not have a deep facet that my blade cannot get to since it doesn't have a smile edge, and then stretch with my left hand close to my adam's apple and pull towards my left and go ATG. maybe also try stretching the skin between two fingers of your left hand when going ATG being very careful not to hit a finger. Those spots are one of my tuffest besides my two crowns on my head that seems to grow in a circle.

Brad: I have the same beard map as you on both sides of my neck. I can only get a BBS shave with ATG passes also, VERY challenging.
For me I use my left hand on the right side, standard grip and start my strokes on the neck back by the ear just under the jawline. The biggest problem is that I really can't use my other hand to effectively stretch the skin due to the crossing of the hands so I just turn my head to the left and raise my chin as high as I can. The stroke then starts high just under my earlobe and proceeds diagonally down towards my Adams Apple. Since I can't stretch the skin very well it takes a wicked sharp edge and a very light touch with a very slick lather to accomplish this. I didn't acquire enough skill to pull this off until I had about 75 shaves under my belt and learned how to hone.

Up until then I used a north to south pass with my right hand and a south to north pass with my left hand and then a set of scything strokes going from just under my chin back towards my ear using my right hand on my right side.
The ATG passes described above are my most difficult and mastering them without nicks and irritation was a great challenge for me. I hope these descriptions will help you to achieve your goal, remember to take it slow and build your skill set one move at a time. A BBS shave is a journey built at ones own pace.

FrankC

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

I would suggest either scything or guillotine strokes, playing around with blade grips and stretching will help too, but whatever you try take it slowly.

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With a little practice this is very effective.
I have used a "windshield wiper" stoke using the adams apple as the pivot point for instance.

Stretching and buffing...note the direction of the growth and use your thumb and forefinger to pull opposite the growth direction so that you try to stand the hairs upright.
Using a short buffing stroke in between your outstretched thumb and forefinger.
The problem with the neck is many times the hair comes out almost parallel to the skin so its hard to catch.

You will find that with the good view doing an ATG on the neck can be very effective once you find a combo that works.
As edhewitt notes, take it slow, it is a style and technique thing and there is not a "brut force" solution.
And avoid the temptation to repeat again and again - its irritation at the least and nicks and cuts to follow.

And before you know it this will be a "I can't believe this used to be a problem" thing...

Smooth shaving...

Downward scything stroke.
Put the tang under your chin and sweep the blade from your jawline down to your adam's apple.
Move down about and inch or so and repeat.
Stretching your skin by tilting your head back and away from the cutting side will also help, but you also won't be able to see the blade very well - try it with a round point instead of a spike point first. :)

I would not worry about ATG passes in the neck area, or in any area for that matter, this early in the game. For goodness sake, you are only two or so shaves into the game. I have only been shaving with a SR about eight months and I only do ATG once in a while. A DFS is usually sufficient for me and a BBS really not necessary unless I have something special coming up or, I just feel like doing it! I would wait until you have many more shaves under your belt and feel more comfortable with your razor and edge angle control. Lighten up! A DFS is mighty fine. It will come to you. Give it time. A BBS is overated IMO.


Mike

I'm with Mglindo two shaves in and your trying for perfection , take it easy ,, heck most of the times one pass shave will suffice. Tc

Thanks for all of the feedback and suggestions guys. I will definitely continue to take it slow. I'm not sure I'm ready for scything yet. I will admit that I get excited and love to try and master something or fix a problem ASAP. I'm learning you just can't do that with straight razor shaving. It takes time to learn and develop skill. I'll continue my WTG, North to South and South to North passes for now until I feel more comfortable. I also need to get my stropping technique down better.

I also have a E to W growth on both sides of my neck, but was never able to get a comfortable position for shaving WTG or ATG.

But my compromise is the modified XTG pass, both ways. XTG at an angle.

But usually takes 2 passes plus some touch ups to get a DFS.

I've only been doing this with Shavette for 8 months and a straight for a couple weeks, but I agree with Mglindo too. I'll usually do 1 pass that's mostly WTG and somewhat XTG in places. Then go back for a second XTG/ATG pass in particular locations. I have a benign tremor and it's worse in my left hand so I've had to learn to do everything right handed, that's why the blended passes. I find I'm still getting the best shaves of my life with little to no irritation now just with that. Sometimes if I have some extra time I'll play more with some of the better ATG passes to learn for those special occasions.

I wonder though on your original question, mine grows the same BTW, if you tuck your chin down and stretch the skin up if that would work. Basically pull the neck skin to at or above the jaw. I'll have to try that myself. Of course I guess that depends on how stretchy your skin is.:D

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

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Originally Posted by brad6360

Hey guys, I've successfully made it through my first two full shaves with no bleeding or nicks. I am experiencing some burn, which I suspect will go away as my technique (angle, pressure, etc) gets better. What I need help with is my ATG pass on the right side of my neck. My hair grows from my Adam's apple towards my right ear. I'm finding it difficult to find a way to attack my neck that starts around my ear and goes diagonally towards the bottom, middle portion of my neck. A standard up stroke straight towards my jaw line doesn't get me a real close shave. Any pointers and/or pictures would be much appreciated!

-Brad

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Hold the razor like you'd normally do for a downward pass. But change hands. For the left side use your right hand. Place the blade just below the jawline and bring it toward the lower center of your neck. I like to first shave a small patch below the Adam's apple where I place the other hand to stretch the skin from that point.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

I would suggest either scything or guillotine strokes, playing around with blade grips and stretching will help too, but whatever you try take it slowly.

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Do you have a photo of above stated strokes? That's my # 1 problem as well.

Well I tried the tuck and pull with only partial success. Got the upper portion but not the lower. I just ended up with that pass being something between XTG and ATG. Oh well, worth a shot.

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Originally Posted by Glory

Do you have a photo of above stated strokes? That's my # 1 problem as well.

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Unfortunately not, but i did do a nifty drawing:.Attachment 187978
Hope it helps at least a bit.
ed

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ks4el

I've only been doing this with Shavette for 8 months and a straight for a couple weeks, but I agree with Mglindo too. I'll usually do 1 pass that's mostly WTG and somewhat XTG in places. Then go back for a second XTG/ATG pass in particular locations. I have a benign tremor and it's worse in my left hand so I've had to learn to do everything right handed, that's why the blended passes. I find I'm still getting the best shaves of my life with little to no irritation now just with that. Sometimes if I have some extra time I'll play more with some of the better ATG passes to learn for those special occasions.

I wonder though on your original question, mine grows the same BTW, if you tuck your chin down and stretch the skin up if that would work. Basically pull the neck skin to at or above the jaw. I'll have to try that myself. Of course I guess that depends on how stretchy your skin is.:D

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

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this does work, it's especially good for the jawline as it gets the skin off of the curve.
I also find a smiling blade is good for necks.

Same beard growth, I use an upward 45 degree sything stoke with good effect.

And a keen edge.

I also do a final water only pass on my neck.

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Originally Posted by Euclid440

Same beard growth, I use an upward 45 degree sything stoke with good effect.

And a keen edge.

I also do a final water only pass on my neck.

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Is that final pass the against the grain pass?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Euclid440

Same beard growth, I use an upward 45 degree sything stoke with good effect.

And a keen edge.

I also do a final water only pass on my neck.

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Water or post aftershave passes are one I always forget to mention, mine are a mild of ATG/XTG.

Yes, water pass is Against the grain, the 45 degree scythe works well there as well.

I usually do 2 With the grain, I Against and a water only Against on problem areas, for me neck, corners of mouth and mustache.

I'll give that a try tomorrow when I finally get to use my straight (been using a shavette)!

Great feedback from everyone, I was just about to post a similar question. I have the same issue with the hair on my neck growing away from a rather pronounced adams apple and made an ATG pass just for the hell of it… and the results are always ok, but nothing near as good as my usual one pass XTG with a freshly honed blade. Perhaps it will come with more practice but the one bit of advice that I would impart is to definitely do any ATG with a round point if possible. If your adams apple is at all like mine then anything with a spike or square point will only add one more thing to worry about.

Although the darn thing can be pesky at times maybe it would be best to just shave it down a bit :tameshigiri: :gl:

Thanks for the diagram. I was wondering what a guillotine stroke was, but hadn't looked it up just yet. I've used scything to great effect to nip at the indents on either side of my chin. Never thought to cant the blade at an angle though...Might have to give that a shot and see what happens.

A guillotine stroke slices the hair rather than chopping it, or that's the theory I read anyway.

Sounds about right. What caught my eye though, is how the blade is canted. Lets you get as close to an ATG stroke as you can if your neckline has East - West running hairs. I gotta say it worked pretty well, though using it with the smiling razor I just acquired may not have been the best plan ever. New type of razor in beginner hands trying out a new stroke...miracle I don't have any pictures for the Cut of the day thread lol.