New to Str8s trouble on neck

I'm new to using a straight razor. I'm on about my 5th day using a nice new Dovo. I've already got semi-decent honing skills from being taught how to hand-sharpen a knife by my father and a scientific razor by my mother (she was a research scientist and once taught me how to hone a blade by hand that was being used to cut out super-thin slices of samples for use in microscopy) and my stropping technique seems to be okay too since I'm not having hard time in general with the shaving itself.

In fact, my cheeks & chin have never looked better. Even late at night they are baby smooth. However, I am having trouble on my neck, specifically on either side of my adam's apple. Now I know that part of this is that I've got a rather large adam's apple to begin with. The other trouble is that unlike the rest of my beard, the hair on either side of the adam's apple doesn't grow in a normal up and down grain. Instead on either side it grows sideways away from the adam's apple. That's actually one of the reasons I've never tried to grow a full beard because I always had this odd bald patch running vertically down the ridge at the midline of my throat!

Any suggestions on how to best shave those spots on my throat? I shave down with the grain on my beard and up against the grain as well. It leaves me baby smooth everywhere else, but just doesn't cut it on the sides of my neck. I've tried going sideways with and against the grain at that location by holding the blade vertically in relation to my face but it's very awkward and that's the only time I ever really manage to knick myself.

I'd love to hear what people here suggest because I've already picked up a lot of good information by reading throguh the other posts in the forum. For example, this forum already helped me in picking out the first "new" razor that I've purchased.

I hear you my friend. I have problems with that area too. I think next time I am going to stretch the skin outwards (ie push the skin towards my ear) but I have no idea if this is a good idea or not. It's very tricky though so I'll keep my eye on this thread and hope someone comes back with some solid advice. If my technique brings me luck, then I'll come and post that too.

If I don't post within the next 2 weeks, then you can assume I've cut by throat my accident and it's probably not a good method ;)

My beard also grows sideways on my neck. I tried many methods and finally found something that works at least for me. I don't exactly shave with the grain of the beard but sort of shave in a diagonal from my chin and centerline to the sides of my neck. This is close to with the grain but not exactly. My next pass is more of a north to south pass that approximates an XTG pass. Finally, I shave diagonally from the ear toward the midline of neck; this is not completely against the grain and maintains a level of comfort. These three passes seem to give me a very close shave with a little cleanup sometimes.

^ Yup that's been pretty much my line of attack too. It'll be interesting to hear of any other methods that are employed.

At the base of my neck I've got hair going up in the middle and to the sides going outward. Sort of like this:

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So I go WTG 1st, then ATG in the middle and sides, then after I rinse I stretch the skin and listening to the blade as it picks up the strays.

I'll run my finger over the hairs to raise them and then cut them before they have a chance to retreat!

Stretching is key, pull the skin next to the adams apple to one side while you shave to avoid cuts since the skin is susceptible to cuts in that area.

Hope that helps.

That spot is just damn hard to do for most people, myself included. I do the vertical blade thing and it works OK, but in really thin and bony so its tough in those hollows so experimentation is the best thing.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have to try the method you guys suggested when I shave tomorrow. I have to admit that at the moment I'm finding I can shave every other day since there really isn't much growth after only one day. Let you now how it goes tomorrow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mischievous

Stretching is key, pull the skin next to the adams apple to one side while you shave to avoid cuts since the skin is susceptible to cuts in that area.

Hope that helps.

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This is so true. I found stretching to be a little like when I started flossing, at first I just couldn't figure out how to do the back teeth and then one day it clicked (if I'm honest there are still areas where it needs to click some four or so months in). I also find a third pass touch-up to be useful too, especially all round the very base of the neck.

You have gotten some good advice from the posts. All I can say being a newbie myself is keep at it. After 10 or so weeks it seems at times it just starts to work. I don't even quite know why. Stretch the skin tight, light hand, blah blah blah....
Also, I'm new to the site. Can anyone tell me how to follow these posts so I can get the most info and answers to my questions?
Obviously I'm not that bright:)
Gerry

Quote:

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Originally Posted by philmckee

I'm new to using a straight razor. I'm on about my 5th day using a nice new Dovo. I've already got semi-decent honing skills from being taught how to hand-sharpen a knife by my father and a scientific razor by my mother (she was a research scientist and once taught me how to hone a blade by hand that was being used to cut out super-thin slices of samples for use in microscopy) and my stropping technique seems to be okay too since I'm not having hard time in general with the shaving itself.

In fact, my cheeks & chin have never looked better. Even late at night they are baby smooth. However, I am having trouble on my neck, specifically on either side of my adam's apple. Now I know that part of this is that I've got a rather large adam's apple to begin with. The other trouble is that unlike the rest of my beard, the hair on either side of the adam's apple doesn't grow in a normal up and down grain. Instead on either side it grows sideways away from the adam's apple. That's actually one of the reasons I've never tried to grow a full beard because I always had this odd bald patch running vertically down the ridge at the midline of my throat!

Any suggestions on how to best shave those spots on my throat? I shave down with the grain on my beard and up against the grain as well. It leaves me baby smooth everywhere else, but just doesn't cut it on the sides of my neck. I've tried going sideways with and against the grain at that location by holding the blade vertically in relation to my face but it's very awkward and that's the only time I ever really manage to knick myself.

I'd love to hear what people here suggest because I've already picked up a lot of good information by reading throguh the other posts in the forum. For example, this forum already helped me in picking out the first "new" razor that I've purchased.

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Okay, I tried the method that starts with strokes from the top, then from the bottom and finally strokes at an angle. It worked better than I was getting before although I have to admit that I did manage to get quite a few knicks on those diagonal strokes! But I definitely got more hairs then I have done in the past. I guess I have to just keep trying. Thanks!

My most problematics area is that the hair below my jawbone grows toward the right ... all the way from the left ear to the right ear. Farther down my neck, it turns to the downward vertical.

I have a beard along the jawbone, just to complicate things a bit. Going North-to-South doesn't get 'em, going South-to-North doesn't get 'em ... going at angles doesn't get 'em.

"Vertical blade" results in what looks like a botched suicide attempt. So far, no amount of stretching or funny -face-making seems to help.

My solution in the interim: Do my face with a straight, redo (pass three) the lateral neck-fur with a DE. It's also small enough to get into the hollows below the angles of my jaw-ear space.

I'll work on the straight blade technique once I re-generate another quart or two of blood ...

ScottMac, the hair on my neck is exactly the same, one direction from ear to ear. I've not got it right yet, but I am getting closer. As you know, it is a bit difficult with a 3" blade on your neck against the grain with this growth pattern, so the upward and downward angle approach combined with pinching some skin along my jawline and pulling opposite the grain direction seems to be producing some decent results. I'm looking for better so if anyone else has this growth pattern chime in, please.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gerry25

Also, I'm new to the site. Can anyone tell me how to follow these posts so I can get the most info and answers to my questions?
Obviously I'm not that bright:)
Gerry

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At the top of the frame you'll see a 'Thread Tools' menu. Pull it down and choose 'Subscribe to this thread.' You will get several options, one of which is to have it send you an email with a link when a new post is added.

Okay, I've been practicing on the technique and things were much better this morning. My neck came out really smooth. Now that I know what direction the darn thing needs to go I can hopefully develop a good enough technique to stop knicking myself to death. :w

In all seriousness, today's shave was the best one yet. Really smooth all over and the knicks were so small that aftershave alone was enough to take care of hem.

Now I've got to start thinking about getting a better brush. The one that came with the "brush/mug/soap" gift set I received as a present is just not that great.