Thread: Been Shaving for Two Months

Hey there. I have been shaving with a straight razor for two months now. I foolishly jumped into it completely, but my experiences haven't been too bad. I just need to practice getting the landscape of my face now, but my real problem is that where my neck begins to meet my head, it grows straight sideways towards my ears, how the heck do I get this hair?

welcome to srp glad to have you on board try stretching the skin real tight to get below my jawline i stretch the skin by pulling up on my cheek. use multiple passes going in different directions and tilt your head as needed to access tight areas hope this helps

Hmm, I usually just stretch my face until it's taught enough to shave, I'll try really pulling on it.

With that growth pattern it's gonna be tough to hit it directly with and against the grain. I'd say up and down (across-the-grain) passes, followed by a semi-against-the-grain pass done by holding the razor with the pivot just under your jaw, and arcing the blade down, for a roughly 45 degree against the grain pass. If you're familiar with the "J-Hook" move that the DE guys use it's somewhat similar. I don't have this problem on my neck, but I have it something fierce right there where the neck meets the jowls, and this is the technique I use to tackle it.

A razor with a shorter blade makes this easier. Something like a Heljestrand #32 or #32, or a TI Super Gnome. Or a vintage razor with a chipped toe that you've ground short. One of the members here has a Puma Gold that got this treatment and left it with a 2.5" blade that was perfect for maneuvering in tight spots.

You can also use your thumb and forefinger to twist a patch of skin around a bit before shaving it - that can get you an extra 15 degrees or so of attack and that's frequently enough to do it.

I saw a guy on youtube who does shaving advice videos, saw the j-hook in there, He did it very fast, very aggressively with his DE, I think i'll take my time, haha.

Take a look at Jockeys' video on shaving http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...an-shaven.html He uses a diagonal, scything motion to shave his neck. The whiskers on my neck grow in swirls and this is the only method i've found to get a close shave there.

You must use a light touch with this technique or you will cut yourself.

hahahahaha, wow. I think I'll try slow j-hooking first. That looks fairly...crazy.

Another Canuck! Good to see you brother.

Just keep trying to stretch the skin into places that give you access to those hairs. Try some different grips too. You'll get there. I have some of the same issues. You can see how I solve those problems for myself in my Shave vid if you like.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...technique.html

X

Always great to meet fellow countrymen on the internet! I will definitely take a look at the video, thank you.

P.S. what part are you currently residing in? I hope it's not Calgary, they are having some very un-spring-like weather. I'm an Ontario man myself.

I have the same problem as you KonPOW. What I have been doing is stretching the skin up to my cheeks and doing a few XTG passes to get it down as close as problem. This spot on my face really hates Against the grain and gets very red if I try. Probably because my facial hair is extremely thick (I started shaving in sixth grade), and this area is one of the thickest spots on my face, the hair is like wiring. Make sure to use a very light touch.


Also The videos with j hooking were mantic's DE videos weren't they? I wouldn't J hook with a straight! Well, if you do, be careful.