So I have been shaving for about two weeks now, and I am just starting to get the feel for below the chin line, but my shaves have been very rough when I get to the neck. I know the neck is a harder place to shave than the face, but I was looking for some suggestions or tips to help make the neck shaving go smoother.

Here is a little background. My main razor (Dovo Bismarck) was just professionally sharpened (by Chris Ellison) and it cuts through facial hair like butter. I use a Dovo russian leather strop (which I feel does a good job of smoothing out the edge), Colonel Conk's amber shave soap (which seem to get a nice lather going and provide adequate lubrication) and a Vulfix pure badger brush. I normally shave right after a shower. But If that doesnt work out, I use a hot towel (drapped over my face for about a minute) to prep my face. I do WTG and across the grain on my entire face. This part of the shave, although not perfect by any means, seems to get a smooth result and the razor seems to glide over my skin effortlessly. Then when I get to the neck my razor seems to drag across and irritate the skin. I try to keep light pressure, a 30 degree angle, taught skin, and I even try to put some more hot water on my face and a new lather to keep the area fresh, but the razor always seems to drag and skip along that area.

Part of me thinks that my technique just need work and part of me thinks that I am not preparing the skin (hot towel and such) well enough, and so the razor does not pass over it easily. Let me know if you have any tips or any idea of what is going on. I am really loving straight shaving (now I actually look in the mirror and think, Do I have enough hair to shave yet?, rather than damn, it is time to shave again), but I would love to figure this whole neck shaving out, because for now I am rocking some sweet patches or neck stubble.

Thanks for reading and for any advice in advance!

Tristan