New Guy with New Guy Troubles

Hey folks, I have been shaving with my pseudo straight razor for a couple of weeks now, and I must say I love it. I say pseudo straight because I got a DOVO Shavette replaceable blade razor, so please feel free to toss any jokes about it my way! I got one of those to check out SR shaving before I spent the money to buy a good one and all the stuff to go with it...and my wife didn't have aheart attack at the cost of the Shavette. Anyway, my problem is that I can't seem to get a BBS shave on my neck. I use WTG and XTG on my cheeks and sides of my face and I get the closest shave ever. I can't really do XTG on my neck, so I tried ATG and it's kind of so-so. On my WTG pass, I use probably a 25 or 30 degree angle, and then I relather and use a 10-15 dgree angle on the ATG pass. Is this something that just takes more practice and time to master, or is there something else I could try. I stretch my skin by sticking out my jaw, but if I pull it real tight with my free hand, I get razor bumps and a lot of irritation. I use Stephans 320 aftershave and its really put a stop to any regular irritation I've had. Any suggestions for that better shave, besides ditching my Shavette and getting an honest to God straight? I'm hoping to get one for fathers day, but we'll see what happens. Thanks for your help!

Hey Melvin,

total n00b here (my first post in fact) and the experts should be here shortly to correct any missgiven info I provide. The way strectching the skin to shave was explained to me was that your hair grows at an angle \ when you stretch your skin your hair stands straight up l but if you overstretch your skin the hair angles the other way / and when you shave it and let go it lays not flat like it should _ but instead grows under ~ giving you ingrown hairs and bumps. In a nutshell I'm suggesting you may be overstretching the skin, Ive been told that the skin needs to be flat not tight if that helps at all. As far as xtg on the neck I have seen people do it but never with a shavette so I don't how it would work I'll let someone else fill that one.

here is a link to a youtube video about overstretched skin, the maker also has other helpful videos on lathering and such all very well done.
YouTube - Don't Over Stretch!

hope this helps some:)

Thanks whoosh. Honestly over stretching never occurred to me. I imagine that's very possible, and after watching some of the videos you put me on, maybe my lather as well. I am using Gillette ultra sensitive shaving gel, but I think I'll be getting the mug,soap, and brush set up next time I get into town. My shaves keep getting better, but the neck technique keeps eluding me. I'll give you an update when I give the new ideas a try. Thanks a bunch!

No problem. I'm still waiting for my razor to arrive and was gonna wait till I actually shaved to post anything but Ive been doing research to get ready and when I saw your post it just clicked. Hopefully everything will come soon

then we may shave and laugh and learn.........and probably bleed alittle along the way ;p

:gl: let me know how it goes

I stretch my neck skin about as tight as can manage and have not had any ingrown hair issues, but I'm sure it depends on the person. One thing to check is to make sure you know which way your hair grows on your neck. For me, the upper neck hair grows down, the lower neck hair grows up. So I need to do my passes in two parts, changing directions at the midline. Inadvertently doing a first pass XTG or ATG will probably lead to irritation.

-Chief

Perhaps I am an oddball I don't seem to need to do any facial yoga. My carbon dovo does a great job without it.

I may be mistaken, but I think the "don't overstretch" advice from mantic59's video only applies to DE/cartridge shavers, since those tools are designed to stretch for you as you shave.

I'm pretty new at this myself and the neck area still gives me trouble. A sharp razor and knowing the direction of your hair growth goes a long way. I haven't gotten to a 3rd pass yet but skin stretching and ATG makes a difference for me.

See my sig.....


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What are you doing for beard prep?

My problem is I cannot do a true ATG because the hair on neck grows straight across and is difficult to make a pass with the razor verticle :mad::confused:. Have tried the 2 45 degree passes but still noe BBS

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Originally Posted by paco

My problem is I cannot do a true ATG because the hair on neck grows straight across and is difficult to make a pass with the razor verticle :mad::confused:. Have tried the 2 45 degree passes but still noe BBS

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I end up doing two XTG passes by shaving almost straight down then straight up (but in two parts since the hair on my neck changes direction midline). I don't try to do a third ATG either-- the 2 XTG are at opposite angles and get me a pretty close shave.

Have you tried streching the skin in a slightly different direction? I was messing around at the angle of the stretch, and hit upon one that really helped with irritation.

-Chief

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Originally Posted by BHChieftain

I stretch my neck skin about as tight as can manage and have not had any ingrown hair issues, but I'm sure it depends on the person. One thing to check is to make sure you know which way your hair grows on your neck. For me, the upper neck hair grows down, the lower neck hair grows up. So I need to do my passes in two parts, changing directions at the midline. Inadvertently doing a first pass XTG or ATG will probably lead to irritation.

-Chief

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Thanks, I actually tried that today before work, and it made a difference. I figured out that my neck whiskers have patches that grow in different directions, and changing to match up with that made a HUGE improvement. Also, I tried not stretching the skin as tight as I had been, and I got my first shave with no irritation at all. Bonus! To answer that one guys question about my beard prep, I shower first, then use a hot wet towel for a few minutes to soften things up. Thanks for all the great advice guys.

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Originally Posted by jcd

I may be mistaken, but I think the "don't overstretch" advice from mantic59's video only applies to DE/cartridge shavers, since those tools are designed to stretch for you as you shave.

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I had a lot of problems with ingrown hairs using a cart. Even when I avoided ingrowns, I had an almost perpetual rash on my right jawline and throat. The rash went away when I started using a str8 (Dec '08) and no more ingrowns. The only way I can get a close shave on my throat is with a sharp razor and lots of stretching. As always, YMMV, but over-stretching with a straight razor does not bother me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BHChieftain

I end up doing two XTG passes by shaving almost straight down then straight up (but in two parts since the hair on my neck changes direction midline). I don't try to do a third ATG either-- the 2 XTG are at opposite angles and get me a pretty close shave.

Have you tried streching the skin in a slightly different direction? I was messing around at the angle of the stretch, and hit upon one that really helped with irritation.

-Chief

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I'VE TRIED STRECHING IN 360 DEGREES, IT'S A MATTER OF HAND POSITION FOR ME. BELIEVE IT OR NOT I HAVE ACCTUALLY TAKEN A RAZOR WITH A BAD SMILE AND GROUND DOWN THE TOE TO WERE THE BLADE IS ONLY 2 1/4 ", NOW WANT TO PUT ON SHORT SCALES AND SEE IF I CAN MANEUVER
IT AROUND. :confused:

Okay folks, here's the latest update on my progress. Today I found the trick! I got some pre-shave oil and that fixed almost every problem I had. No irritation no matter which way I shave with that stuff. I finally got the BBS shave I've been looking for. I got some cheap stuff called Shave Secret and it worked very well for me. I also used moderate stretching, being careful not to overstretch, and all together it has given me my best shave to date. I know I use a Shavette, and it's not a true straight, but man I look forward to shaving. It used to be a hassle and a necessity for work, but I really enjoy taking the extra time to use a staight razor. If my sensitive skin could hack it, I'd shave twice a day just to do it more. Thanks for all the helpful tips guys.

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Originally Posted by MelvinOfTheApes

Okay folks, here's the latest update on my progress. Today I found the trick! I got some pre-shave oil and that fixed almost every problem I had. No irritation no matter which way I shave with that stuff. I finally got the BBS shave I've been looking for. I got some cheap stuff called Shave Secret and it worked very well for me. I also used moderate stretching, being careful not to overstretch, and all together it has given me my best shave to date. I know I use a Shavette, and it's not a true straight, but man I look forward to shaving. It used to be a hassle and a necessity for work, but I really enjoy taking the extra time to use a staight razor. If my sensitive skin could hack it, I'd shave twice a day just to do it more. Thanks for all the helpful tips guys.

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Looking good! I have a Dovo Shavette, and I find it much easier to use a real straight, and I get a better shave. So, if you think it's good now, just wait until you have a real straight! The fact that you can use the Shavette and enjoy it will probably help a lot on using a straight. You will have to adjust your techniques a little, but should find it pretty easy.