My hair grows weird... very weird

I have been having a lot of difficulties because I now (thanks to all I have learned here about face prep) get really smooth, mostly comfortable shaves with a cartridge razor but I get awful straight razor shaves. I couldn't figure out why. I now know why. I shave completely different with a cartridge razor than with a straight razor because my hair grows in very odd directions. I just realized this, this week.

It seems that most men's facial hair grows down from their cheeks to most of their neck, where it starts to grow up at the base of the neck. My hair only grows down on a narrow strip down my side burn. As you move closer to my chin the follicle angles and the hair starts growing toward my ears. In fact the hair on my jaw line is growing exactly toward my ears (the tips of the hair are pointing directly at my ear). The hair on most of my neck also grows angled toward my ears and then grows in a crazy, seemingly random direction at the base of neck. I should note that it is mirrored. The hair on the left side of my face grows toward my left ear and vice versa.

I don't see a doable way to shave with a straight razor with this kind of hair growth. I have tried a couple of times and I have damn near killed myself due to blood loss. Anybody else have this issue? Any suggestions would be appreciated.


Thanks,
Adrian.

My facial hair is almost exactly like that....

I'm not sure what to say other than "practice". I've gotten WAY better at it, but the angled neck hair is *really* tricky, and half the time I still have some irritation down there.

Mine is odd on the neck, the face is fine. Mine does swirls on both sides of my adams apple making life difficult to say the least. I've got one of those 4/8 cooch shavers (is that the real name?) that works wonders do to it's small size. You may want to give that a go if you can find one.

Mine too, the hair on my jaw grows towards my ears, as does the hair on my neck too, so I should probably make a good shave video one of these days. I get a BBS shave everytime but starting at my ear and going down and across at an angle across my neck too, ( This is very dangerous btw) I do this on both sides, this cleans up all the against the grain hairs. This and a good fool's pass will give you a total bbs. I think with "our" hair growth pattern you have to truly prep more.

Cheers
D

I totally understand, I have a similar issue. The hair on my left side growstowards my chinfrom the mid point of the cheek and on the right side it grows str8 towardthe ear from the chin. What I do is 3 passes, 1 with both hands on same side, 2 right hand full face, and 3 left hand full face. I then do a partial pass on my left side using right hand towards the ear and any touch up.

I get BBS on my face and most of my neck these days, but still need more just under the jaw line. I think it is due to blade angel more than anything else at this point.
Keep trying you should be able to get it!

Good luck! :gl:

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starting at my ear and going down and across at an angle across my neck too, ( This is very dangerous btw)

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Exactly. I have mangled myself trying this very stroke. This has me thinking that maybe I should switch to DE.

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I've got one of those 4/8...

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For me the issue isn't the width of the razor it's the length. I need something about the same length as the blade on a cartridge razor or a DE.

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Originally Posted by stygian

For me the issue isn't the width of the razor it's the length. I need something about the same length as the blade on a cartridge razor or a DE.

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Correct, the cooch razor is 4/8 and a blade length of only 1.375" long

The only advice I can give you is to continue working at it. May I suggest:

1. Do a section of your face until you learn how to shave it memorizing the angle and direction of the blade. And shave the rest with a DE. Move to the next section and repeat the process...I guess this is something like what the Romans used to do: "Divide and conquer"
2. The Jokeys video in the Wiki helped me with a few issues that I had shaving the areas around my mouth...take a look at it and take whatever pointers you need. This video is found under Shaving videos. Good Luck.

I have the exact same pattern. With a good sharp razor, and a little flexibility, you can do it...do you shave two handed or one handed?

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I have the exact same pattern. With a good sharp razor, and a little flexibility, you can do it...do you shave two handed or one handed?

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Two handed. "WTG--XTG" (for most people) I shave that side of my face with that hand. "ATG" (for most people) I use the opposite hand to come up from the neck.

Okay fellas, I've tried this numerous times now and I'm done. I just don't bend that way. Trying to reach all the way over with my opposite hand and pull towards my chin just isn't going to cut it. Well... it cuts it, just the "it" is my face, not so much the hair.

I'm gonna keep one straight and sell the other to buy a DE. Maybe a DE will work better for my face.