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.