Help with shaving neck

I am 23 years old and I have been shaving since I was 13. I learned early on that I had sensitive skin. I use a SR on my face daily and it leaves me with the most comfortable shave I have ever gotten. Sadly my neck likes to be difficult. I have used SR, DE, and even those triple+ blade monstrosities on my neck, and none of them seem to cut close, and when they do my neck feels like it is on fire for the rest of day.

I make sure my beard is soft by soaking it with a hot towel, or shaving after I shower. I use plenty of soap (Caswell-Massey) and make sure not to apply too much pressure, if any. I follow my shave with an aftershave balm, lotion, and once a week, or so, I use a face mask to help rehydrate my skin. I have read about pre-shave oils, mixing shave creams with lather, etc. to help with sensitive skin.

What do you all suggest to help soothe my neck?

Thanks

LERigney,

It appears that you are properly preparing your face for shaving. In fact your prep sounds a lot like my own.

Have you tried the so-called "Robeson" method? See below. It is a shave preparation technique that one of our SRP members, Maximillian, discovered on a vintage str8 razor brochure and includes the use of bay rum or witch hazel to prepare your beard for shaving. Try it--along with perhaps just giving your neck one or two passes with the razor--and see if it helps reduce the razor burn on your neck.

Take care...

Welcome to SRP! Anytime I read a post by someone as your's, I feel the need to share my experience with them.

I know this sounds kind of crazy but try using Doctor Tichenor's antiseptic mouth wash as an after shave. I don't know if this will work for you but I can tell you it worked a miracle for me.

About 15 years ago, a friend asked me why I never grow a beard. I told him I have to use an electic razor because any other kind of razor would give me a terrible rash on my neck area and it's too hard to keep a beard trimmed with an electric. I live in the south and even with the electric, I would still break out terribly on my neck during the summer months and it didn't matter what after shave I tried to use. His response was, he had the same problem and went to see a dermotologist and...yep, you guessed it, he was told to use Dr. Tichenor's as after shave. I tried it and have been using it ever since without any problems. Now, I even shave with a straight razor with no problems. Just beware, it stings like the dickens for a second or two. Give it a few seconds though, and your face will feel like you just walked into a freezer! The only reason I can figure why it works is all the other after shaves have alcohol SD-40 and the Dr. Tichener's must have another alcohol.

If you should decide to try it, let me know if it works for you. I hope it works for you the way it did me. If the Dr. Tichenor's is not available in your area, please PM me and I'll be glad to send you a bottle at no cost. I'm not telling you this to make anything nor do I own stock in Dr. Tichener's. LOL! Seriously though, let me know and I'll be glad to send you some. I know how miserable it was for me and hope I can help someone else.

By the way, I was probably only a few years older than you when I started using the Dr. Tichenor's. Following is the link to thier website. You may be able to find a retailer in your area: Dr. Tichenor's

I have 2 areas on my neck that gave me fits trying to get a close shave, my skin isn't that sensitive so that was a non-issue. One thing I figured out is the hair on each side of my windpipe grows a different direction compared to everything else. I went ahead and let my beard grow a day and then used my fingers to figure out growth direction. Once I had a decent idea of direction I started doing those spots properly ATG (which is basically diagonally 45 upward degrees towards my wind pipe). Once I got the difference in stretching and direction down those areas improved dramatically. Understanding how your beard grows will give you a better idea on how to get the best shave. Hope this helps.

Thanks for all the advice.

jhenry- I used the witch hazel this morning with my shave and I do admit that it helped a little. Still some burning sensation but not as much. Maybe after a few days using it I will notice a bigger difference.

ENUF2- I never realized that the hair on my neck grew in differnt directions much like you stated yours did. I was finally able to get a closer, smoother shave on my neck. Need more practice though.

kcarlisle- I plan on trying your method of using Dr. Tichenor's mouthwash as an after shave. I do have a question. Which one works the best, or they all pretty much the same?

Thanks again for all the advice. I appreciate it very much.

There's only one type of Dr. Tichenor's that I'm aware of. It's called the Dr. Tichenor's antiseptic peppermint mouthwash, concentrated formula. Down here on the deep south, people use if for all kinds of things. Works miracles on cold sores too. Don't make the same mistake I did years ago and try it as mouthwash straight out the bottle. It felt like it took the skin out of my mouth. LOL! Make sure to dilute it if you want to try it as mouthwash. You can use it straight out the bottle, like I do, for aftershave.

If what you meant by "which kind" was between the mouthwash or gel, I'm talking about the liquid mouthwash described in my last reply.

You're welcome. It will take some time to get the hang of it but sounds like you're on the right track. Good Luck.

LERigney,

You're quite welcome...

Try some bay rum as well. The extract of bay rum has anti-inflammatory properties that may help ease or eliminate your razor burn. I just used the Robeson method today w/ some Dominica Bay Rum when I shaved with my str8 razor. I had no razor burn at all.

And follow kcarlisle's advice with the Dr. Tichnor's. Its selling point is that it is concentrated. It only takes a few drops in a glass of water to make an effective mouthwash. The same is probably true for it when used as an aftershave.

Take care...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LERigney

....
and none of them seem to cut close, and when they do my neck feels like it is on fire for the rest of day.
....
What do you all suggest to help soothe my neck?
....

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Map your face with care. As you noted in another post
your neck whiskers do not grow as you expected.

Shave with the (now mapped) grain and perhaps cross grain.
Against the grain with whiskers that try to grow nearly
flat is difficult at best so do not try.

For example one side of my neck grows up and the other
grows down AND the transition between is a mine field.

Shave with short strokes, WTG as per your map.

Experiment with different shaving lathers.
Let the lather work for a full +3 min.

After shaving splash with cool water, rinse
all the soap and lather off your face and
then let your face/ neck rest a full 30 min
before applying any product.

Avoid alcohol and fragrances in your shaving
products. Once you conquer your rash you can
add some.

To aid healing try some topical first aid cream or ointment.
A thin application of Vaseline or Neosporin can aid
in healing (generic versions are fine). If you shave
irritated skin -- it will often stay irritated.

With me a razor burn often points back to problems
with yesterdays shave. Evaluate your products and
methods over three or four days.

Simplify your shave process. The shorter the list
of products you use the better.

JHenry,

Thanks for posting the piece from Robeson! I learned a few things from it. One in particular, was stropping the razor after shaving. Even though I always take a minute or two to dry my razor, I never thougth of stropping after shaving to dry out the razor. I've always used stropping time for letting the lather soften my beard. That's not a bad idea and I'm definately going to try that. Something else is, even though I always rinse my razor off before shaving, I've never run it under hot water for a lengthy period of time to expand the "teeth" of the razor. Last but not least, trying to rinse of the first lather and use bay rum.

Does anyone know where Witch hazel or Bay rum is available to purchase? I'm always on the look out for something new to try. Who knows when one may find the next best thing to sliced bread! LOL! Seriously though, if anyone can point me in the general direction, I'll give it a try and see if it helps even more.

Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kcarlisle

Does anyone know where Witch hazel or Bay rum is available to purchase?

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Not sure about the Bay Rum, but Witch Hazel can be purchased at just about any store. My fiancee buys her's at Wal-Mart, or Meijer.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by niftyshaving

With me a razor burn often points back to problems
with yesterdays shave. Evaluate your products and
methods over three or four days.
.

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+1 on that niftyshaving. I have found the very same experience. I pay for my heavy handed shaving in the next day's shave.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kcarlisle

JHenry,
Does anyone know where Witch hazel or Bay rum is available to purchase? I'm always on the look out for something new to try. Who knows when one may find the next best thing to sliced bread! LOL! Seriously though, if anyone can point me in the general direction, I'll give it a try and see if it helps even more.

Thanks!

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Look in the vendor section or in the cream and soap section. I cant remember exactly where it was, but there was a great review of the bomb bay rum, which is made by a member of this fine forum.

pfb vanish is very good. Pre shave oil. Defanatly shave wtg in the neck area. If the stubble grows up, shave up. You won't get as close. You will get close comfotable shave.

The neck can be tricky. I always go with the grain, and I've learned to do some creative stretching. You should also try using both hands if you are only using your strong hand to shave. Makes hitting those angles a lot easier.

Finally, one of those mirrors you mount to the wall and can pull close to your face can really help. This is one of the best tools I've bought to aid my shaving.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ziggy925

Finally, one of those mirrors you mount to the wall and can pull close to your face can really help. This is one of the best tools I've bought to aid my shaving.

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I actually use one my great-grandfathers shaving stand. It has a regular mirror on one side and magnifying mirror on the other side. Does help out a lot with the neck, and those tricky hairs that just seem to hold on no matter what you do.