Thread: How many neck passes?

I have been SR shaving for probably 8 months now. It takes me at least 3 if not 4 passes to get my face BBS (WTG , XTG L to R, {XTG R to L}, ATG) <-- the 2nd XTG is not always done, but it does seem to help.

I don't mind that many passes and it doesn't iritate my skin but it does take quite some time. I would say that my total shave is 20-30 minutes depending on if I just showered or if I need to soften my face with hot towels.

Does this sound like too many passes or too much time?
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Also, even after 4 passes most of my neck still is rough, i.e. not BBS. I think part of this is because my neck hair grows mostly sideways (from my ears in towards me adam's apple) and it's pretty much impossible to do a true ATG on my neck. I usually do a pass down from my jaw line toward my chest, then a pass up from my chest towards my jaw line, then optionally { I do a pass up from my chest towards my jaw line with the blade purely horizontal but my pass is diagonally up and towards my ears}, and then I finish with a motion up from my chest towards my jaw line with the blad purely horizontal but my motion is diagonally up and in towards my chin.

I am tyring to attack my hair from as many angles as possible, and I do stretching, but perhaps I need to stretch more or try other directions.

I would appreciate you input as to the following:
1) How long does it take you go get a BBS shave?
2) How many passes do you do?
3) Is your neck ever BBS? If yes, then how?
4) Any other tips you might want to share.

Sorry about the long post, it's a great forum here and I look forward to your replies.
-Ty

To answer your questions:

1) About 15 minutes, start to finish.

2) As many as it takes to get BBS..! Dont think about "I must get BBS in one pass", its more about beard reduction with each pass until you get the BBS result. My neck is also a tough area and it took me a while to work out the right stretching and pass direction to get a BBS shave.

3) It is, but each persons shave will be different. How I got there was mapping which way my beard grows, stretching the skin to make the hairs stand up and then working out the right pass to attack those hairs for a BBS result. You'll need to do this too for your beard and this is how you'll get a BBS shave.

I also learnt how to make good lather, how to prepare my face for the shave (pre shave prep) and good stropping technique. All of these things will also make a difference.

4) Rather like learning to play an instrument, there is no magic formula or special product or technique that will make your shaves better. It really is a case of learning to make good lather, making sure your stropping is good, learning which way your beard grows, working out the right skin stretching for your beard, learning which passes and the directions that work for you and combining all of that with a shave ready razor.

In terms of passes, for me I found that going XTG on my cheeks gets me a great result right off the bat so now I dont do WTG passes on my cheeks. I also learnt that I cant do an ATG pass as it irritates my skin. But that said, these techniques may not work for everyone, so people need to develop their own shave style.

I also find the scything strokes and toe leading strokes work well on my neck, just due to the growth direction, so you might try those to see if they work for you.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Ask google for '"whisker map" +swf site:straightrazorplace.com', that's an SWF application by member The Baron. Fill in, print out, shave accordingly. 3 passes should do.

I'll look at that application.

I have made a map before and I try to go ATG but on my neck it is difficult.

5) Scything is where you slightly turn the toe of the blade, i.e. a little arc motion, right?

6) It's normal for each pass to take off a little more hair than the earlier one, rather than having all the hair taken off in one or two passes right?

7) Should I expect to be further along since I've been SR shaving for 8 months now? Will I ever get there?

5) Have a look at this article from the Wiki. It'll explain a lot of those shaving passes and other techniques.

6) Yep! Sometimes you'll remove all the hair at once, but because hair and skin are flexible you probably will need a few passes to clear it all off as what you're cutting shifts around a bit as you shave.

7) Again, I dont think there is a specific time for it to take to get things down. The more I shave, the more I learn about how to tackle those problem areas.

Just recently I found a way of tackling my chin that gets more of the stubble that grows around a scar I have there, from a bumper car steering wheel strangely enough..! The hair grows every which way around the scar, and this technique clears most of it off.

Its all about finding the techniques that work for you, and that takes as long as it takes.

If something isnt working though, dont keep doing it but try something else. The method you're using on your neck right now isnt optimal for you, so read the wiki article I linked, try re-mapping your beard and figure some different pass directions that hopefully will work better.

Its all part of the fun..!

But yes, if you keep down the road of trying things and altering/changing them to suit your beard then you'll get there..!

Good luck and keep us posted!

Originally Posted by TyGuy

I'll look at that application.

I have made a map before and I try to go ATG but on my neck it is difficult.

5) Scything is where you slightly turn the toe of the blade, i.e. a little arc

Easiest to say similar to slicing tomatoes. toe could go forward or backward. In fact this is a little tricky. If someone else shaves you toe should go forward always but when you do shaving yourself things are changes. hope i am clear. very important making small strokes and stretching skin.

motion, right?

6) It's normal for each pass to take off a little more hair than the earlier one, rather than having all the hair taken off in one or two passes right?

i have a little different opinion on this. i think if you do have right sharpness blade and shave with right technique you should be fine with just 2 passes WTG AND XTG.

7) Should I expect to be further along since I've been SR shaving for 8 months now? Will I ever get there?

You should be in there already. In the other hand you have been in it for 8 months this means you have most important factor -patience on your side.

REMEMBER THIS your blade doesn't need any pressure to cut facial hair. if you do use pressure to shave then sharpness is issue.

Even if I haz right sharpness blade, I need three passes. Maybe it has do with my beard growth. Because, you know, all generalisations are wrong?

Originally Posted by TyGuy

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I would appreciate you input as to the following:
1) How long does it take you go get a BBS shave?
2) How many passes do you do?
3) Is your neck ever BBS? If yes, then how?
4) Any other tips you might want to share.
-Ty

Hello TyGuy:

I am a full-blooded Assyrian. That means my beard is heavy, tough, and on the neck, it grows in 37 different directions. Now, to answer your questions:

1. I spend about 45 minutes every morning on the shave. I can do it faster, but I take my time to enjoy the complete ritual of wet shaving with a straight razor. When in a rush, I use my double edge. BBS is most difficult for me on the neck.

2. I make three passes: with the grain, across it and against it.

3. Sometimes I do four passes on the neck, but even then I fail to achieve a perfect BBS no matter how I stretch and what angle I use.

4. The best tip I can give you is this: Embrace the whole ritual of wet shaving with the straight razor and don't put a heavy emphasis on BBS, especially on the neck, if yours is as difficult as mine.

Regards,
Obie

I do one pass on my neck.

If I did any more than that, I'd have razor burn for a week.

I've just got skin sensitivity in the 100th percentile. It's my fair, super-sensitive Irish skin. My beard is fairly coarse, but my skin just HATES to be messed with.

So, I do one pass WITH the grain, and call it a day. Is it BBS? Nope. But it's smooth enough, and the irritation isn't worth doing another pass.

~ ryan

I should mention, to answer a post here, that I don't put extra pressure on the blade. Both of my razors were honed by Lynn so I am pretty sure that sharpness is not an issue.

Like I said, I can get my face BBS, but it takes 3-4 passes. It's really my neck that is most annoying.

Thank you all for your comments. I do try and enjoy my shaving in the morning. It's just that sometimes I am rushed and I end up using a bic razor. I know I know......