Shaving the lower neck

[C0ckRobin]

OK, it's been almost 3 weeks of using a straight razor and I'm getting pretty good at it. I have a small, neat, well trimmed beard, so I'm shaving mostly my cheeks (to almost the jawline), and the neck starting at just below my jawline - no chin issues for me! There are, however, a couple of problems I'd like some advice on.

1) My beard on my neck grows almost (if not entirely) left to right. I shave down from the jawline, then up, but the only way I was ever able to get my neck BBS in the days BSR (Before Straight Razor) was to shave right to left, usually twice. I'm hoping that with practice I can do this with a straight, but for now that's just too awkward a position, and I end up invariably nicking myself.

2) I've looked at a number of "shaving with a straight razor" videos on YouTube, and it seems that in every one of these they person stops shaving at just the adam's apple. Unfortunately, my beard extends to past my adam's apple. I've gotten to where I can shave the adam's apple with success, but my neck on either side is a different matter - I often nick myself there. Any suggestions?

[JimmyHAD]

The whiskers on either side of my windpipe are my toughest and I pull the skin off to the side to get it tight and do a scything stroke on an oblique angle. You have to mess around with finding the right stretch for your particular beard. It may require going over it a few times from more than one direction. Some areas will never be easy.

[pcdad]

I was using DE/SE for 2 yrs and got darn quick n good @ them..problem was my razor burn issue around my jaw line..no matter which SE/DE blade I used maybe a feather and my single SS blades were good also but still got some burn..under my chin could never get as close as my str8 can...plus feathers r expensive and I only get 2-3 max uses from one blade...If I were you I would slowly experiment which way works for your to shave in which direction..also even if you think your blade is dull or whatever..make sure you strop and make sure your technique is as proper as can be!

good luck
pcdad

[noggs247]

Hi ****robin,
You do not say which passes you are attempting in your questions.
In any case ,I think your answer is to use the ATG pass as follows:-

Lather up your neck area -with your left hand (presuming you are righthanded) place your forefinger and thumb either side of your windpipe below the lather and pull the skin gently down-then raise your chin slightly to tighten the skin on the whole of the neck area.
Open the razor so it is flat (scales at 180 degrees to blade) and place the blade carefully on the neck just below the adams apple on either side with the blade pointing upward.
At an angle of 5 to 10 degrees using light pressure and short strokes push the razor upwards to the jawline.Where the problem area is you can also develop a scything stroke curving gently towards your chin (describing a gentle arc).
Do this on both sides right up to the jaw line and you should find that all the problem hairs will be gone.
When shaving the adams apple-pull the skin gently to the left or right as you shave.
Hope this helps.
Kind regards

Noggs

[Woodash]

Shaving on a slant (very carefully) and employing a scything motion is the only way I can do it.
EDIT: OK - JimmyHAD beat me to it.