Thread: Getting There

Well fellas, I've certainly been making progress. Been shaving a few times a week since late October with my Dovo Best 6/8, stropping on my Filly, and it's coming along; I've been using a puck of Fitjarsoaps' Wild Thing, and I also can honestly say that I now really enjoy shaving. In fact, this evening, I grabbed a long three-pass shave just to relax myself after a long day, and not only do I feel a million times better, I would say it falls somewhere arround CCS. The nicks are decreasing pretty well, and I usually only get one or two very small ones while going ATG.

There is, however, a bit of a sore spot in all my success; my neck! I'm still getting some redness and, most frustratingly, it's just not that smooth. I get a decent shave with north to south and south to north passes, but there's still stubble there, and it seems like the only way to get rid of it would be to shave sideways. However, as most of you well know, it's not exactly feasible to do that, because the blade angle is near-impossible to get right. So I wind up attempting a whole bunch of passes at varying angles, and wind up with redness and irritation.

Anyone have any suggestions to eliminate my neck-fuzz? My hair grows from my adam's apple outwards, towards my ears. Also, anyone tried the Fitjarsoaps aftershave balms? I need some new aftershave, and I'm hoping their mentholated balm would help with the redness.

Hello BaggedMilk and welcome to SRP! I wish I could tell you what to do about your neck. I've been shaving with a straight razor for about 3 months and still suffer the same problem on my neck. My hair grows from my adams apple towards my ear lobes. I've tried quite a few different strokes and angles, but still can't get that close on my neck. I've reduced my number of passes to basically three. Down the neck, up the neck and then sort of a sweeping/scything action as best I can from ear lobe toward center of neck coming from each side. Let's see that's not a good description, but it doesn't work that great anyway so not sure it's worth explaining. At least this limits the razor rash from too many passes. I'm hoping somebody else has figured this out and can provide some advice.

Originally Posted by BaggedMilk

... I also can honestly say that I now really enjoy shaving.

Bagged, Congrats. That you enjoy it is HUGE. That's what'll get you through the struggles w/ touch-up areas, learning the bizzare way the beard grows, what stretch, what stroke will really get it.

A while back, there was a thread on touch-up/problem areas. This noob relaxed alot when I heard experienced guys still having areas that defied shaving. Some gave up & touched up w/ a disposable or DE. I've don't that when in a hurry. Many have trouble around the adams apple, where a stretch to the side will place the defiant stubble in an area you CAN shave.

It'll be a learning thing, and with each break through, you'll feel on top of the world. For some reason, the smoothness from my shaves lately has taken a step for the better. 'Feels great. 14 hrs shaves on a guy who's 5 o'clock shadow showed up around 2:30-3:30. The lovely bride will touch my face & do a double take.

Keep at it. You'll enjoy it even more. At 5 months, I'm just loving it. 'So is the Mrs.

Congrats on your success....Str8 shaving can be an almost Zen like experience...

The neck is always a tough spot, even for the most experienced str8 shaver. It's the best place for your angle to go south on you...Pay attention to your angle and make sure stretching your neck. Nothing you don't already know...I've found that multiple North South passes on my neck does the trick, I'm using a very light touch, and get no irritation. Practice makes Perfect...Hang in there...In the mean time, you can always touch up your neck with a DE if you need to....

Fitjarsoap aftershave is exellent
umm dont really have anything to add after the other responses exsept
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