Thread: advice on ATG when neck hair grows directly towards ear ?

my neck portion of my beard grows 90% towards my right ear, directly across my neck on a horizontal line...

with a DE i could go ATG and get a nice smooth shave

with the big ol straight, cant.. just cant find a way to stretch my skin etc to get there..

now i LOVE shaving every day... so i sorta dont mind, but the 5oclock shadow isnt fun when im putting in this much effort LOL

advice?

thanks guys...

While I don't have to worry about a 5 o'clock shadow really (I'm just not that hairy of a dude), the hair that I have on my neck grows in exactly the same manner. Unfortunately, I have the same problem. I actually just purchased a DE a few weeks ago for this very reason. I know this isn't much of a help, but there really is no shame in using your DE.

Originally Posted by idkid

While I don't have to worry about a 5 o'clock shadow really (I'm just not that hairy of a dude), the hair that I have on my neck grows in exactly the same manner. Unfortunately, I have the same problem. I actually just purchased a DE a few weeks ago for this very reason. I know this isn't much of a help, but there really is no shame in using your DE.

ah, but then i would be admitting defeat!

LOL

no DE when the straight is out.. and lately, no DE at all... i LOVE straights! ill be selling my DE and SE collection very soon

Todd,
I have a similar problem. My neck hair grows out from my chin, but around the collar area it turns back north toward my ear. I've had to do partial WTG/XTG strokes and still haven't found a truly happy finish in this area. I keep thinking about it though, and how I can try to attack from different angles.

I know this doesn't really help, but you're not the only one trying to figure this out. There has to be an experience guy here who knows a technique that will work for one or the both of us.

Peace,

agreed.. this has to be a universal issue

i actually am thinking about cutting up a razor i have thats chipped up on the end, and making a 1/2 straight razor, LOL

i could get it then!

+1 on the neck problems. I've got the same thing going on. When i make a standard N to S Pass, it's like it's going across the grain and while it gets the whiskers pretty good, it also leaves a painful amount of razor burn. I've tried going S to N for the first pass, but the razor just doesn't feel as smooth and comfortable that way. Some of this is that the razor doesn't feel as comfortable in my hands when making a S to N pass, but that's something i have to work on. But, I can definately tell a difference when i don't prep the beard well. I think that's alot of it, Good preparation can take you a long way, and can make the difference from AHHHH to OWWWW really quick. I've also noticed that when i use a very light touch, really just the weight of the razor against my skin and using the PROPER angle, it makes a world of difference. However, I'm still searching for that smooth comfortable neck shave that comes so easily on my cheeks, moustache and chin. I guess I'll just have to keep on searching...

I struggled with the same issues starting out.
On my neck my hair grows towards my ears on each side, outwards and slightly upwards.
I experimented alot, and what I ended up with was a couple of ways to handle this.
First I focused on tilting my head way back, while at the same time leaning my upper body forward. The leaning part was to be able to still see what I was doing :-) At the same time I focused on good stretching sideways to be able to bring the shaved area to a place where the blade would actually reach then and cut comfortably. Holding the razor like a Japanese blade, with the scales straight out back can also help you get there.
The second method, which I now apply to the whole shave is utilizing an advanced stroke called scything.
Now, this stroke requires practice and caution. Don't do this without practising in safe areas and ever so gently.
Check out the Wiki for information about this before trying it, there are videos who shows how to do this as well.
In fact, start with the first method suggested here, Scything requires experience in handling a razor!

I think most of us had similar problems starting out, but with practice and time, I'm sure most everbody will find a way that gets those stubborn whiskers cut.

Originally Posted by touchdowntodd

my neck portion of my beard grows 90% towards my right ear, directly across my neck on a horizontal line...

with a DE i could go ATG and get a nice smooth shave

with the big ol straight, cant.. just cant find a way to stretch my skin etc to get there..

now i LOVE shaving every day... so i sorta dont mind, but the 5oclock shadow isnt fun when im putting in this much effort LOL

advice?

thanks guys...

...consider using a 4/4 str8...or the DE...I have the same problem in nearly the same area and to be honest, most of the time I just live with the bad spots if I can't get them as close as I'd like...the same issue is in place whether I use the srt8 (which is most of the time) or when I use the DE when I'm travelling...my biggest problem area is the sides if the neck between the muscles and the windpipe and the hair grows sort of diagonally from front to back at about a 15 degree angle relative to horizontal...so...if the shave gets the whiskers as close as the rest of the face, great...if not, no problemo. one of my best friends is also the pastor at my church back home and he often uses a phrase "pressing things out of measure" that sort of sums up my attempts at shaving...basically, I take what the blade will give me that day for that shave...if I try to get too much out of it or "press things out of measure" them I'm asking for trouble with nicks or worse...haven't ahd a real nasty or deep cut but I have indeed nicked myself a few times and given myself razor burn when trying to get too much out of the shave...I usually go two passes (WTG and ATG) but I'm still learning the grain...I've read where some folks have actually mapped out their grain so that may help too...sometimes I'll try and hit the trouble spots for a third pass but not often...keep reading these posts and you'll find your stroke...happy shaves...

"ah, but then i would be admitting defeat!"

You don't have to admit to defeat. You can declare yourself victorious by rising above the remaining
bristle on your neck, just shaving it WTG or XTG as best you can and moving on. Those neck hairs may
grow in different and difficult directions, but they tend to be lighter in texture than jaw and chin whiskers
and aren't bothersome by the end of the day.

I used to have this very problem, stubble under the jawline towards the throat. The solution, for me, was alternating stretching patterns. I stretch towards the ear, or more precicely, just under the ear, and also north, over the jawline. It can be hard to get both stretches in one go so I sometimes use 2 passes. Also use a scything stroke, as well as grimacing, head tilting and leaning over.
Dang, reading this over I gotta ask myself if my shaves really are as comfortable as I think they are