Half a Month In

So I am a month in now and completely in love with straights. The experience is relaxing. I used to hate shaving. Always felt it was a chore that had to be done. I now find it enjoyable. I actually look forward to taking the time to shave!

While I know I still have a LONG ways to go, I nicked myself hardcore last night for the first time. (about 12? shaves in) Oddly enough it was on the cheek. I think I just didn't have the skin pulled tight enough.

I do have a question for you all however. I am now doing 3 passes on my entire face and neck. My cheeks are BBS but my neck no matter how I do it, will NOT get BBS and it is worth on the underside of the jawbone. I am guessing it just takes time. Should I try doing a 4th pass? I'm afraid of getting TOO close and slicing myself. Do others do a 4th pass?

One thing that I have found that works well for me is using a slicin motion. Be careful using this method though. Here is a video demonstrating what I'm talking about. YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

I think that is entirely normal to remain roughness under the chin and on the neck. I would say no do not do 4 passes, rather just keep working on the 3 you do and eventually you will get closer and closer as your agility and technique improves. After 9 months now I just finally made the next incremental jump in skill by sorting out a true XTG above the jaw line instead of the 'pseudo-XTG' I was doing before.

I am now doing WTG and ATG on the neck with the straight and cleaning up with XTG on the neck with a DE. For some reason XTG on the neck is much harder for me then ATG.

With the neck it's all about experimentation, with both skin stretching and blade strokes. A sharp razor doesn't hurt, either :). In time it is entirely possible to get a super close BBS shave on the jaw and neck - you just have to do your part and figure out how to achieve it on your face.

1 + on Ryans obsevation. Under the jawline neck area is a place to use patience. Too much pressure will result in rash or worse. Using ATG there at different approaches will show how to shave it by results. Refresh the lather before going there. You will get it!