Thread: XTG on the neck

After shaving I used to feel around for left over stubble and "practice the stroke" with my finger for the next shave. I finally tried something drastic and I shave my jawline up and face completely, dried off and used the dry upper face to stretch the stubble up so I could get to it. My grain is left ear to right, almost flat sideways. I Pull up on the face to get some parts, and then start pulling to the left to raise it up. Make sure you aren't pulling it down more. You may practice with a dry face. Another thing I did was go straight to ATG on the whole face. And I saw that 75% of my face was bbs, so now work on the problem areas only. After a while, you get to know your face. Good Luck!

Yes I do suppose that getting to know my face is the issue. It seems by the replies thus far that nobody really goes XTG on their neck, just ATG, which is what I have been doing. By the way, thanks for the video post, that is pretty much how I have been doing my shaves. This is not a hobby that can be rushed to perfection, but I would just like to have one fully smooth shave haha. I will say, when the Dovo is out for sharpening, I use the Parker Shavette, maybe because of how sharp that blade is, I definitely get smooth on the neck with those shave passes. I do however get more irritation at times because of the pressure difference....live and learn I suppose. Keep the responses coming folks, I am enjoying this!

Is it even possible to go across the grain on your neck (as in ear to ear)...?
Even in that video, I see very little (if any) differences between what he does on his second and third pass on his neck.

I'm a neck shaver only (upper cheeks as well) as I wear a full closely cropped beard. The neck is just a bugger of a spot to get BBS. I recall some veterans on here lamenting the fact they they never truly got BBS on the neck. My neck hair is so squirrely it's hard to believe, and ATG is something my neck really doesn't like though it does give amazing result but at a cost of MUCH irritation.

I go down from the jawline in the first pass, then on the second pass I shave chin to ear in a XTG pass. I use an 8/8 1/4Hollow with a nice smile. My other razors (spike points) are impossible to do this with.

On the XTG pass I just turn my chin the right way to make the skin taught, I keep a nice low angle and keep the pressure really light. I'm always happy with the result but it's not BBS.

I wish I had an answer for you. I'm about 1 month in, and on my neck I do 1 pass top to bottom, and 1 pass bottom to top, but for me those are both XTG. For a true ATG pass (which I seem to need) I'd have to go diagonal from the ear to the Adam's Apple on each side. I haven't figured out how to make that happen, yet.

Originally Posted by Java

I wish I had an answer for you. I'm about 1 month in, and on my neck I do 1 pass top to bottom, and 1 pass bottom to top, but for me those are both XTG. For a true ATG pass (which I seem to need) I'd have to go diagonal from the ear to the Adam's Apple on each side. I haven't figured out how to make that happen, yet.

This is exactly what I'm talking about right here...I have tried a bunch of different ways of holding the razor, but I just feel it will end bloody so I never follow through with the setup. It is a very awkward way....those of you who can do it, I think a bunch of us would really benefit from a picture to see the angle of attack so-to-speak. Maybe it will be that I just don't have the dexterity or flexibility in my arms and hands to pull off a true XTG pass.

Pull the side of your neck up with your left hand over your head for your right side, for the left use the ball of your hand at the jawline and pull up. Pull sideways and shave towards your free hand 2 inches at a time.You dont have to tackle the neck in one swoop from side to side. Another way is to dry the upper face after shaving and use the dry skin to pull. Or do the neck first. Its a lot I know but you will get there.

Again - I think what you really mean is a side-to-side pass. What you consider XTG is actually WTG for me. I share your problems with this stroke - but it's not a XTG pass for me.

Originally Posted by Hollywood67

This is exactly what I'm talking about right here...I have tried a bunch of different ways of holding the razor, but I just feel it will end bloody so I never follow through with the setup. It is a very awkward way....those of you who can do it, I think a bunch of us would really benefit from a picture to see the angle of attack so-to-speak. Maybe it will be that I just don't have the dexterity or flexibility in my arms and hands to pull off a true XTG pass.

Hollywood - Felt I should give you a pat on the back for not going through with a pass that you haven't got figured out in advance. I have tried all kinds of "dry runs" on this, but never with an actual razor .

Originally Posted by kwlfca

Is it even possible to go across the grain on your neck (as in ear to ear)...?
Even in that video, I see very little (if any) differences between what he does on his second and third pass on his neck.

Yes it is. I do it all the time. Spike tip MUTED on glass.