Thread: Comparing Water Stones and Strop Pastes

Originally Posted by suzuki

The neck is the toughest area for me - I have to shave across my neck to get really close - by this I mean the razor moves across my neck from the outside to the side of my throat - so W-E on the left side and E-W on the right. The throat area I just need to do a N-S and S-N.

I can get a passable shave on my neck with N-S and S-N, but need the E-W/W-E to get it really close.

I haven't been able to figure out arm and hand positions to do the W-E and E-W strokes you describe. Could you explain how you do it?

I have an angular face and jaw, so that might be my main problem...

Josh

Its not the angles of your face, its the direction your hair grows that dictates the best angle of attack.

Much of the hair on my neck grows across my neck - if you let your beard grow for a couple of days, you will see that your beard grows in different directions in different places - you look to see which way the hair naturally lies. In the case of my (and many others) neck the hair grows outward from the throat.

This means that I need to do a W-E on the left side and an E-W on the right to do an against the grain pass.

This is not easy and you will likely nick yourself. First off, this is easier (for me) with a smaller razor (I find a 5/8 easier than even a 6/8, but I'm still pretty new to this). Basically, what I do is lift my chin and pull the skin as tight and flat as possible and work my way across - first under the jaw, then down from there - you can hold the razor at a bit of an angle and I cross shave to do this (right hand to shave the left side and left hand to shave the right).

Someone has posted a video here that shows someone doing a great three-pass shave and if anyone knows what I'm talking about, they should feel free to post a link.

Hope this helps.

That helps--thanks. My beard grows the same way yours does. You're right about the angles; I just meant that they make it tough for me to find a position that lets me get all the corners and hollows without slicing myself.

I'd like to see that video if anyone knows where it is...

Thanks,
Josh

I find I get my closest neck shave with a 4/8 razor. I don't know why but when I use one on my neck BBS.

I think I am in the same boat when it comes to an angular face. It makes a sharp curve when I transition from my face to the underside of my chin, jaw etc. And when I lift up my chin and pull the skin on my neck it forms all kinds of hollows and valleys. It's hard to find flat surfaces fo put the razor and then it takes contortions to put it there.

--------Michael

Ofcourse there is overlap. Guys that don't use stones need to be able to remove metal too.

I use a sharp razor and go against the grain if I want a close shave on the neck. I usually just don't bother.