Thread: Confession

Hey everybody. I have a confession.

I've been at it for about a year. I still can't get all of my neck quite as smooth with a SR as I can with a DE.
The rest of my face? 100%, above and beyond the best shaves I have ever gotten. So amazing in fact, that even the imperfect nature of the neck won't get me to quit.

My razors are sharp enough. My prep is good enough....hmmmm, what does that leave....oh yeah...my technique.

From an inch off center to an inch in front of the line down from the ear, there is a spot perhpas the size of a silver dollar that I simply CAN NOT get BBS. I go WTG, XTG, do my best to go ATG (sideways toward the center, in flesh that can not be pulled flat, the real contours of the neck simply don't allow it. I sythe, I slice, I buff. Eventually, I get some burn, or even some nicks from trying to force the square peg into the round hole.

Anyone have any super-secret advanced techniques too risky to be trusted to newbies? I remember a few times getting really close in that area. I don't know what I did differently those times. I'm thinking maybe a radical new way to hold the blade to get the correct angle ATG? That seems to be my problem, but I can't find a way to correct it without slicing my throat (which would be horribly counter productive...though perhaps while loading me into the ambulance, the EMT could remark..."Hey Joe, look at the amazing shave this guy got this morning." Then, I could smile as I drift along towards the great unknown beyond this world knowing I got that damned spot smooth.)

Any help would put me forever in your (even deeper) debt.

Your frustrated brother in the blade,

SL1

I have 2 spots on each side of the neck right under the jaw that the beard grows in a way impossible for ATG pass. I can never get past WTG /XTG with a SR. I think there is nothing wrong with finishing the tough spots with a DE.
If your technique is not perfect, however , you just need to find the right way of doing it.

Thanks. And while I agree there is nothing "wrong" with finishing up with a DE, especially while learning, I think the point is to be able to eventually do a full BBS with the SR. The professional barber shaves I've gotten did not without a problem (well, two did). I can admit that I am still learning (as is clear from this thread!), but I want to get there....surely SOMEONE can help?

I have two spots along the windpipe on both sides where the beard direction is crazy.. I can't get it 100% BBS without having my chin at the right angle and the skin stretched in a certain way.... and on top of that I have to use a blood chilling schything motion to really get it even then. Usually I get a pretty legit BBS in two passes everywhere except for those two places by my windpipe. The schythe does it, but I know why the symbolism of the Reaper with the scythe is so effective...right on the throat it gives you a bit of a chill.

Have you ever seen birds on the expressway swooping down in front of cars ? Essentialy playing 'chicken' with the cars I guess. Long time back a forum member posted on doing a stroke like that. Sort of 'swooping' the blade.

Like the coup de maitre except not as pronounced a blade angle to start from and not under the nose. IOW I start at the standard blade angle and sort of swoop the edge against the whiskers. I have found this stroke to be effective in attacking some tough spots on my neck that didn't get smooth with normal strokes.

I find that stretching the skin and inflating the cheeks helps a little. I also find that my 1/2 hollow does a better job than my full hollow. The full being 6/8 and the other 7/8.

I use a combination of angles, straight (N/S), 45 (NE/SE & NW/SW), and recently I figured out how to go across the chin (E/W).

Some combination works well. Also a hot water pass at the end works wonders as well.

I have the same problem....still haven't figured out how to get rid of it.

Glad (sorta) that I'm not alone.

JimmyHAD, I'll give that a try, and see how we go. Some of the motions I'e tried have been terrifying. Hmmmm...If I go at a 75 degree blade angle, with a deep sythe and more pressure, I wonder what will happe...gurgle, splurt, gurgle.....

I've got the same problem. Wacky beard growth on parts of my neck. I would need to be a contortionist to get the blade angle just right. I experiment on the weekends when I have time and sometimes I get it (but I never remember what I did because I've tried so many things), but during the week, I just do a quick touchup with a DE to get those elusive whiskers. Perhaps this weekend I'll try the swoop stroke. Hmmm... perhaps I should light a few candles first.

Me too. One small patch on the right side of my neck. I'vr recently got better results there by stretching the skin upward from the jawline.

Best Regards

goshawk