After my N and S passes, I try and do scything strokes on my neck from outside to inside, but the angle is still awkward. I have a Kamisori that seems to work better than the western razors in this department.
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After my N and S passes, I try and do scything strokes on my neck from outside to inside, but the angle is still awkward. I have a Kamisori that seems to work better than the western razors in this department.
Pretty darn good neck shaving for me means scything and sliding/guillotining passes after one up and one down. I also have better luck with smaller razors. Perfection, such as it is after only six months of trying, has been achieved regularly with a third pass and touch-ups with a Rolls Razor.
A BIG +1 on this! I have the same neck growth pattern and I used to try to go E-W/W-E but it was near impossible. What I found to work every time was a N-S while stretching skin at base of neck. Put your hand on your neck like you are strangling yourself and gently pull down and then shave N-S. I also go slightly SE on one side and slightly SW on the other. I get BBS consistently doing this. Make sure when you increase angle you decrease pressure. When you think you have no pressure lighten up some more! With a sharp blade, skin stretch, higher angle (30 degrees), and negative pressure you should get a BBS. If not then try adjusting these things until you get it. Just my .02¢
I personally believe that it's just a function of "bridging" across parts of the neck.
I have never had a problem with a "clean" neck shave using a double edge (my first razor, in 1954) or a "Rolls".
That is what made me start paying more attention to creating a flat plane for the straight while making a pass.
I agree that a shorter razor helps.
I've gotten to the point now that I use my Rolls more often and trim my mustache with a straight if I'm in a hurry.
Owlface -- I think many of us have a similar problem. Like many others here, I use a combination of scything and sliding motions depending on where I am on my neck, and which hand I'm using. I think if you take you time and experiment (safely) you'll find the solution that works for you.
The secret after going E-W is to not feel your neck.......
if I'm going for serious clean on my neck i find my best option is my henkells Spanish point and a whole lot of care, which allows me a good combo of mowing power and precision. i use three passes on the all up or down but changing the direction that my scythe contacts the hair and then a point and heel oriented clean up.
however i am gonna try the different skin stretching to see about a cleaner shave
I recently used the I Barber and it has a little of a smile. this time the apple didn't get sliced. I don't know if it was because I was taking it slower or the smile. at any rate it worked. the other times when it got to the apple I would reach for the Bismarck 9/16 small and sharp. every time is a learning experience.
The hollow of my neck is a problem area as well.
How I deal with it?
I realize that until I started with a straight razor I never even felt that area of my face to see how close, smooth it was.
BBS in most areas and DFS in the rest is great for now.
I work on scything and different strokes. It's all good