Can you help me get a BBS shave in my neck?

Hello gentleman, I'll start by saying I had a fantastic Christmas and scored this wonderful 5/8" Ralf Aust with Bocote scales from SRD. It's a great shaver. I've been shaving with a straight now for about 3 months and have mastered BBS on my face and below the chin. However, I cannot seem to get even close to BBS in the hollows of my neck to the left and right of my adams apple. I have kind of a long and skinny neck with significant adams apple which makes deep hollows. It seems as if the hair grows up and out towards my ears in this area, and I cannot get a good ATG shave. When I try and do several passes it gets irritated. What advice do you have for a novice like me?

Bonus pic of the razor below!
Attachment 190366

I use a scything stroke on my neck and short buffing strokes.
Nice razor.

I think most of us have had this problem at some point, and time with the blade will also help.

Don't overdue it, the irritation from trying too many passes or too much pressure can set up a ugly loop.

If you swallow and hold it you can flatten your Adams Apple if that helps.

You can use short buffing strokes with a very low/flat angle on the targeted areas.

Think about not only skin tension but direction of hair growth, try to stand the hairs up when you tension.

If you have some irritation (from over shaving) give it a break for a day or two if you can to let the area heal.

The problem areas will shrink with time and practice.

And remember "Comfortable" over "Close" and Close (BBS) will come to you before you know it...

Smooth Shaving...

Are you keeping the same angle of the razor to your body? :thinking:

Like other parts of your face, you can pull the skin of your neck quite a bit both to tighten it and to reposition it for a better angle or approach. For example, I never shave over my adam's apple, instead I pull the skin to the side and then shave that skin.

For me on the ATG pass, while stretching the skin, I first decrease the angle of the blade to where the spine is or is almost touching my neck. When I feel as if I got all that I can at that angle I will dampen my fingers and re-wet the area (no lather but you can if you like) and go back over with a slightly steeper angle to get it super close with no irritation. Doing that very very low angle at first on the ATG keeps me from getting nicks or weepers along with a BBS shave on my neck every time.

There really is no need to rush into ATG. I have been shaving for 50 years, have a fairly heavy beard, and have never shaved ATG with any type of razor. I'd suggest as others have that you use scything or windshield wiper type strokes there from different angles, which should, with a shave ready razor from SRD give you a fine shave. Having said that, most of us don't do as well on our necks as we do on our cheeks. I settle for DFS most days, which is fine for me.

Your prep and razor are probably good if you are doing well with the rest of your face.
+1 to the excellent technique advise already offered.
You might try a little extra lubrication before the ATG - like a bit of Proraso pre-shave or some Creamo.

Have you ever considered using Noxzema Cleaning Cream in your pre-shave routine. It really helps with eliminating the irritation if your shaving XTG. A good YouTube video is The Three Pass Shave by DRMATT357

One thing that helped me in the very beginning after watching Lynn's video was remembering the part where he was stretching the skin of his neck near the adams apple. Might be worth a look.

Pete <:-}

Necks are tough and tender and well dangerous areas to play in. My neck hair grows in all directions. I was not able to get all the stubble until I used better stretching I found in videos, started opening my mouth, and using both hands to shave. I could never get the right side until I used my left hand to hold the razor.