Thread: Having trouble with my neck

That part of the neck can indeed be a pain. It has no bone support for effective stretching, tends to have errant hair growth, sideways and circular patterns common and if your middle aged rather loose skin. Most razors are about 3 inches in length which make it a bear to get into a tight space in an awkward direction. A couple of things that might help get a decent ATG pass on that area. I use a razor toe down approach while retracting my chin with opposite hand to expose the area. Combine with upstroke scything motion from outside towards the center can be helpful. Smiling blades as BigSpendur mentioned can help for sure as well as short blades the kind salvaged from cracked toes or other razor mishaps. Having a short blade maybe around 2 inch length makes all this easier. Whatever you do keep it light on the skin any mistake down there with pressure is no fun. Hope you get there. Cheers.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Actually I have a few razors with pronounced smiles and they do get in there and do the job.

Thanks Bigspendur, quick slightly off topic question, are razors with a smile more difficult to strop? I haven't even begun to think about honing yet so stropping is my only issue.

With Bigspendur on the smiling razors, they do give a fine shave and particularly the difficult areas like the neck. No problem stropping them, the same as any other razor.

Well I,ll weigh n, I,m trying to stay away from these threads, but here goes. New guys must rethink this time frame to learn! It takes more than a few shaves to pick it up. So there, EXPERIENCE-will be your savior on your neck.

Be it that you will learn to get the "BBS" or you,ll learn it's not that important. So as suggested, stretching, it takes time to figure out. A truly shave ready edge, it takes time to even know what one is. Lather building, again takes time. Now on to the good stuff, if you must get a BBS shave everywhere, a shorter blade with a smile will help, I have a Kamisori with a smile and it does help a lot, but it's still in the hands of the guy looking at you in the mirror.

When you get a few months on you, you will more than likely come to the realization that it's just shaving,and some areas may not be BBS, but no one will ever know but you.
Plus in a few months you will be telling newbies how they need to slow down and just enjoy the shave instead of stressing over a couple of stray whiskers, like Lynn says " have fun ". Tc

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

Well I,ll weigh n, I,m trying to stay away from these threads, but here goes. New guys must rethink this time frame to learn! It takes more than a few shaves to pick it up. So there, EXPERIENCE-will be your savior on your neck.

Be it that you will learn to get the "BBS" or you,ll learn it's not that important. So as suggested, stretching, it takes time to figure out. A truly shave ready edge, it takes time to even know what one is. Lather building, again takes time. Now on to the good stuff, if you must get a BBS shave everywhere, a shorter blade with a smile will help, I have a Kamisori with a smile and it does help a lot, but it's still in the hands of the guy looking at you in the mirror.

When you get a few months on you, you will more than likely come to the realization that it's just shaving,and some areas may not be BBS, but no one will ever know but you.
Plus in a few months you will be telling newbies how they need to slow down and just enjoy the shave instead of stressing over a couple of stray whiskers, like Lynn says " have fun ". Tc

Wise words indeed Tc.

I am not chasing the BBS so much as the comfortable shave really. I have switched to shaving after work rather than in the morning to give me more time to enjoy it and that helps a great deal. It also gives me more time in bed which is a bonus. I am really enjoying everything about the process even though I have been lathering for my DE shaves for a number of years, even that feels more like part of the ritual now.

I have a couple of razors that I bought "shave ready" from a vendor here in the UK and they do seem to give me a comfortable shave for the most part (when I remember less is more when it comes to pressure), but I have a new one on its way from Nathan Zowada so it will be good to see if that feels any different. This part of my shave has given me trouble for over thirty years, so I guess I can wait a few more months until I crack it.

I guess all things come with time and I am having fun so I don't suppose I can ask for more really.

You,ll get there,mand a close , clean, comfortable shave is what matters and that you are enjoying it. If Nates edges are as good as his dad's are you will have a superb edge to shave with, if your stropping is coming along well, you don't need hones unless you want a high grit finisher to maintain. Good luck. Tc

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

if your stropping is coming along well, you don't need hones unless you want a high grit finisher to maintain. Good luck. Tc

Well, I've been stropping the same two razors for over a month and they still shave. I guess that means I can't be doing it too badly... Doesn't it?

Presumably, if I don't get a high grit finisher I will have to send my razors away periodically. Nathan offers free honing for the life of the original owner, so cost isn't an issue just the lack of a razor whilst it travels to the USA and back. I have seen many good reviews on his blades though so I am excited to get mine; it's currently at O'Hare International Airport, not that I am checking every five minutes or so

Yea if he was in the same country, not a bad deal on honing, of course if shipping is crazy there are some guys in your part of the world who can do it for you. I know Jamie(celticcrusader ) is there and he's highly regarded. I,ll tell you something, and it will cause some to argue, I didn't hone a razor for almost 3 years, I was having them honed by a guy who provided me with the eyes I liked, then I maintained with a strop for months on end. Unless your doing it for a living, the razor doesn't see a stone much, and if you pick up a finisher it only sees it maybe once a month for 4-6 laps. Your stropping is doing well if your still shaving with them. Tc