Having trouble with my neck

Hi everyone, I have been looking around the forums and can't seem to find an answer, so I am asking the question directly. Please feel free to direct me if I have missed the correct thread in my search, or answer the question if you have overcome similar issues yourself.

The problem I have is that the hair on my neck grows quite a long way down (I am talking about the throat are under the chin, not the back of the neck) and the direction of the grain is upwards towards my chin. This area is the reason that I looked into different methods of shaving in the first place as the cheese grater was really giving me a terrible rash, DE was a big step up and helped a lot. I am hoping that straights are going to see an end to this razor burn for good. I did get it but greatly reduced when I first started DE shaving.

I am getting reasonably good shaves now everywhere else, and I can get a comfortable shave on my neck simply by going WTG, but the minute I try to change that direction on subsequent passes trouble and discomfort swiftly follow. Even if I do two passes WTG. I am currently just finishing that are with a DE, but I am really keen to let that go and fully commit to straights.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I believe that once I can master this area I will be on the way to becoming fully proficient.

Mine is a challenge as well. Hair grows all different directions and even a swirl or two down there. I would have to say that in my case, it was just time that told me how to shave each unique section.

Try something... light short strokes or long strokes and see how it worked. Try something else. That's what I did.

Been shaving for 40yrs and my neck seldom gets 100% with straights or DEs. I've just come to accept it and that the time spent chasing that last 1% is not worth it to me.

Good luck!

Did you try mapping your face? finding the direction of hair growth, and the shaving pass that will take care of it.
Link to mapping your face: http://www.pbjsite.com/shave/whiskarmap/

Shaving passes: Shaving passes - Straight Razor Place Library

And stretching the skin to raise the whiskers is very important as well, Enjoy!

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Originally Posted by Martin103

Did you try mapping your face? finding the direction of hair growth, and the shaving pass that will take care of it.
Link to mapping your face: http://www.pbjsite.com/shave/whiskarmap/

Shaving passes: Shaving passes - Straight Razor Place Library

And stretching the skin to raise the whiskers is very important as well, Enjoy!

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I did look at the whiskarmap but it didn't really give me any surprises as I have a pretty good handle on the direction of my beard growth.

There are some interesting strokes in the shaving passes guide I haven't tried yet, so I will give that a go and hopefully find some improvements. I do try to mix things up a little, keeping what works and losing waht doesn't. Even at the early stages my shave is more comfortable than it was under the cartridge system or electric razors that I have tried in the past. So I will be sticking with this until I master it (well get better at it at least).

I have the same issue with my neck, the only thing that work is, a keen edge and a sything stroke opposite the direction of growth, (ATG) after a with the grain stroke.

I do a 3 pass shave 2 with the grain and a third against, a semi forth, clean up against, in the problem area.

A ATG sything stroke get it every time.

I have the same problem with changing-direction whiskers on my neck. And middle-age, not-so-smooth skin. ;) What worked for me is to stretch carefully with my non-razor hand, raise the angle of the blade a little and make short strokes and very light/ practically no pressure, moving from one small area to the next. I try to go with or across the grain whenever possible. And like Euclid440 said, a keen edge is essential, to get a clean shave and to avoid razor-burn.

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Originally Posted by Euclid440

I do a 3 pass shave 2 with the grain and a third against, a semi forth, clean up against, in the problem area.

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Doing 2 WTG passes first is what I generally do as I sometimes have trouble in other areas XTG too. Thank you for the advice, now all I need is my beard to grow back out so I can put it to good use :)

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Originally Posted by JeffR

very light/ practically no pressure.

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I am still getting to grips with what this really means. When I get it right I know it, sadly the same is true when I get it wrong :rolleyes:

I am with the majority, I struggle with me neck. My Adam's apple sticks out like the iceberg that took the titanic down and my neck is skinny. I get the most I can with a straight then tidy that area with my DE. I get as smooth as I can and call it a day. Wish I had better advice but I feel your pain.

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If you have "that kind of neck" it can be near impossible to get it all. Old Time Barbers were able to do it because they were shaving you and could really manipulate your skin in ways you can't when you are shaving yourself.

I have a few spots on my neck that are like that too and after trying everything I basically gave up. Actually I have a few razors with pronounced smiles and they do get in there and do the job. I also have a 2/8s trim razor that can do it too.

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.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 :D

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