Thread: Advice on shave technique for neck

I also have a beard and shave only my neck and cheeks and have neck hairs that go every which way. I use my straight razor to set my jaw line and then shave down and then across to my ear. I also use a scything stroke, but still leave a lot of stubble to remove.

When I really want a close neck shave, I resort to a double edge razor and use short strokes against the grain. This usually results in some irritation, but alum and witch hazel end that.

Very easy. Make sure you have a very keen blade, streeeeetch the skin, and slightly angle your strokes in a slight diagonal stroke (example...NE to SW or SE to NW)

Like Steel said, that's how I get my smashed wire brush, beard.





I've also been at this for over 30 years, so I've become quite comfortable with a straight in my hands.

My neck whiskers are also very flat to my skin. I do my first pass against the grain. I also use Noxema as a preshave and skin stretching for me is paramount. Blade skipping I always associate with pressure. If I keep my hold on my razor more relaxed and not gripping it it helps me keep the pressure low.

As others have said, really stretch your skin. I do this by pointing my chin out and up while at the same time pulling down with my free hand. For the Adams apple area try to pull the skin to one side and then the other.

I tend to use short strokes especially when going ATG. Also when going ATG I will have the spine of the razor almost touching my face. When shaving your neck you are shaving a curved surface so you will only cut a narrow swath of whiskers. Try and overlap the swaths a bit.

Make sure your lather is very good in that it has enough water content to give a good glide. If it is too dry/pasty the razor has aa tendency to jump a bit.

Also like others have said a smiling blade seems to get the hollows better.

Good luck.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Also when going ATG I will have the spine of the razor almost touching my face.

This is a useful tip. Keeping the blade angle low is very tricky when shaving the curve just under the jawline.

Originally Posted by BobH

When shaving your neck you are shaving a curved surface so you will only cut a narrow swath of whiskers. Try and overlap the swaths a bit.

Yes this works. If the blade is cutting a 1/2" swath, I find that if I overlap the swaths half-and-half, the part of the blade on the cleaner skin stabilises the blade, and it jumps less.

Originally Posted by BobH

Make sure your lather is very good in that it has enough water content to give a good glide. If it is too dry/pasty the razor has aa tendency to jump a bit.

This is also a work-in-progress. I have found that shave oil under the lather helps.

Originally Posted by BobH

Also like others have said a smiling blade seems to get the hollows better.

Yes I have found this.

Originally Posted by Montgomery

This is a useful tip. Keeping the blade angle low is very tricky when shaving the curve just under the jawline.

This is also a work-in-progress. I have found that shave oil under the lather helps.

WRT the jawline, you could always pull your skin up to bring that bit skin that is on the curve just under the jaw line above the jawline to get at it better.

Getting the lather right is so important as it can make a sharp blade act like it is dull. I think nobody gets it right 100% of the time either. Here is a link to lathering that I had found useful for myself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4zESTQWDuw

Bob

I use a scything stroke, created out of necessity and not out of any knowledge, to shave my neck below the beard line. I have a patch of whiskers that are resistant to WTG & ATG, so small scything strokes with chin up, skin pulled taught, and shaving the area going from west to east seems to settle the issue. You've gotten good advice. I am just seconding the multiple motions!

I find that the lighter the pressure the closer the shave.

Originally Posted by RezDog

My neck whiskers are also very flat to my skin. I do my first pass against the grain. I also use Noxema as a preshave and skin stretching for me is paramount. Blade skipping I always associate with pressure. If I keep my hold on my razor more relaxed and not gripping it it helps me keep the pressure low.

Ver useful information, thank you. I think the skipping I'm experiencing might be to do with finding it hard to find the technique to stretch the skin sufficiently, rather than pressure. I'm trying to use absolutely minimal pressure. I am actively experimenting with stretching techniques, but am not there yet.