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I'm sure this has probably been asked before, I apologize in advance. Against the grain for me on my neck is east to west not south to north. My question how do you guys tackle that with a straight , I've been trying to modify my grip and angling the length of the razor on 45 degree degree to kind of get a diagonal cut it helps some but usually I have to run my safety razor over a few spots to get them mowed down the rest of the way. Curious to hear your responses. Thank you all in advance
Skin stretching is your friend here. You can manipulate your skin to suit your stroke but don't get too hung up on it, 45 degrees across the grain should suffice.
It's like no matter how much I stretch or try it's just never as close as it could be , like you said tho maybe I shouldn't be overly concerned with it eitherQuote:
Originally Posted by markbignosekelly
It will come together over time. For me, my neck is the hardest part to shave, if my razor is not perfect I will bot get the perfect shave.
I have the smashed wire brush hair growth, as well.
Thru trial n error I came up with what I call the X pass.
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Ya just have to experiment till you find what works for you. But I'll say this...the older we get, the more skin stretching comes to play. Even more so for me. After loosing 100+ lbs.and having my rotten teeth pulled I was left with lots of loose skin, and a lot more contours in my face.
Maybe try a scything pass... CAREFULLY though. You can filet yourself if it's not done properly. That's what I have to do but it's an advanced technique.
I have the same “every which way but loose” problem with the grain on my neck. I can get BBS on some parts with a straight using my dominant hand and “close enough” if I two-hand it for other parts going in another direction.
If I want a really close shave, I use my Merkur slant DE and go in several different directions.
A few of hours later, it’s grown back enough that I can’t tell the difference.
I am jealous of anyone who can achieve a really close neck shave with a straight in two passes :shrug:
Can you elaborate on what that is exactly?Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulFLUS
Everybody has their own way of doing this thing, usually after trying a billion things to find out what REALLY doesn't work, and what's left is what sorta does.
To me, an extremely sharp razor is essential. I use a single pass shave, generally. I stretch the skin really tight and keep my shave angle very low, almost dragging the spine. As long as I stretch hard, and keep the angle low, I get a very comfortable shave and close enough for my purposes.
A perfect BBS is simply not needed, unless you are in military boot camp and your drill instructor likes to scrape his ID card over your face to test your shave. Especially on your neck, nobody notices.
The direction of the stroke doesn't have to be exactly WTG, XTG, ATG, whatevah. The sharper your razor is, and the better your stretching and shave angle and stroke technique, the less it matters, and conforming to precisely the correct direction is pretty much impossible in places. Just approximate WTG as close as you can, given the limitations on this imposed by your topography, and you will be okay. Sometimes my stroke ends up being almost exactly ATG in the interest of convenience.
As you will see in the video below, many factors can be ignored or discounted or compensated or compromised, as long as the razor is nice and sharp and you exercise firm control over those factors that you can easily adjust, such as pressure, stretching, and shave angle. You don't even need an expensive razor. A $15 ebay beater, if it can be honed properly, can deliver a great shave. A $20 Titan. A $4 Gold Dollar. And exactly following the classic instructions to go precisely WTG then XTG then ATG is not sacred dogma that you must follow to the letter to avoid the flames of shave hell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OrmjAc7KE8
I skin strech what I can , not a lot to stretch . And I mean my south to north pass removes the bulk of it , then I try to go south east to north west and it gets a lil more. It's just not as close as if I take my de and go east to west.Quote:
Originally Posted by outback
I'm gonna play with that grip thank youQuote:
Originally Posted by OCDshaver
Great video , thank you for posting that. Believe me I know you are correct with not chasing the bbs shave . I don't know why I care as much as I do. Im just obsessed at being better I guess.Quote:
Originally Posted by CrescentCityRazors
I can achieve it, no problem. But I don't see the need of it for me, in my line of work, and lifestyle. Two pass, or BBS, I will still need a shave every two ta three days, anyhoo. I get better results from a bit more beard growth,over everyday shaving. YMMV
That's about it for me as well. Two and three days and it's ready to mow down. Like I said I don't know why I'm obsessed the way I am with a perfect bbs shave. I guess that's how I'm measuring how successful my shave was or how perfectQuote:
Originally Posted by outback
I'm no different. Always looking to best myself at what I put my mind to. At least, to my abilities at what's at hand, and with what I got.
The best way to describe the scything stroke is to think of the kind of stroke you use while honing but on your face. Instead of the edge being at a 90° angle to the direction of the stroke it is a much more acute angle; not necessarily 45° or any particular angle but drawing the edge not only across but along the hair.Quote:
Originally Posted by Axeman556
I say it is an advanced technique because, although it is not hard to do it requires good muscle memory so as not to get "cixelsid" with the direction and cut the nonsense out of yourself.
Like Paul said.Quote:
Originally Posted by Axeman556
Think of it as an X stroke on your face. I call it the slice stroke. But don't actually slice your face with it. Requires good stretch and low shave angle, light pressure. Some DE shavers do similar and call it the "Gillette Slide" stroke.
I do a 4 pass shave every other day. And I know I'm not going to get BBS on one area of the neck. Its just how it goes. Sithing strokes can sometime get it but I find to lather only the side that needs touched up, then pushing in on the other side of the neck bulges the lathered side out. Then with the stretching it gets very close. But as with Mikes X pattern, it takes practice.
I can see where that x stroke could dive you pretty nice if not careful. I gotta be honest with myself that maybe far more advanced than I am right now. I will give it a go and report back to you guys on how it went. Worst comes to worst I just touch up with my de until I'm more seasoned. Although that makes me feel like a amateur.
Don't sweat it. We were all amateurs once. You are doing a lot better than many of us so take your time and count it a win that you are even thinking about more advanced techniques this early.
Thanks you! I haven't quite figured out why all of this has come fairly natural to me. Im thankful it has tho , it's been actually a lot of fun, I look forward to everytime I pick up my razors!Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulFLUS
Thank you all for your comments and help!
Picking up the DE to finsh is fine. Just do as much as you can with the straight. Dont rely on the DE. Mikes X patern takes an odd grip in the razor to do that pass. Just be sure you have 100% control if your blade. It all comes together after a coyple years. Just keep at it.
It just feels like cheating lol. I can say I do every part of my shave with the straight other than the clean up pass east to west on my neck. I played a lil bit with grip tonight I got a lot of practice to do yet ��. It's the challenge that keeps me coming back. I'm just enjoying the process !Quote:
Originally Posted by Gasman
I am going to jump in late. I hope that is okay. My neck is really hard to shave and one thing I found out was...get this...change soaps. I found out that the soap I use makes a huge difference in how closely I can shave those problem areas.
Something I have been thinking of is having a Gold Dollar cut down to a shorty so I have a more maneuverable razor. I have a short shavette and I have no problems at all getting close in problem areas with it. But that's me.
Not a problem at all!! Better late than never i say !!!Quote:
Originally Posted by DocDan
Its funny you mention that because your right different soaps yield different results. And as far having a gold dollar cut down id say go for it or get a kamisori , I picked up a few kamisori and now am able to shave smooth as a babies bottom in those areas!!
I use a slight sything stroke for near everything anyway.
Shoulder to chin at about 45 for 2nd pass, as far as I can go and be comfortable for my water only third pass (50-60 degrees.)
I use water only to do the neck across at the most angle and touchups. Its the closest you can get.
Great advice!!! Thank you!! :beer1:Quote:
Originally Posted by stoneandstrop
That's the nice thing about a radical smile. The scything stroke is almost inevitable. That's been a lot of fun with my "Arabian"
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It is a beautiful blade, but it looks like you're shaving with a scimitar Paul. Not sure I’d be comfortable using that blade when the winds are blowing strong.Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulFLUS
What is that, a forest axe? :D Just kidding, but that thing looks huge.
Why not? It will be fun! Since they are so cheap, get at least 4 or 5 of them, and try different stuff. You will probably overheat the first one you mess with. If you ever see the Blue Stain of Death on the edge, just toss that one, and try again. Keep your razor cool. Remember, the edge heats up much faster than the rest of the razor because it is so thin. You will learn that with the first one, then you will know.Quote:
Originally Posted by DocDan
In addition to cutting off the toe end of the razor, consider doing another one by cutting from the heel end, in essence making it a long shank shorty. You will probably like that better than a regular shorty.
I will need to get a new rotory tool or something with a long shank on the bit so I can hold the razor under water as I cut, I think.
They make some nice precision cutoff wheels that are excellent for lopping off or out a large portion of steel, and then the thing to use is the sanding drums. You will go through a lot of them. The good news is they are the same thing that manicurists use so you can get them for chimp change on amazon or aliexpress, in bulk. I mostly use the big ones, half inch diameter. You can grind for two or three seconds right at the edge and that's it, gotta dunk the razor in your glass of ice water. Further away from the edge, longer. Near the spine or shank, 20 seconds at a go is usually gonna be okay.Quote:
Originally Posted by DocDan
There are some flex shaft front ends available that would enable you to go underwater with it, but I would just grind and dunk, grind and dunk.
There are a few notes on this on my website. Look for anything about modding Gold Dollars.
