Is it me or my razor?

[nicknbleeding]

I have a question. I dont know if its me, my technique or if my razor is at fault. I can shave my cheeks WTG and XTG OK! Not to bad. When i do my neck I was haveing a very herd time getting a clean shave. Even going ATG as best i could. I got qite a bit of razor burn. I did get some on my cheeks trying to touch up some stubborn areas. Is this normal if you go over some areas too much?
Is my razor sharp enough. I just bought a razor off of someone in the classifieds. He states it is very sharp. I should recieve it soon. My razor is a combo set from ruprazor. Golddollar i think.

[nun2sharp]

How much pressure are you using putting the blade to skin? If any, your razor may not be sharp enough, but if you are doing OK on the cheeks but not the neck it may be a matter of blade angles. Also it may help to pay attention to the pattern of growth in the neck area, neck whiskers can grow in a variety of patterns making WTG, XTG and ATG very tricky.

[TyGuy]

I have the same problem. I've only been SR shaving for about 4 weeks now. The neck is definately the harded part for me to get close. I'm getting a little better though. I believe it is just technique since the razor performs well on my face.

Someone else here had a quote something like owning a straight razor doesn't make you a good shaver anymore than owning a basketball makes you Michael Jordan.

So I would say have patience, but please keep posting to let me, and others, know what works for you, because I'm sure we could all improve.

-Ty

[nicknbleeding]

Im trying not to put pressure when i do my neck. It sounds like its cutting some hair but it still feels rough. Is shorter stubble harder to cut than longer stubble?

[TyGuy]

I don't use much pressure.

There's another thread somewhere on here discussing whether or not it is harder to get a BBS shave if you shave everyday, versus shaving every other day, or less often. I've noticed, even with old mach 3 razors, that I can't get BBS if I shave everyday. My closest shaves are after two days of not shaving. Since I shave everyday for work I think I will do a WTG/XTG, WTG/XTG, XTG/ATG three day rotation.

-Ty

[nicknbleeding]

This was my second SR shave. My first was great. But the growth was a little longer.This was 2 days worth. I tought maybe it might be easier if i saved sooner but after today i might not think so. Maybe a bit longer is better. Too soon to tell. Will keep trying.

[JimmyHAD]

Do a real good prep before your next shave. I wash my face vigorously twice in the shower. Get mad at those whiskers. I really soap 'em up hard. Hot water. I twist up some thick lather too. I kind of crank my head away from the side I'm shaving to give it a bit more stretch when I do my neck. Stretching is also very important. You might use less of an angle too. IOW, the spine closer to the skin on the problem areas. Not touching the skin but maybe 20 degrees instead of 30.

[whalersailor]

I haven't been SR shaving for long, but I also struggle with the neck area. Since I have yet to nick myself down there, I am a bit more adventurous and have been trying different razor angle. It still takes me several passes, but gradually I have been getting it closer and closer. Still not 100% after about 15 shaves, but getting there. Keep at, it's definately a learned skill that only gets better as you do it more and more. Oh and I am actually just now managing to not nick the other parts of my face while I SR shave. I can only imagine what the people I work with are thinking. My wife gets a kick out of pointing out new nicks when I get them and laughing at me. Now is that love or is that love?

[Choppedlogic]

i would suggest making sure your skin is very taught. i find the skin a bit more saggy on the neck which causes the razor to bounce a bit. i also suggest letting your hair grow 3-4 days and looking at the grain.

[Disburden]

Have you been stropping the razor before each shave? If so, are you doing it correctly and getting a nice draw or are you whipping the razor on the strop and rolling the edge? This is the MOST common thing that new guys do and they don't even realize that they dulled their honed razor before they even got to using it much. I am pretty sure this can be your issue because it was mine when I first started and I dulled three razors and didn't even know it until I learned to hone and I got them to shave myself.

Tugging on your neck when you're using a feather light touch is a sign that you're not stretching at all (PULL HARD!) or you're razor has be dulled. I also haven't seen you mention your prep and lather.