Thread: How do you guys angle your neck?

So I just recently began doing three passes, WTG, XTG, ATG. I'v only been doing this for a week or two, untill then I was doing WTG and XTG and doing ATG it does make a difference. Basically mu ATG is sideways, on my cheeks, but how can I ATG on my neck. Basically all I can do on my neck is WTG or XTG. Any suggestions?

Thanks
-Zach

Go opposite of WTG? That works for me... Or twisting motion, which works even better. If I'm shaving the opposite of WTG, I'll hold the razor either the way you would with a japanese straight razor (hand on scale, index and thumb on the tang) or upside down (blade up). If I'm doing the twisting motion, I hold the razor like normal.

Originally Posted by Berticus

Go opposite of WTG? That works for me... Or twisting motion, which works even better. If I'm shaving the opposite of WTG, I'll hold the razor either the way you would with a japanese straight razor (hand on scale, index and thumb on the tang) or upside down (blade up). If I'm doing the twisting motion, I hold the razor like normal.

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that, xtg

I generally will only go down on my neck. The skin there (for me) is rather thin and does not take well to aggressive ATG passes. XTG is all I do on my neck.

I have to use a combination of things in order to really tame the neck area with all of the different passes... first, if I am shaving a side of my neck I turn my chin quite far toward the shoulder opposite of where I'm shaving (right side of neck/chin to left shoulder) and up a bit.

Next I have to find the right spot on my face to stretch so that the skin will be properly tight for the area being shaved... for some spots I have to stretch on my jawline quite a bit.

Then I use either an angled cut (lack of a better word) or a scything motion which can be kinda scary at first... let me see if I can find the link to what I mean.

Here it is... this is from the advanced techniques on the wiki- guillotine and scything strokes. Again, I'd wait to try these until you are pretty comfy with your straight razor

Originally Posted by 15straightrazor

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that, xtg

You are indeed incorrect. Hair grows side ways (it spirals outward) on my neck, so to go either with the grain or against it, I need to go sideways as well.

Originally Posted by Berticus

You are indeed incorrect. Hair grows side ways (it spirals outward) on my neck, so to go either with the grain or against it, I need to go sideways as well.

Well I don't think thats the same for everyone, my dads grows down.

My neck has always been a little adventure. The hair grows from left to right with a few other swirly growth patterns thrown in to frustrate the hell out of me. Generally, I just do XTG in two opposing directions first.

For instance, I start right underneath the jaw line on the right side and shave diagonally until I get to the base of my neck on the left side; NE to SW movement. On the second pass, it's SE to NW.

On either side of my Adam's apple, which NEVER gets smooth doing that, I have to take my thumb and index finger and stretch the skin in opposite directions. Sometimes, I'll roll that bit of skin over my Adam's apple to really make the hair stand up. This is the only way I've found to make my neck completely smooth.

There's also an area right underneath my chin and jawline that always acts stubborn. In this case, a little careful blade buffing does the trick; sometimes in different directions.

Hope that made sense.

The neck takes some experimenting. Generally, if you give it three passes WTG, XTG, and Near ATG, you will need figure out your technique to get the best results.

Its not possible to get a true ATG pass on some areas of the neck with a 3" blade so you just need to experienment a little and check out your results.

Dont' force it, its all in the technique.

Pabster

The hair on my neck grow sideways (mostly to the right, except for a weird patch that grows in all directions). I do 2 XTG passes to get it; 1st up (the closest to WTG) then down (closest to ATG). I never do a true ATG on my neck--that would be just asking for trouble. I can still get "sticky smooth" as Lynn calls it there, though.

The weird patch I do up, then sideways (left-ish), then again w/o lather as a touch-up. It's a delicate balancing act to get it smooth w/o going verboard. Usually, I err on the side of caution doing that. (Nobody can really see the base of your neck that well anyway.)