Thread: Growth in all directions?

For years I've had trouble shaving my neck. It's been really bad the past few months as I've experimented with ways to handle it. I think I've figured out what part of the problem is and I'm not sure what to do about it.

It seems that the hair on my neck (starting at my jaw and going to my neck) grows in all directions. In any given small patch of skin, the hair grows either up, down, left or right. There doesn't seem to be a sustained area of more than an inch where it goes in one direction. Complicating it even more is that there are other areas where the hair swirls and goes all 4 directions seemingly at once. The result of this is that every shaving pass I do goes simultaneously with, against and across the grain. Add to it tough, wiry hair and it's no wonder I've been dealing with irritation for years. It was pretty workable with an electric razor, but the shave was terrible. The shave was better with a cartridge, but the irritation was through the roof. I'm at the point now where I just do the best I can...sometimes it's good, but most of the time it's not.

Does anyone have this issue? If so, how do you deal with it? If not, what do you advise? Does the use of a straight help negate this issue? It's one of the reasons I bought one...the hopes that it would eliminate (or significantly lessen) this ongoing issue.

I really think we are all in the same boat here. The hair on my neck grows in a few directions as well and the neck under the jaw line, is always tricky at best. But with time and practice your skill with the straight will increase ,and you will get a better at shaving those hard areas.

The hair on my neck definitely grows in multiple directions, much the same as you're describing. Normally I do a downward stroke on the neck and then I will stretch the skin from the middle of my neck back to the side of my neck on both sides. I then shave again going downward and this gets most of the crazy direction growth particularly around the middle of my neck. Next I will re-lather and shave up the neck, however I will shave at an angle from the jaw to the chin under the chin for the multi-directional growth there. What ever is left at this point stays till the next shave.

Have fun

Originally Posted by U2Bono269

Does anyone have this issue? If so, how do you deal with it? If not, what do you advise?

I have that issue. I use mostly short strokes at angles and in directions that only took me a couple of weeks to work out but months to really get the hang of for consistently good results. Find the strokes that work for you through careful practice and experimentation. Generally, look for the path of least resistance, starting with shallow angles and very light or even no pressure against the skin. Good lather is important too

Originally Posted by U2Bono269

Does the use of a straight help negate this issue?

It seems to me that it would have that potential since it gives the user the most freedom of movement and blade exposure of any razor design

well it's nice to know I'm not alone. I'm glad I found this forum because I was beginning to get to my wit's end with all the issues I've been having. I don't think I'd be able to make this transition without all the stuff I've read here.

So the gist would be...practice, practice, practice.

Yes, figuring out what angle/direction works best for your particular beard growth. I've also found experimenting with stretching, pulling in different directions, helped me get some problem areas. For instance, in the hollows on either side of my wind pipe , I found that pulling the skin of my neck toward my right ear works better for both sides of the windpipe, than if I pull each side toward right then the other left. I don't know why that is but that is what ended up being he best approach for me. What everyone said above has been my experience too.

You said that you got some irritation with other shaving appliances, but weren't really clear what's happening when you use a straight razor. Are you experiencing irritation or just a shoddy shave?

If it's a closeness issue then you have to play with skin stretching and shaving direction. If the issue is irritation the culprit can be shaving direction, beard prep, edge deterioration, bad angle, too much pressure etc.

IME shaving with a straight has cut down on ALL irritation with one exception: shaving ATG at the very bottom of my neck. I'm guaranteed to get ingrowns if I do that.

I actually just used a straight razor for the first time last night. I did ok (there's a post about it in the beginner's section). I experienced no irritiation, but the shave was subpar due to a variety of reasons (poor stropping and awful angling). It's irritation with the cartridge razor...the blades clog so easily and dull quite quickly.

Originally Posted by U2Bono269

For years I've had trouble shaving my neck. It's been really bad the past few months as I've experimented with ways to handle it. I think I've figured out what part of the problem is and I'm not sure what to do about it.

It seems that the hair on my neck (starting at my jaw and going to my neck) grows in all directions. In any given small patch of skin, the hair grows either up, down, left or right. There doesn't seem to be a sustained area of more than an inch where it goes in one direction. Complicating it even more is that there are other areas where the hair swirls and goes all 4 directions seemingly at once. The result of this is that every shaving pass I do goes simultaneously with, against and across the grain. Add to it tough, wiry hair and it's no wonder I've been dealing with irritation for years. It was pretty workable with an electric razor, but the shave was terrible. The shave was better with a cartridge, but the irritation was through the roof. I'm at the point now where I just do the best I can...sometimes it's good, but most of the time it's not.

Does anyone have this issue? If so, how do you deal with it? If not, what do you advise? Does the use of a straight help negate this issue? It's one of the reasons I bought one...the hopes that it would eliminate (or significantly lessen) this ongoing issue.

I do and I know exactly what you are talking about and so do many other members in the forum. I do one WTG, then an ATG, and finish off with an ATG on the under the jaw and neck using very slow and short strokes. I get most of it and there is still some patches left, but at least the face is clean shaven. I do not get hung up on the BBS shave, I do the best I can, watch my technique, stretch the face, and use slow and short strokes and I leave the house with a great shave. In time, I'll be able to hit those trouble spots.

Originally Posted by U2Bono269

well it's nice to know I'm not alone. I'm glad I found this forum because I was beginning to get to my wit's end with all the issues I've been having. I don't think I'd be able to make this transition without all the stuff I've read here.

So the gist would be...practice, practice, practice.

Just enjoy the shaving ritual and do not let it drive you crazy. If you let it get to you, you start over analyzing and creating something overly complicated, then the joy is taken out of straight razor shaving.
Take note of this, when Lynn responds to a post, he closes with, "Have fun" and that's what straight razor shaving should be.