Thread: Direction of hair growth makes WTG & ATG shave difficult

I too have a really strange growth pattern, it is unlike any that I have ever seen from someone else. I am constantly trying to do different strokes and different motions and passes, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. I struggle mostly with the XTG pass, and it gets tricky to go from wtg to atg.

I have read, in some places, that if you go at it long enough, you can "train" your beard to grow in a different direction by always shaving the same way. Not sure on the validity of that one.

Keep working at it, use a lot of water, and touch your face a lot! If you feel some stubble, try another light pass if you can in a direction you havent tried. If your face is more sensitive you might just need to wait till tomorrow!

While not as extreme as yours, my neck hair is a bear to shave WTG. Over time I've come to terms with having a little neck stubble, which is far better than the razor burn I used to get with that damned Mach 3.

BBS may be a goal, but sometimes perfection is difficult to come by, sometimes impossible. BBS will eventually come to you if you persist, but let it come to you with patience and practice over time. I don't worry about BBS anymore. Whiskers do grow, and you're going to be at it again tomorrow. I've found a standard short of BBS that satisfies me, and that is when faceturbating may not be perfect, but there is no prickliness. I can get good and really fast shaves settling for that as a standard. Sometimes "good enough" is a healthier standard than perfection. I'm perfect at a lot of things, but I can't remember any of them at the moment.

I think all of us have areas,especially the neck,that are seemingly impossible to get at for ATG.I have an old Wade & Butcher I found at an antique store for $15. I am considering cutting it so it will fit into the hollow curves of my neck. I imagine it would closely resemble a spoon by the time it would fit. As much trouble as most people have with this it's hard to believe someone doesn't make a curved blade razor to do the job. New invention possibility???

I have pretty much the same growth pattern on the neck. i use my opposite hand to shave wtg, and usually only do xtg to get BBS. When I say opposite hand I mean I hold the razor with my right hand to shave the left side of my neck which leaves the spine facing out to the left if that makes sense and vice versa for the other side. I also use a downward stretch on the neck. when i get near the adam's apple I stretch to the side and down a little. it took quite a while to get used to. under my chin I usually just do an XTG pass since a WTG pass could cause alot of potential for cuts. Hope this helps!

Damn you have a tough one.....! If your join date is any indication of how long you have been shaving with a straight I think you will find after a while you will figure it out. One part of the puzzle is, for instance, the hair that grows from right to left just under your jaw line can be gotten by really stretching your skin and getting it flat. You will be amazed how much skin that is on your neck can be stretched upwards. Just rub your fingers on a Alum block and give it a good tug.... I will admit it helps to be...well....older!

Take care,
Richard

Seems like the neck is where most people have a good amount of funk going on. Here are a couple things that may help you:

1. Exfoliate with a brush. I used to get a lot of ingrown hairs on my neck due to my beard hair type and growth. I got a small handheld, decently firm nylon brush (from Walgreens, it was labeled a "foot brush" whatever that is) and I use it to scrub my neck every other day in the shower. Up, down, left, right, diagonal, all around for about a minute or two after my skin has softened up. This has totally helped me avoid ingrown hairs as it keeps them from digging into the skin. I also do it on days I'm going to shave, and it helps me get a closer shave because it causes the hairs to stand more upright, rather than flat against my neck.

2. If you're going to use a DE for touch-ups, you may want to eventually work towards a slant bar. I've got one for when I'm traveling and it actually does a pretty good job on my neck area, once I got the technique for that area down.

Is it considered cheating if u touch up with a double edge ?

Originally Posted by driver/examiner

Is it considered cheating if u touch up with a double edge ?

No! Because if you are going to be dedicated enough to really learn to use a straight there is no reason to look like a heathen till you do.....


Richard....

Maybe a smiling blade could be your answer. Alex Jacques makes some really nice ones and the curve may allow you to get right into the neck. He may even make you a short blade just for this purpose if you ask him.