Thread: Rough neck shaving

Hey guys I am having issues shaving my neck with my straight razor. I'm just starting out so I'm sure I just need a lot more practice, but I thought you guys may be able to offer some tips to help me get a better shave. I can get my dominant side cheek/jaw shaved down smooth pretty easily. It's not as smooth or comfortable as I would like, but I can get it done without much irritation. But shaving my dominant side neck area pulls and tugs like running 80 grit sand paper across my neck. This has always been a problem area for me, even with a safety razor. The reason is because the hair on that side of my neck grows in a swirl or spiral pattern that is nearly impossible to follow with a razor. I've tried a little bit on the other side of my neck where the grain is all one direction and it is still a horrible feeling to run the straight razor across my neck. What I don't understand is why I'm able to get my cheeks so well but my neck is somehow different. Any help will be much appreciated.

Many of the SRP members have the same neck issue.

It takes time to know how to shave your neck efficiently and it will take several attempts to figure out what works best for you.

When shaving down, try to shave south and towards the adams apple. Be very careful and use a light touch. You may try using different pitch angles on the straight razor such at 30 - 40%. When shaving up, use angles towards the chin. This will hit the area XTG+, but not quite ATG. Utilize skin stretching and moving your head to help give your straight a good angle path to shave challenging areas.

My right hand shaves the left neck area better than my left hand and vice versa. Each hand has a natural advantage over the other, so this make take some time for you and is worth trying and developing.

When working on getting your neck BBS, then rinse with hot water, and lather this area up well and get to work shaving it.

Good luck and be patient with the progress. Looking back, moving up the learning curve was cool adventure for me.

Pabster

Pabster is right especially about the directions to shave.

When I was first was starting out I found the I had two issues. Beard preparation and razor technique. Make sure you use a nice warm lather and work it into the beard. Let it be there for a while. Razor technique: use the lightest touch you can. Even lighter than the cheeks. Let the razor do the work and watch your angles.

All of this is considering you have a shave ready razor.

Will--

Thank you for the tips on shaving direction Pabster. That is definitely something I will try next time I shave. I'm letting my face heal for a little while as it has been EXTREMELY dry since starting shaving with the straight. I have always just tried to shave either straight up or straight down or left or right so that seems like a good thing to try.

Undertakingyou, I think my razor is shave ready unless I've managed to ruin the edge already. It's a Gold Dollar from ruprazor.com which I've heard good things about and so I decided to make it my first straight edge. I'm sure my stropping technique will take a lot of work but I am following the stropping instructions I've found. Is there a way to tell if my razor is really shave ready? And is there a way to tell if I've stropped my razor properly?


Thanks for the quick replys you guys. Very helpful.

A nice way to determine if its sharp enough is to try dry shaving a few hairs off the arm. Your straight should feel like its popping a few off with ease. Use very short strokes.

I also recommend lightly touching the edge with the base of the thumb as if you do this enough and shave enough, you will know what a sharp blade feels like just by the touch.

Ultimately, the shave test is the best. If you feel tugging, strop it some more. Its not a big deal to strop it for 30 passes in between shave pass #2 and #3.

Good Luck and welcome to straight shaving!

Pabster

This is an issue that just about everyone has to deal with. Try standing in front of the mirror and stretching your neck as tight as you can. Pull down at the base, back and at a downward angle behind the ear, throw your chin up and to the opposite direction along with your mouth.
You're going to look funny, but getting your neck skin tight is absolutly necessary for straight razor shaving.
Once you feel like you "got it", lather up and take a butter knife and start stretching and shaving with its edge. Keep practicing this until you feel comfortable with it. Then try it with your razor.

Remember, light strokes and pay attention.

Enjoy!

Ray

The neck is of those great areas to be able to use both hands. Keeping the chin up as indicated really does help stretching. A straight down and straight up stroke work pretty well, but when accompanied by stretching the skin from the adams apple or middle of the neck toward each ear, you can usually pick up the swirling areas. Under the chin, rather than stave across, shave from the middle of the jawline toward the chin. Still a straight cut line, but that angle is about 45 degrees if this makes sense to you.

Lynn

Thank you everyone for the very helpful advice. I did a little of what everyone here told me on my shave this morning. And I have to say this was the best shave I've had so far. Actually probably the best shave I've ever had - no kidding.

I've been in contact with Alraz about my lathering technique, as well. My shave today proved to me that my lathering technique was my single biggest issue, to my surprise. Being a canned gel user my entire life, I really didn't know what I was doing with the soap and brush. Following Alraz's advice, I was able to whip up some awesome lather which allowed the blade to glide across my skin with ease - and man is it better than that canned stuff.

Today I started out with my strong side cheek and for the first time, I got it down to NOTHING. This is the closest I've ever shaved. Switched hands and did the other cheek. A little clumsy, but after a couple passes, got it just as close as the other side. It was going so good, I got a little bit ahead of myself and went for the mustache and ended up with a pretty good slice under my left nostril. I'll leave the mustache for another time.

Ok so the neck...I don't know what to say other than you guys' advice really helped. I concentrated on the direction of my strokes and skin stretching It wasn't super smooth but it was a LOT better than it had been. I still wasn't able to get it as close as I can with my safety razor and I still ended up with some razor burn on that swirl area I mentioned before, but the important thing is I learned and the next shave will go better.

After that I went back with my safety razor and finished up the mustache, chin and a second pass on the neck and bam! I've got the best shave I've ever had. Looking forward to the day when I can leave the safety razor in the drawer, though. :-)

Thanks again everyone for all your help.
And thanks to you Lynn for organizing this community and providing such great info. It's extremely helpful.