By the throat: Need some neck guidance

[KCD]

Gents--

I've been wetshaving for years, DE primarily for past year, and straight shaving sporadically (weekly or biweekly) over that past year. I've no real problems with the straight except for the neck area. I can consistently achieve a BBS shave on the neck with my DE, but not with my straight. I realize that I probably need additional practice with the straight, but does anyone have any tips for getting a better shave on the neck/throat area with the straight? My beard pattern is fairly horizontal West to East, so an ATG pass would be generally from the right ear to the left. I have difficulty finding a grip/stroke that will allow for a horizontal ATG pass without it turning into an oblique N-S or S-N variation.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Kirk

 

[spanx]

Sounds like we share similar growth patterns.My pattern is as follows.1st pass N-S on entire face and neck with the blade nearly flat.2nd pass N-S entire face and neck with the blade angle approx 30 degrees.3rd pass starting with the neck go from jugular to chin both sides then apple to chin.jawline and cheeks are ear to mouth.This pass I keep the blade flat to the skin.4th pass is same as before but with the blade angle about 20 degrees.The jawline was the tricky part for me. When doing the neck I only go up to the base of the jaw then pull the jawline flesh up so that it is above the mandible.Do the cheeks before the jaw so you have a place to stretch from.This may or may not help with your particular beard but it is what i do.

 

[mdunn]

i open the blade straight (so the scales are facing away) and hold it kinda like a pen.

just muck around with different grips and you'll get it

 

[O.G.]

I found that my hair on my neck does the same but I only am now realizeing it after doing it the third time. I progrossevily strech my skin up onto my cheeck area and continue with my n-s pass. Since the area is curved under my neck once released it become a w-e on one side and I stop when I get to the throat area and switch sides. Pull the skin on my right cheek up and repeat. It has greatly reduced my irritation. I have actually been incorporating it as a last step but I now need to move it to the first pass. Hope that helps.

 

[KCD]

Thanks for the tips, guys. I'll try all the suggestions and hope that takes care of the issue.

 

[Lo'Tek]

The neck around the Adam's-apple has always been tricky for me. If I'm going to cut myself, this is one of the most likely spots. If you rinse the soap off from your opposing hand's fingers (non razor holding hand) so as to get a firm, unslippery grip, you can pull the skin out, away from the Adam's-apple giving you a nice stretch and some better working room. On my lower neck I find myself pulling my head back as far as I reasonably can so that I can hold the razor vertical without hitting my upper chest with the handle; or hitting my cheeks when I hold it the opposite way.

 

[BEAR DEN]

The absolute hardest place for me also...What worked for me was stretching my skin in every way possible to have the whisers line up easier so I could "knock em down". Note: This type of strecthing I do only with warm water...No lather...I'm sure my skin would slip if I had soapy lather on.