Defined or "Boney" Neck and Jawline!

[brooksfletcher]

I enjoy almost every aspect of shaving: Everything from building up a good face lather to applying the my favorite balm. However, there is just one part that I don't enjoy as much as the others: Shaving my neck and jawline!

At 5'10", 170, I am a very lean person with low body fat, which contributes to my somewhat defined jawline and neck area. Even worse, the skin around the throat area just seems like its meant to be sliced easily

Now, I have absolutely no problem getting a decent shave, I just can't stop wondering how much nicer my neck area would be if I had more surface for the blade to rest on around my neck area. To that end, I am envious off those who can shave their necks in 3-4 strokes without have to maneuver the blade much around the neck area.

With that said, what are some of you with similar features doing to get a better shave in that area? A razor with a shorter head? Or are we stuck with just taking it slow and easy?

 

[jojoc]

for me, slow and easy, and, on the neck, I just go for presentable. I have given up on a "close" shave on the neck. I am lucky to get a close shave on the bottom of my chin and jaw line without slicing myself all up.

 

[catherix]

I gotta agree with jojoc on this one: presentable on the neck is the best. For me it's less about cuts and more about bumbs. Too much pressure, too many passes, crappy lather, and going ATG are all culprits here.

The chin and jawline, at least for me, are another story. There's two things that took me from good to great shaves in those areas. 1 - Blade buffing! Works great for me all along the jawline and chin where I seem to miss spots some how and there are some stubborn hairs. 2 - Diagonal half XTG half ATG strokes. Place a stroke between your XTG pass and ATG pass(if you do an ATG pass) that is essentially a cross between the two. Like 45 degrees off from a straight ATG pass. What this does for me is brings the shave to a closeness that's near BBS and makes the ATG pass a lot easier. I primarily use this on the chin.

YMMV of course, but these are the tricks in my bag. Now if I could just figure out that j-hook I'll be in business...

 

[brooksfletcher]

Thanks you two

Yeah I have been going for presentable in that area. There are just too many damn variable down there!

Now my Jawline, I can flatten out and do some decent shaving. I've even done a few Diagonal half XTG half ATG strokes unintentionally and gotten decent result. But over the cliff of my chin, that's another story.

 

[ODJ]

I enjoy almost every aspect of shaving: Everything from building up a good face lather to applying the my favorite balm. However, there is just one part that I don't enjoy as much as the others: Shaving my neck and jawline!

At 5'10", 170, I am a very lean person with low body fat, which contributes to my somewhat defined jawline and neck area. Even worse, the skin around the throat area just seems like its meant to be sliced easily

Now, I have absolutely no problem getting a decent shave, I just can't stop wondering how much nicer my neck area would be if I had more surface for the blade to rest on around my neck area. To that end, I am envious off those who can shave their necks in 3-4 strokes without have to maneuver the blade much around the neck area.

With that said, what are some of you with similar features doing to get a better shave in that area? A razor with a shorter head? Or are we stuck with just taking it slow and easy?

I'm 6'2, 185lbs, so I can relate. I just take my time, try to pull the skin tight, and for the jaw line pull it up and tight, and on my neck use a VERY light touch and j-hooking technique. Always get BBS or DFS.

 

[JaggerDragger]

Yep I am in the same boat as well I am 6'0" and 175lbs. I agree with the others as I have been taking it easy and just going for socially acceptable on the neck.

My technique has gotten better since I started last May especially with getting a consistent lather. I would also say studying the grain pattern is important.

The techniques that I use is that I mostly just go WTG, stretch the skin a little here and there, and dont over do it by taking too many passes, 2 with touch up is enough for me.

 

[JRL]

One of the greatest things about B&B (and there are many) is learning from others who have similar challenges. At 5'11" and 150 lb, I was instantly drawn to this great discussion of a problem I've had since I began wet shaving more than 2 yrs. ago. And, independently, I also came to the conclusion that my neck was never going to be BBS. Quit when it's good enough.

Just one comment to add -- for me, WTG is easy, but not terribly effective. XTG and ATG are better, but require the greatest of care to avoid major trauma. But, for some reason, a 45-degree angle, half-way between XTG and ATG works pretty well for the jawline. YMMV, of course, but you might give it a try.

 

[Nickypoo]

Slow, easy, short strokes and some pretty weird facial contortions work for me 98% of the time.

 

[blzrfn]

One of the greatest things about B&B (and there are many) is learning from others who have similar challenges. At 5'11" and 150 lb, I was instantly drawn to this great discussion of a problem I've had since I began wet shaving more than 2 yrs. ago. And, independently, I also came to the conclusion that my neck was never going to be BBS. Quit when it's good enough.

Just one comment to add -- for me, WTG is easy, but not terribly effective. XTG and ATG are better, but require the greatest of care to avoid major trauma. But, for some reason, a 45-degree angle, half-way between XTG and ATG works pretty well for the jawline. YMMV, of course, but you might give it a try.

I was just going to post something similar, going at a 45-degree angle works really well for me in areas where the razor head can't contour enough to match the shape of my neck and bony jawline. I'm also 6'2" 185 lbs and it took awhile, trying several different techniques (going across the neck horizontally does virtually nothing for me) to find a way to get the areas directly outside the center of my throat and the jaw-bone area by the ear.

 

[sharpen]

heheh, I can also complain about this : I'm 5'9 and weigh 110 lbs.

Needless to say the jawline and neck are very hard to properly shave.
I go for presentable! also, I'd advise you to go slow, and flatten out / strech the skin as much as possible.

Take your time, otherwise it quickly turns into a blood bath / razor burn mess!

 

[Dirk-Lerxst-Pratt]

heheh, I can also complain about this : I'm 5'9 and 110 lbs.

Dude, you seeing a doctor about that? That's wasting skinny. Seriously, I hope that's nothing medical that can't be fixed.

Im also a skinny angular guy. I don't know how long the op has been shaving, but for me it simply was a matter of time and finding the right razor/blade combo. Have you tried an adjustable razor like a slim, fatboy, or a futur? That way you can literally dial in the level of aggression to your attack. Now I'm on to straights. No problems with neck burn or cuts with some practice.

 

[TallyShave]

I had this problem in high school and part of college. I decided to add a few pounds to take care of it. Yeah, that's why I gained a few pounds.

 

[sharpen]

Dude, you seeing a doctor about that? That's wasting skinny. Seriously, I hope that's nothing medical that can't be fixed.

Haha thanks for worrying and for the advice. It's not a medical concern, I've alway been like that.

Unfortunately I can't help it : no matter what I eat, be it fast-food, or healthy food, multiple times a day or not, I can't make my weight change.
I do sport a few times a week also, although muscles are firmer they are not taking a lot of mass.

Can't change what's in your genes I guess... Although…… buying clothes in the teenagers department sometimes gets humiliating
Heard about pills that help gain weight, but hey, taking medication to get fatter when you are already in good health sounds weird to me.

That's not the point of the OP's topic anyway! Regarding the jawline, I've tried letting my stubble grow for a few days : helps understand how the grain is set and afterwards allows you to shave in the most appropriate direction.

 

[eastrun]

It's all about the stretch.

 

[Dirk-Lerxst-Pratt]

Haha thanks for worrying and for the advice. It's not a medical concern, I've alway been like that.

Unfortunately I can't help it : no matter what I eat, be it fast-food, or healthy food, multiple times a day or not, I can't make my weight change.
I do sport a few times a week also, although muscles are firmer they are not taking a lot of mass.

Can't change what's in your genes I guess... Although…… buying clothes in the teenagers department sometimes gets humiliating
Heard about pills that help gain weight, but hey, taking medication to get fatter when you are already in good health sounds weird to me.

That's not the point of the OP's topic anyway! Regarding the jawline, I've tried letting my stubble grow for a few days : helps understand how the grain is set and afterwards allows you to shave in the most appropriate direction.

Point taken, however, has anyone looked at your thyroid? PM me if you want to discuss this further. If not I respect that.

 

[tfinch]

I'm 6'3'' 170, and got an enormous pointy adam's apple as well. All of the above helps. Very careful attention to the direction of growth, never shaving against the grain, and using a good sharp blade keeps my neck in good shape - still like the OP I envy the guys with easy to shave necks. A great deal of caution gets the job done there. The jawline is a bit easier. I initially tried stretching the skin up to avoid shaving over it, but that was giving me a lot of ingrowns. Now I just shave over it carefully and WTG, going slowly enough to keep the angle correct as the blade passes over the contour of the jawline.

 

[morganjg]

I also have a thin neck and a blocky chin. I find much of what others have said to work for me. Instead if going XTG, I go at a 45 degree angle towards the middle on my second pass. Skin stretching is infinitely invaluable for me when going WTG and never do I go ATG. I go ATG on my third pass for my face and then blade buff directly under my chin on the third pass to finish things up. It ends up being more than presentable, usually I get a DFS on my neck. This has been something I have been working on for months, before that I wouldjust go ATg and end up with a lot of nicks and red spots.

 

[rajagra]

Turn the head up and sideways away from the side being shaved.
A move that works wonders for me is placing the thumb and forefinger of the left hand on either side of the Adam's apple - maybe up to an inch lower - and pulling outwards and down.

 

[celestino]

Weber DLC! Smoothest shaver i have found! Albeit, with one shim.
Other than that, good prep, slow and easy! Good luck.

 

[orchyboy]

when I shave around my jaw line I'll shave to the edge on my cheek just before it starts to curve under my neck, then pull the skin up - this means some of my neck skin is now on my cheek. It's a good little trick to get the curvature of the jaw without having to put the blade on that part.