Flat lying hairs growing toward chin on neck.

[kfd518]

So I have noticed an issue for a while but it hasn’t been bothersome until summer has hit.
The hairs on the right side of my neck grow up towards the chin. Ok no problem…. Catch them against the grain, well that for some reason causes them to pull no matter what blade I have used. It seems I get less irritation with and less pull with a less aggressive razor. The problem afterwards is no matter what when I start working outside I can feel the residual irritation really badly. I have to be clean shaven for my job.

If I stretch the skin tight I can still feel the stubble left. The only way to get them to where the stubble doesn’t cause irritation is to relax my neck and skin and then I have to use way to much pressure which cause what I’m guessing is razor burn. I have gone to shaving every other day instead of daily due to this which causes the rest of the stubble to drive me nutty.
Any pointers?

 

[LuckyGlenn]

Probably not the answer you are looking for but, I wouldn't chase bbs. Settle for a Dfs. Nobody will notice and your face will thank you for it.

 

[Jay21]

Probably not the answer you are looking for but, I wouldn't chase bbs. Settle for a Dfs. Nobody will notice and your face will thank you for it.

This advice is spot on and should be a sticky post around here.

 

[kfd518]

If there is stubble on my neck at all it catches my shirt collar causing worse irritation. That’s the only reason I am chasing bbs! If it didn't irritate my neck I wouldn’t try to get it. I would carry a towel and pat the sweat away but unfortunately that is not an option due to hands being in use while I sweat…… I am debating on going to an adjustable so I can use a more mild setting on my neck since the irritation is AS bad. I’m just glad I don’t have nomex around my neck nearly as much any more.

 

[AndyPanda]

I have spots like that underneath my chin. The way I get them is to come at them from a 45 degree angle to one side of directly against the grain and then come at them again from 45 degrees to the other side of against the grain.

Another technique is "J-Hooking" and I find that will catch those trouble spots that don't like ATG. You should be able to find YouTube videos showing the technique and it's easier to do than it sounds. I was doing it automatically just from instinct before I had ever heard there was such a thing. J-Hooking is how I can catch the trouble spots along the jawline

 

[Leverspro]

I have swirls on my jawline that resist a close shave. I've found the multiple angles that it requires to make it smooth. Took me years. Shaving daily now for three years. If a get any irritation I'll use a balm.

 

[kfd518]

I have spots like that underneath my chin. The way I get them is to come at them from a 45 degree angle to one side of directly against the grain and then come at them again from 45 degrees to the other side of against the grain.
View attachment 1870294

Another technique is "J-Hooking" and I find that will catch those trouble spots that don't like ATG. You should be able to find YouTube videos showing the technique and it's easier to do than it sounds. I was doing it automatically just from instinct before I had ever heard there was such a thing. J-Hooking is how I can catch the trouble spots along the jawline
View attachment 1870295

Thanks for reminding me of the J hook I hand not thought of that! I have tried the 45* previously with not much improvement I just wish I knew why this one little spot pulls like it does. PERMAsharp, Nacet, persona blue. Using a blackbird lite and have taken to using a ds cosmetics SE on just this one spot when shaving at home since the irritation when sweating and wiping sweat away after using it is the least I get. It is a lot of work to get the rest of my face except this 2” squarish area with the DS razor.

 

[spacemonkey42]

@kfd518, I have similar challenges on my neck. It has quite a few different zones, each requiring a different technique. Some areas ATG, others slacking, others stretching, others J-hooking, others twising my head in different directions. Sheesh, it is really complicated! Sometimes I stop before my last pass and feel those areas while trying all of the above to figure out what makes the hair stand up more. I have yet to perfect it, but keep trying. I guess that is part of the "fun" of the hobby for us.

 

[Coler]

Do. Not. Use. Pressure. I wince thinking about what that do. Just stretch the skin and come in smooth and light at an angle, from each XTG direction.

And stop chasing BBS in this area. If you have any meaningfully density in your beard it's a fools quest.

You want to up with a cool, comfortable finish. No irritation. No bumps or weepers. That's the win.

 

[Big_T]

I have hairs that grow flat in neck creases. They have been my problem area for 40 years but I finally conquered them.

I used J-hooking with slant razors for several years with just ok results. Nowadays for DE razors, I find the Karve Overlander with a Nacet or other sharp blade works very well on those trouble spots.

Switching to Artist Club blades is where the magic happens. I can get complete BBS with zero irritation using my Atelier Durdan La Faulx Classic with a guarded blade. The La Faulx is not inexpensive, but after buying over 50 razors and reselling many of them it has become my number one razor.

YMMV

 

[DesertIguana]

People have shared possible solutions to your problem.

The way to find solution is experiment with IDEAS.

Good luck.

 

[catchacoolbreeze]

There are always a lot of people on the forum saying not to chase BBS but I view it differently. You have a problem that you want to solve and giving up on that problem doesn’t solve it for you. There have got to options or at least theories on options that you can try and I would not give up so easily. Obviously, other people's solutions are not guaranteed for you but worth a shot. My solution is as follows:

Most of the hair on my entire face lays flat. I’ve tried approximately 40 razors and one works exceptional for me in this respect - the Karve Overlander. I believe it has to do with the overall geometry (gap, exposure, and angle of blade) of how the blade approaches the hair. The Karve Overlander is the only one where I can comfortably go ATG and get BBS with these lay flat hairs. Now the questions is: will this result in irritation because its too aggressive for you or what not – I’ve yet to find a razor that is more mild and comfortable than the Overlander and still get me to BBS (I’ve not tried the Faulx). Some say its too mild and I will admit and I do have to hit the hair at a fairly precise angle (sometimes just slightly off direct atg) to get what I want so beard mapping and testing is important. This works on my face and jawline but I don't generally try for BBS on my neck. As always, YMMV.

A brass or aluminum Overlander is approx. $100 or under. I would say it’s worth a shot. Potentially a Henson but I’ve not used one - but you can return it risk free. I should note that I need a sharp blade to accomplish this or I get tugging.

 

[nav]

The one thing that solved this problem for me is the Blackland Blackbird razor.

That intense blade exposure is what I needed to pick up those pesky hair!

Best part is I do 4 passes daily, get a glass like BBS with absolutely zero irritation!

 

[bonjing]

Have you tried a cleanup pass possibly with a shavette? Doing only the trouble spots.

 

[Goblin]

Have you tried a cleanup pass possibly with a shavette? Doing only the trouble spots.

That sounds like crazy talk to anyone who doesn't already use a shavette, but I can confirm that shavettes allow me to go ATG on the neck area in ways that absolutely no DE razor will. I still have to be darned careful and very mindful of the condition of the blade (i.e. don't attempt it with something that is already running out of steam) but it is possible.

 

[Frito Ray]

I have a patch of bread that grows out almost parallel to the skin. Pushing for a BBS, shaving ATG, and performing any more than two passes was a recipe for irritation when using a sharp blade(i.e. most of the popular brands mentioned on this forum).

But what finally worked for me was to try a mild blade in a mild razor. Yes, it is an odd tuggy sensation that one has to get used to. But I can perform a third pass, even ATG, and finally (after a dozen years) get a daily consequence free BBS. Maybe it could work for you.

 

[SydneyShaver]

Let it grow out for a couple days and then shave it. Use cold water for the shave and don't overly aggitate your skin. After a couple days you might see a difference

 

[BigJ]

Some great suggestions above!