How do you do your neck?

[Elrod]

I've been using a straight for a little over a month and have been really enjoying it, and have gotten to the point where I consistently get DFS to borderline BBS on most of my face.

My neck continues to stump me. Part of it is that the grain on my neck grows more horizontal than vertical, and the blade is so long I can't really get it to make contact with my face (given the curve of my neck/chin/adam's apple) when holding it vertical for the WTG or ATG stroke. I've ended up going XTG up and down, and then trying to go diagonally in an against-and-across the grain direction for the third pass, but the success is limited and I'm not seeing any improvement in either irritation or the quality of the shave over my old Mach 3.

Should I just keep working on it and wait for a breakthrough, or has anybody run into a similar issue and found a solution?

 

[Legion]

I think most of us have had a similar problem, I know I do.

I think the key is just experimenting and seeing what different grips and angles work for you. I have recently been discovering that I am getting better results swapping hands and using the opposite hand than I would normally use for my face (Left hand for the right side of my neck and right hand for the left). Also, the way I hold the razor for my neck is changing from the one I use on my face. Just keep playing around. IMO the neck and underside of the chin are the hardest bits to get BBS.

 

[W_B_K]

+1 on the above.

It's all the stretch and different head positions. Takes time, but you will figure out what works. Trying pulling the skin across and down so the grain lies in a easier path. You will find that pulling on the skin in some spots does little to stretch it but other spots will move it a long way. You might even be able to pull most of the skin flat if you turn your head and stick your head in like turtle.

 

[grump]

I find turning my head and a xtg diagonal stroke works well.

I also switch hands, but feel you should do what feels the most comfortable and provides the best control. It will take a little time and some experimentation but it will all click one day.

Stick with it.

 

[azmark]

I have the same issue and one side more of an issue than the other. I turn my head and stretch my skin as vertical as possible. It really makes a huge difference but takes practice.

Another method I used prior and works just as well is the slicing technique. Instead of gliding your razor over you neck in a vertical stroke you would go across your neck and with a shallow angle. Use very light strokes or else.

 

[Luc]

I point the chin up and to the right if I shave the left side. Easier access.

 

[Shangas]

Neck:

Look up, start with blade on right side of throat, move across the throat horizontally, and diagonally upwards as you move towards the left. This is how I do my neck, and it has worked every time.

Best done with a round-point razor, if you have one!

 

[mdunn]

I point the chin up and to the right if I shave the left side. Easier access.

yah, me too

also try some different grips on the razor. i use a kinda reverse dart throwing grip for some neck angles that lets me get at it well

 

[gull]

I rest my chin on my chest and then pull the skin up over my cheeks, then shave on that area. I'm able to get a good half of my neck this way.

For the rest, I point my chin up and pull the skin down.

 

[life2short1971]

I wipe my fingers on an alum block then stretch down and out on each side while shaving ever so lightly so the razor almost doesn't touch my skin in the same direction for best results. YMMV

 

[Legion]

I rest my chin on my chest and then pull the skin up over my cheeks, then shave on that area. I'm able to get a good half of my neck this way.

For the rest, I point my chin up and pull the skin down.

Man, I had some weird mental images while I read this one. It was almost like " I like to grasp my hairline and pull the skin backwards until the skin on my neck covers my face and then I shave normally."

I think I know what you mean. It's probably just me. And I'm not even drinking any more.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Heel near my adams apple. Move up and rotate towards my chin in one motion. It's the closest I can get to ATG since ATG around my throat is directly towards my adams apple for me. I can't find a way to pull that off without choking up on the blade, wherein my thumb prevents proper angle on everything but 8/8" blades.

 

[natchez]

Sometimes when doing my neck I feel like I am contorting like this:

 

[Brownbear]

Hmmm, I wonder what she is trying to shave in a position like that

My neck hair grows from left to right horizontally. I do my first pass on each side diagonally with the grain. Second pass diagonally against the grain, third pass S to N across the grain. That is the best I'll ever be able to do since the topology of my neck and the edge of a blade don't fit if the blade is vertical. Not unless I want to sever several important blood vessels with the toe of the blade, which so far I have not wanted to do.

Seems to be OK, not as clean as with an SE, but I am a beginner still......