I'm having a hard time learning :(

[pocketwatch]

I started using a straight about 2 weeks ago and I really don't notice any improvements. I don't have any post-shave discomfort and I haven't cut myself yet. Maybe I'm not being aggressive enough?

I can shave my cheeks/jawline/chin/upper lip acceptably but my neck is another story. It pulls and snags and overall makes an awful noise. I'm using a light touch with a low angle. Anything steeper just pulls, lower and the spine is on the skin.

I do 2-3 passes WTG. Each pass cuts hair, I can see it in the used lather. I can hear it cutting even though I just went over it The couple times I've tried to go XTG the razor just snags on the stubble and won't budge. I'm afraid to push harder since I have a feeling it'll jump and slice.

Any tips? I finish with a quick pass with a DE and it's like night and day. The DE just glides all over mowing down whiskers.

 

[Luc]

If your cheeks/jawline/chin/upper lip are fine, then your razor is not dull. I'm thinking that you must change something on your neck. I'm still working myself on how to do my passes properly with the straight. I don't have any issues anywhere but it's not as close as the DE.

2 weeks isn't much. You need to stick with it and it will improve, slowly but it will!

 

[Ray-man]

You didn't say anything about stretching the skin. The neck is the second hardest to learn, next to the chin. Try pulling the base of the neck with the opposite hand from the razor, turning the neck away from the side your are trying to shave and pushing your mouth in the same direction you are turning your head. This should tighten up the neck and make the shaving easier. It is really a contortion, to start with, so you might want to practice stretching in front of the mirror before trying it with a razor in your hand.

Don't worry, you aren't the first one to have this problem. Fifty shaves from now your won't even be thinking about it. LOL

Hang in there,

Ray

 

[spanx]

Has the razor been sharpened and stropped properly?You should not be cutting hairs on a 3rd wtg pass. Keep your angle low on the first pass then do a 2nd pass same direction only double your angle.The second pass should pick off any strays.When i say keep your angle low I'm talkin about 10-15 deg.Any lower and your blade may be walkin up the hairs.This leaves an uneven trimming which may cause trouble for subsequent passes.Or the issue can be with the razor.Try working with the technique first if it doesnt help then the razor is probably the culprit.A sharp razor can give just as crappy a shave as a dull one if the technique is bad.The advise I give is how I shave and I have no skin relaed issues with it. I hope it helps.

 

[jkh]

Don't be shy about laying the spine on your skin either. I lay the edge and spine on my neck when shaving XTG and/or ATG.

It'll come. It took me close to a month before I could go ATG with a straight.

 

[leighton]

Neck is pretty hard, but chin is harder IMO.

Like Ray said, you really need to stretch the skin to shave with a straight properly. If the skin is loose, it'll just bunch up and prevent a smooth shave when you run the razor over the stubble. Try tilting your head back and pulling the skin down.

In addition, if your up to it, try some of the more advanced strokes like the guillotine & scything stroke. Watch out for the slicing stroke, its very advanced and your likely to cut yourself. But the added work and risk is worth it in the end, the razor cuts a lot better. Less like trying to "pop" hairs off your face and more like slicing hairs smoothly.

 

[pocketwatch]

Alrighty, I'm sticking with it. Practice makes perfect I guess. I stretch my neck pretty well (I think) but I still have a lot to learn obviously. Thanks for the tips, all.

 

[mdunn]

Alrighty, I'm sticking with it. Practice makes perfect I guess. I stretch my neck pretty well (I think) but I still have a lot to learn obviously. Thanks for the tips, all.

good to hear - it takes some time but its well worth it