Lower neck area problem.....?

[Amos]

OK, I'm new to DE shaving, and still learning......

I can get 80% of my face 100% clean shave.... BUT the hairs along the bottom of my neck, point towards my mouth...... If I shave up at them I only get 80% TOPS of the hairs shavin...... If I shave down or across, I look like a plucked chicken for days....!

HELP PLEASE.....

 

[Predict]

A very sharp blade can help such as feather. Also try going diagonal across/with the grain and across/against the grain. My $0.02

 

[tommyguns]

I had this problem as well with the sides of my neck either side of my throat area to be exact and what worked for me was

make sure the area is slik I will put a small amount of oil on after my 1st pass just in the problem areas.

Pull the skin tight make sure you have a nice tight flat surface for the blade to run over you will be amazed at how well just doing that will work.

A new blade helps but you cant do that every time so try doing a litte blade buffing in that spot with not alot of pressure or I pickec up a shavette and use it on those spots in a atg pass and that gets it as close as your gonna want.

As for the bumps I have real sensative skin so I know what its like to get the shaving bumps for me I can not get a bbs shave everyday for this reason every other day I do a quick 1 maybe 2 pass shave then the following ill get my bbs, but keep the neck clean as you can alittle which hazel a nice after shave and youll be good in no time.

The best thing to remember is its not allways about the bbs shave its about getting a great shave that you enjoy doing and the rest will fall into place.

 

[El-a-Menthol]

This requires multiple passes, a light and steady hand and a very sharp blade in a mild to medium aggressive razor.
Other combinations can work, but I think this works best.
Also techniques come into play. You don't have to learn advanced or complex techniques right now, but you need to work the skin a bit.
Try flattening the skin. Also try stretching/pulling the skin sideways at spots where you keep feeling stubble.
But first whip up a good protective, slick lather.
This means use a lot of product, which means load you brush for a long time. In this case more is better.
Now rub that lather onto you neck area, making circles. This will exfoliate you skin, lift and moisten the whiskers.
If you see a thick white whip-cream-like coating then you're set.
Now keep rubbing some more, just for good measure.

The first pass should be with the grain, go slow and with short strokes, constantly moving forward and do not go over a spot that has no lather on it!
The second pass should be across the grain.
For the third pass I recommend a pass that is perpendicular to the grain.
Again, taking your time on each stroke and after the second or third pass I would load up shortly to make sure your lather stays solid.
On the fourth pass you go slowly against the grain.
Now feel your neck area. If it still has trouble spot then attack those area's by going over it.
In time your technique, hardware and software will be in tune with each other, giving you BBS all over.

 

[fast14riot]

I had a very similar problem for years, even before I began using a DE razor. I found the issue to be poor technique, mainly the follow through at the end of the stroke. Do not break the wrist and try to follow th contour of your neck line with the razor head. Be aware of your arm position and follow through beyond the area of concern. I find that raising my elbow up a little bit, maybe 45* or so away from my body helps keep consistant hold and razor angle. The hand just holds the razor, your arm is what moves it. After you develop the muscle memory in your lower arm, you will speed up through this area.

Combine this with the above prep techniques and you should be set.


-Xander

 

[dpmtherrien]

Using a sharp blade along with some very light blade buffing should take care of the problem. You might have to do the buffing in several different directions.

 

[Hiisi]

Just dont go against the grain, at least at the start. Just the regular prodecure: wtg, xtg and xtg from the otherside with no pressure and good blade angle. Don't worry about BBS, what you want is a good shave without irritation, BBS will come with time.
I'd say attempt ATG after you manage to get the first 3 passes irritation free regulary, but you're probably not going to wait it out.

 

[vitalsigns81]

I have the same challenges with my lower neck. The contours make it especially tough. The past few weeks I have settled for one pass with/across the grain on the lower neck. It's not the closest shave but there's little to no visible irritation. Previously I was attempting one pass across grain and that tended to leave its mark, especially once a blade started to wear out.

 

[Steveareno]

I've had the same problem. But it was actually probably worse with a cartridge razor. I second the advice of just a couple of passes. I go with the grain on the first pass and then on the second pass I kind of go diagonally in that area, not exactly against the grain. Seems to give me a close shave with little irritation. The other thing I try to do in that areas is be very careful as far as pressure goes. I make a special effort to put no pressure on the razor and let the blade do most of the work.

 

[jsmith]

I know its probably not what you want to hear but I have the same growth pattern and had this same issue and finally after months of trying different blades, better prep, and many different types of passes, I just had to accept the fact that I cannot go against the grain on my neck. I thought it would really bother me at first being able to feel stubble on my neck right after a shave, but its really not bad. I use an adjustable and go one pass on the neck with the grain on a low setting, another pass with the grain on a higher setting (more blade exposure), and then a pass at about 45 degrees across the grain coming from the top. it reduces the hair as much as possible without getting any irritation.

I find that it is way more comfortable having a small amount of stubble, that I can only feel if i rub against the grain, than it is having razor burn that I can feel for hours afterwards.

that being said, since YMMV you may be able to find a blade or some sort of pre-shave product that lessens your irritation enough to go against the grain.