Neck Shaving

[JeffOlson]

I have a problem: I have a full beard that I need to shave around. It seems that, as a result, I just cannot get a really close shave on my neck unless I use my Braun electric. I had a good shave this morning with my fat-handle Tech and a Feather blade, but five passes later, I have my usual DFS on my neck--which is perfectly fine, but my electric will deliver a BBS shave in three minutes with no fuss, prep, or--believe it or not--irritation.

I have not tried a straight or an SE, but I have tried a handful of different DEs (Feather AS-D1, WWII-era fat-handle Tech, 1961 Slim Aristocrat set on 5, Edwin Jagger XXX89, Merkur 38C, and Muhle R41 Grande (the latter being way too aggressive for my temperment). The DEs have all given me DFS (except for the R41, which gave me something red), but I wonder if it is at all possible to get a BBS wet-shave with my beard in the way. By the way, I get slighty closer shaves with a Gillette Fusion ProGlide with a new cartridge.

Does anyone else have this trouble with their neck?

Fortunately, I do not suffer from irritation, ingrown hairs, or any of the other troubles some seem to have with their necks...

 

[duokun]

I would recommend a GEM/EverReady/Star 1912 Single Edge Razor. It is what I used most recently to shave my neck during the last period i had a beard. I find it gives an excellent shave. The blades, while a little more expensive than DE blades seem to last forever, especially when only shaving my neck. The razors themselves are fairly cheap. the most I paid for one was $30, and that was cased. a user grade 1912 can usually be had around $10 or so.

You can pick up Stainless Steel blades at Walgreens or carbon blades at CVS, or order them in bulk online once you figure out what you like.

 

[PugslyCat]

I used to trim around my beard with a Gillette SS with no problem. OK, the only problem was that I enjoyed shaving enough that the beard now comes off every spring.

 

[joshua1970]

i started with a DE to shave around the full beard (basically me neck and cheeks) as using a straight razor was too much of a hassle- though I never got a BBS with DE, but it did the job, and my beard hid most of it anyhow... (it was long, not ZZtop long but long)

I'd second teh SE recommendation. I find them to shave wonderfully close on first pass - in my SE arsenal are two Gems and a Valet Autostrop.

the Gems are easy as they take a single edge blade without having to remove the spine.
YMMV

 

[Bendragon]

I rock a close cropped beard too
Straight seems to work much better for me with a 3 pass shave, I could drop it to two...but I'm learning, and more time with the staight in my hand is going to be better in the long term.
Standard shave = 2 x WTG, 1 x ATG
I'd like to get an XTG in there, but my neck isn't 2 feet long haha

 

[deoxy4]

I have had some success in using a shave oil under my cream or soap and allowing it to do it magic for a few minutes before lathering. Right now I am using apricot kernel oil which is really inexpensive but works very well. I also use 2 shims in my Gillettte NEW. I have found I get a BBS shave with little irritation.