Sideways neck shaving (do I need a hobbit straightedge?)

[Gandalf]

I shave WG and then AG, like most of you. I skip the XG if possible. Well ...

The exception is my neck! The direction of growth on the parts of my neck near my Adam's apple is sideways. Shaving WG or AG is very, very difficult or impossible, since it requires the blade to go parallell to my neck and yet fit between clavicle and chin. So ...

So I have wondered: How can I make a smooth shave in this last, remaining outpost? I have figured that a shorter straightedge, perhaps half the size of normal, would find space nicely, and therefore do the job nicely. A hobbit straightedge. Thinking about it, two straightedges next to each other, one half the size of the other, would actually look rather nice!

Has anyone else had that problem, and solved it?

 

[Shave_Rat]

The entire growth on my neck is in that direction. I solved it by using a DE for the last WTG touch up pass on my neck. I have some pretty short straights, with blades just over 2 inches, and they are still too long to really get a safe and comfortable ATG stroke for my taste. I already cut myself enough, I don't need tricky strange angles on my throat to make it worse. lol

 

[Gandalf]

2 inch blade is pretty short? Where did you get them?

 

[ladykate]

I shave WG and then AG, like most of you. I skip the XG if possible. Well ...

The exception is my neck! The direction of growth on the parts of my neck near my Adam's apple is sideways. Shaving WG or AG is very, very difficult or impossible, since it requires the blade to go parallell to my neck and yet fit between clavicle and chin. So ...

So I have wondered: How can I make a smooth shave in this last, remaining outpost? I have figured that a shorter straightedge, perhaps half the size of normal, would find space nicely, and therefore do the job nicely. A hobbit straightedge. Thinking about it, two straightedges next to each other, one half the size of the other, would actually look rather nice!

Has anyone else had that problem, and solved it?

This is my problem, too. Glad to see there are more of us out there!

I use a DE to touch up on my neck. I can get it with a normal sized straight but it takes a long time and lots of Fantastic Four rubber arming. Kamisori and Feather ACs work, too. (short blades). Stretching the skin helps. I usually do a two pass on the neck and then do a sideways run with the DE if I want to be squeaky clean. On the road, I usually just take the Feather and that works fine.

Also, Western Kamis work nicely. (essentially, very short non-folding straights made from a normal length straight):

 

[Shave_Rat]

2 inch blade is pretty short? Where did you get them?

There are some vintage shorties out there that pop up once in a while on the BST here, that was how I managed to get the couple I have. I've also seen custom made ones, as well as restored blades where the toe of the blade was chipped/cracked badly, so the person managed to cut that part off and rework the blade into a shorty with custom scales.

The issue is, even with say a 2 inch blade, you'll have almost 3 inches once you count tang, and more in the way once you count in the scales. if you are looking to do it all with straights, you almost need a really short custom kami style, so no scales, and almost even no tang, it would seem to me.

 

[mdarnton]

I'm just on my fifth shave, so I'm far from an expert; bear that in mind:
All of the hair on my neck runs at about 3:30 o'clock, to my right, and so for the most part I can't go against it at all. What solved the problem for me was using a slicing upstroke at as much of a favorable angle as I can manage. It's the slicing, though, that made the difference. In this location I'm keeping the blade as flat to my skin as I can, and take as many passes as necessary, rather than going for the gusto and slitting my throat in the process.

It keeps the burn away, too, I discovered: you can take as many passes as you want if you aren't really cutting skin. Eventually the hair will go away, perhaps from boredom.

 

[Mick]

I always wondered by my favorite straight was my short Whitham Sheffield

 

[ladykate]

I always wondered by my favorite straight was my short Whitham Sheffield

I love that Whitham. That would be perfect for my neck.

 

[Kentos]

IMO you can catch the majority of those hairs by doing the "Gillette slide".

Use an out stretched finger to mimic the blade and slide it around your problem areas until you feel the stubble poking back at you. Then copy that with your straight. The sharper the straight the better too, as the sharper edge catches the stubbleuch easier without the need for pressure.

 

[Giant Kiwi]

I have this problem also and have just come to accept it.
Plus I don't have the Liathróidí for the chopstick kamisori

 

[Redhead]

You guys making a very common mistake; you are thinking of straight razor like it is to be used like safety razor. Straight razor is meant to be used with scything and a modified breadknifing motion. You do not need a special or different razor for your neck! This is main reason that straight razor is superior to all others for shaving as it is inherent in the design. In fact when you learn this fact you can easily get a perfect bbs shave with 2 passes.
Red

 

[sychodelix]

Scything motion works for me, anywhere where it gets tricky. Just be REALLY careful not to apply any pressure doing it. Kentos idea about the sliding is good too, just be aware, it's really easy to cut yourself if you don't do it right.

 

[ladykate]

You do not need a special or different razor for your neck! This is main reason that straight razor is superior to all others for shaving as it is inherent in the design. In fact when you learn this fact you can easily get a perfect bbs shave with 2 passes.
Red

You need to use my neck for a few shaves. Like I said, I can use one razor and get the job done - especially if it is a short bladed razor like a Kami or an AC, even a long bladed razor if I want to take the time (did it today in fact). However, different growing patterns are real and some folks will have problems with parts of their face. Getting a CCS is fairly easy for most ( IMHO) but going for a BBS for some is not realisitc. It transcends skill. I've had experienced barbers get exasperated with my neck area. In fact, I've never had a professional shave that was very good at all. Saying you should be able to get a BBS in 2 passes seems to squeeze all the many varieties of growth patterns and beard toughness into just one cookie-cutter description. People are different. It isn't a failure to recognize there are difficult areas for some people - just the opposite, in fact.

 

[cb91710]

Problem with the non-folding is the scales end up with a longer piece than a folder with the scales at 90 degrees to the blade.
I hold mine with the scales lined up with the blade for the N/S and S/N passes on my neck because of my jaw and shoulder.

I don't attempt true E/W or W/E passes... I'll simply run a sweep S/NE and S/NW working toward my chin and then toward my ear.
Gotta' get the head at some odd angles and use of the mirror is not always possible when working near the ears.

 

[Kentos]

What I want to know is how the heck did no one use "Gandalf" until now? Wish I'd thought if it when I joined

 

[life2short1971]

I do N/S then a diagonal S/N Then Scything E/W followed by touchups. If the blade is not absolutely sharp it does not matter how many passes it will not BBS.Scything strokes are really the key to to a clean neck.

 

[Dirk-Lerxst-Pratt]

Anyone have a link to a video on scything? I think I understand it but I'd like to see it in use. Essentially you use the toe as a pivot and bring the blade around a fixed point? How do you deal with the incline of your mandible? I have a lot of anatomy questions normally, never thought they'd be razor related.

 

[life2short1971]

Here is one. Its basically shaving by pulling the blade diagonally like your trying to cut paper with a dull knife perhaps.


http://youtu.be/ipb-WynSWT4

 

[Beatnik]

Here is one. Its basically shaving by pulling the blade diagonally like your trying to cut paper with a dull knife perhaps.


http://youtu.be/ipb-WynSWT4

Great video ...thanks for posting! Lots of interesting ideas there. You know that Sham's razor has to be really sharp!

Here's another video that I've found helpful in terms of scything stroke. It's one of Gary Haywood shaving:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqCgaw5ioAk&list=WL12C5CAE69D86846E

 

[ChesterPulley]

I always wondered by my favorite straight was my short Whitham Sheffield

Didn't think I'd want any more straights for a while until I saw that Sheffield...