Some help for a beginner

[Ailill]

I just picked up a Merkur classic (33c), Proraso cream, and a brush. I had my first shave the other day, went decent enough. Had a really nice shave on the cheeks and mustache. I shaved again today and had an even better shave but like the time before I seem to having some trouble with the bottom area of my neck. Both times that was the place where I got some nicks and for the first time ever razor burn. I was wondering if any of you had any tips for shaving this area? It's the area where the bottom part of your Adam's apple is (on the left and right sides).

Thanks in advance guys!

Great site too!

 

[strr]

Watch Mantic59's videos on youtube. I remember one video shows some good tips for shaving the neck area. I can not remember which one though, but they are all good to watch.

 

[Ailill]

I actually saw those earlier today. I did better after watching those but still hurt my neck.

I think I'm having some problem with the angle when shaving my neck.

 

[Luc]

Welcome to B&B!

http://www.youtube.com/mantic59

 

[BJC]

Be extra careful with your pressure when shaving your neck. Most of my face handles the shaving routine well. My neck though, can be sensitive - especially if I haven't shaved it in a few days. Any "extra" pressure will leave reddened areas on my neck.

 

[mdunn]

just be really aware of your angle and pressure - a bit of practice and youll get it like a champ

 

[SpyvSpy]

just be really aware of your angle and pressure - a bit of practice and youll get it like a champ

 

[AsylumGuido]

My trick is to shave the entire neck area leaving the adam's apple for last. I then pull the neck skin to one side to move it off the adam's apple and make a pass. I then do the same to the other side thus never really shaving over the apple itself, yet shaving the skin in question.

 

[Ailill]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. When my beard grows back I'll be extra careful around that area. I never wanted to shave so bad before. lol

 

[Millay]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. When my beard grows back I'll be extra careful around that area. I never wanted to shave so bad before. lol

Im a newbie as well, and I find that im constantly waiting to shave so i can try another blade, hone my technique etc... A year ago id go all week without shaving coz I hated it now i shave whenever i can.

I found that with my neck my problem was with how i was holding the razor. I tend to rest my finger further up the handle adding to much pressure to the head. I try holding the handle by the tips of my fingers at the end, this stops me from being able to apply pressure.

 

[mbrossar]

The other suggestion I would make is to map out your hair growth. For me, my beard grows pretty much north to south everywhere on my face except my neck where it grows from my throat outward. I typically do a 3 pass shave: WTG, XTG (with a slight ATG) and ATG (sometimes with a slight XTG). For most of my face, this means N-S, Ear to nose/chin and S-N, but for my neck, it's from my throat out, N-S (with a slight ear to throat) and ear to throat (with a slight S-N). If I treated my throat like the rest of my face, I get irritation too.

While your beard may grow in a different direction than mine, I'd say there's a good chance it's growing a different direction on your neck than the rest of your face.

 

[r0ckrat]

Man. You people with a constant direction of growth on your neck don't know how easy you've got it. I got hair growing in "whorls" on my neck, which makes it extremely dificult. (Within a 1"x1" square, I'll have hairs growing in EVERY direction...)

My lower neck grows mostly up and outwards, but above a certain point it goes mostly down & out, with some going every which way.

 

[mbrossar]

Man. You people with a constant direction of growth on your neck don't know how easy you've got it. I got hair growing in "whorls" on my neck, which makes it extremely dificult. (Within a 1"x1" square, I'll have hairs growing in EVERY direction...)

My lower neck grows mostly up and outwards, but above a certain point it goes mostly down & out, with some going every which way.

I suspect I've got it easier than you, but I am simplifying a bit when I say my beard grows outward on my neck. It actuall grows a bit N-S and a bit S-N, but primarily outward, so if I treat it as an outward growth, I do okay.

 

[Ailill]

I've been hearing that's what you should do. I think I'll give that a try when it grows in a bit more. I know I have a spot on one side of my mouth and the other on the opposite that grow in completely different directions then the rest of my beard. I noticed I also have one patch under my chin that grows down, so when I shave it, it doesn't get too close. I usually have to shave against that patch to get it good.

 

[rainman]

Man. You people with a constant direction of growth on your neck don't know how easy you've got it. I got hair growing in "whorls" on my neck, which makes it extremely dificult. (Within a 1"x1" square, I'll have hairs growing in EVERY direction...)

My lower neck grows mostly up and outwards, but above a certain point it goes mostly down & out, with some going every which way.

We may be twins. Cowlicks on each side of my lower jaw line, upwards on the sides of my neck, downwards on the middle except the middle lower which is also up. PM me for advice if you need some.