Techniques for Closer Shave..

[evilmojojo]

Hi all,

I'd be keen to hear from people about any discoveries (aside form Kyle's Prep) regarding getting a significantly closer shave. WITHOUT irritation.

Currently I can pretty much get BBS daily on my checks using T&H pre-shave oil for a final ATG blade buff. Very good, no irritation, and much better than using just the cream. I believe using the pre-shave oil is good because it is thin allowing close contact and oily so it actually stays there allowing blade buffing not to over irritate. (Just my take on it). However on my neck I'm struggling to get even close to DFS. I can by means of ATG and blade buffing but it just goes red and sore within 30min.

So does anyone else have any good ideas??


Somethings I've thought of but haven't tried yet to get the ball rolling are:

1. Re-applying hot towel/lather for final pass.

2. High end cream (apparently they are better for beard softening) e.g. SMN, Aqua de Parma.

3. Apparently JM Fraser's cream is especialy good for beard softening too.

4. I've heard of a product called 'John Allan's Slick Water' that is supposed to be amazing for beard softening.

5. I still have to try using BOILING water from a kettly instead of just hot tap water for my towel treatment.


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Anyway I'm sure there are lots of really good ideas out there!!??

Anyone feel free to comment on what I mentioned or bring new thoughts.

 

[Ru4scuba?]

Hmm...this is probably better suited to the Shave Clinic thread.

But regardless, I take it Kyle's Prep is not working for your last pass to attain BBS. That said one question:

What direction does your beard grow on your neck?

Mine grows completely E--W with a few multi directional spots of growth. I typically go XTG, XTG (pass 1 & 2) and then do a complex chevron pattern avoiding direct ATG for the last pass. Its probably only about 45% ATG angle.

Also keep in mind, as many have said on this forum...some guys just can't go ATG. Their face can't take it. You might be one of them. I know my neck can't stand direct, 100% ATG. Nor would it be easy to do as it would require shaving sideways on my neck, over hilly terrain. Not a good option.

But I've found the chevron technique works very well and get neck BBS with no irritation 95% of the time.

 

[Brodirt]

4. I've heard of a product called 'John Allan's Slick Water' that is supposed to be amazing for beard softening.

Its ok. I like John Allen products and use a few others so I bought a bottle of this. I rarely use it because, while you do feel additional smoothness on the first pass, it doesn't yield a better shave overall.

 

[evilmojojo]

But regardless, I take it Kyle's Prep is not working for your last pass to attain BBS. That said one question:

What direction does your beard grow on your neck?

Mine grows completely E--W with a few multi directional spots of growth. I typically go XTG, XTG (pass 1 & 2) and then do a complex chevron pattern avoiding direct ATG for the last pass. Its probably only about 45% ATG angle.

My neck is all over ther place. Very hard to do exact WTG, XTG or ATG. I do a similar thing where I do maybe XTG or on rare occasions 45degrees ATG. Its usually a complex procedure of pulling this way and that pulling certain areas of skin in a particular direction but not too hard and being careful to not shave at right angles to the direction I'm pulling.

This is why I'm intereting in other techniques for getting a closer shave and ATG is simply out of the question on my neck around the adams apple. I barely look like Ive even shaved in that area. But I can get a skinny looking appearance on my checks; perfect BBS. I also have the thing where my hair runs very shallow and my skin is somewhat transparent so even if I get it close-ish it doesn't actually look like it...