Tips for XTG on the neck requested

[Shave Ready]

Hi all,

I'm about 15 shaves in (feels like more!), and I am trying to figure out how to get comfortable with the XTG stroke on my neck. For your information, I do well with the WTG - I am at the point where I can do a single WTG pass and be smooth for the most part in that direction. I touch up those areas where I am not with another WTG in that area. If I were shaving with a DE, the XTG stroke on my neck would be performed with 45 degree downward strokes from my jawline toward my Adam's apple. The area from my chin to my Adam's apple would be performed with left-to-right (or vice-versa) strokes.

i can't seem to find an equivalent motion that I am comfortable with using a SR. For the cheeks, I have found that using the opposite hand (left on the right side, and vice-versa) and a stroke from ear to chin works. I think this may be in part due to the fact that I can see the blade as I am putting it to my skin.

Any advice would be appreciated. I have tried watching some of the videos out there, but it seems mostly like the guys in the videos are following up the WTG with an ATG. Thanks for your help!

 

[sychodelix]

I go XTG with the straight very similar to what you described with your DE. Should be about the same, although I find a scything motion helps a lot for me. Just make sure to keep the skin stretched and use a very light touch, while still not slowing down or stopping. Stopping or slowing down is bad...

 

[Disburden]

Use a slicing motion when you use a straight razor. They are designed to cut like a knife does on bread, not straight down like an ax motion.

So if you stretch and use a to leading slicing motion and then do a heel leading slicing motion on the next pass it is like using a XTG second pass.

 

[ricardo9505]

hmmm, odd. most neck hair grows down, up, and sideways. ATG for me is left to right.
I solely use a de so I go down WTG, then up, XTG. rarely do I do ATG.
my routine has been do 2 passes and w/o rinsing, run my hand across to see where my technique needs improvement. I found the small merkur classic razor priceless as it was small, using a edwin jag now.
my brother just tugs, shave, tug, shave, tug. I find that when I bend my head a bit back and force the muscles on my neck the skin stretches a bit so for de shaving it works. best of luck

 

[Shave Ready]

Thanks for the help, gents. I'm still very much the newcomer, so I've got a bit to learn, especially about the slicing/scything motion. I'll put some of these suggestions into practice and see if it helps!

 

[smalltank]

my neck hairs grow like a tree..hairs grow outward..I flip the blade upside down..go inward..

 

[dpmtherrien]

As has been mentioned, be sure to keep that blade moving when its in contact with your face.