After several frustrating months of trial and error I finally had a breakthrough today with shaving my neck. I had studied my hair growth on my neck. I am fortunate that it is the same pattern on both sides, diagonal and down from my chin. I didn’t try shaving WTG because I was concerned I might slip up (some of my worst cuts occurred on my neck when I first started). I was trying all sorts of techniques and I was missing a lot of spots. I watched lots of videos and I saw everyone would shave straight down from their jaw line and then shave back straight up. I tried that and still wasn’t getting it. I would hit areas multiple times to get it. Every time I ran the alum block I had a lot of zings. I have always had these little bumps on my neck which feel like they might be stubble. As I began to realize those spots probably weren’t stubble I backed off on working so much on my neck. The zinging from the alum was much less. But I still could tell that there were spots I was missing. Today I decided to just go back to basics and try WTG and XTG. I went slow and careful. And wouldn’t you know it, I got what I was looking for. Not BBS but close to it. I concluded that I still have some spots that will require me to go ATG. But overall it was a much better experience. I also did something else different today and applied preshave oil again between the first and second pass. That may have helped too but I feel it was more the technique changes that made the difference. BTW, the SOTD was a King C Gillette with their blade, and Proraso Red.
When I finally accepted the fact that there were areas on my neck I couldn't completely clear of stubble, without risking irritation, my shaves became 1000% more enjoyable. Congratulations, Joe.
WTG is chin down to base of neck, front to back. ATG is from jawline down to base of neck, back to front.
My neck hairs grow in weird directions depending on which half. The upper half of my neck to hairs grow down and to the right. On the lower half they grow up and to the right. This makes for awkward shaving on the neck, necessitating AtG at least twice.
Hey Joe in my case I have to shave my neck (wtg) from south to north. Wet shaving has allowed me to shave my neck everyday. With Cartridges I was plagued by irritation so at most I would shave that area once per week. Paul D
Well, my neck hairs seem to grow towards my shoulders making a true ATG pass with a SR very difficult. I have just accepted the fact that I am going to have to do an electric or SE open comb razor clean up pass after the SR double pass if I want a BBS shave.
The Adam's apple shouldn't be a problem for shavers. The key to shaving that spot is to do a half swallow. Just start to swallow like you are taking a drink of water, but pause midway through. It may not make it go away entirely, but it will, to quote Fauci, "flatten the curve."
I struggle with my neck, just under the jawline specifically. ATG is a seemingly impossible angle. I think I’m feeling the direction with my finger when checking for stubble but can’t seem to pick it up with the razor. I keep practicing and I’m sure I’ll get it eventually but boy is it frustrating at times.