Well long story short, the hair on my neck grows in a east to west direction and ALWAYS gives me problems when I shave, and I cant seem to get a good shave, let alone a shave that dosn't end in soreness/redness, and thats using 1 pass WTG. Anyone else have this problem and have any advice? Thanks PS. i either shave after a hot shower, or use a hot towel for several minutes.
I have same problem. I'm trying some alternate directions, j-hooking, etc. But so far not much luck. I think one of two things will happen, I'll eventually find the right razor/blade combination, or my neck will just always be a problem. I've been DE shaving for near six weeks now, all with the same razor, and am trying different blades. Once I find best blade for this razor, still might not fix my neck, but will then go on to a different razor and repeat blade testing process. I hope to eventually find the perfect combo that also addresses my neck.
I dont have the same groth hair pattern as you have in your neck but mine is also a tricky area.I do usually 4 passes after a good preparation and a good lather:1 wtg (N-S) 2 xtg (E-W and from the middle to the outside) and 1 atg (S-N)Sometimes I have to do some blade buffing to get a BBS shave but always with a thick moisturizing lather on it.Hope you can find the best shave pattern for your neck.
I have to ask, but when you say WTG pass, do you mean you are shaving in the direction of the hair growth? (in this case E-W). If you are, then you are either a) applying too much pressure b) holding the razor at the wrong angle c) or both
I think you have hit the nail on the head Truckman. My beard on my neck grows from my adam's apple toward my ear as well. I had major problems with irritation there and low on my neck. Once I found the proper direction of beard growth it became a matter of technique as you have stated. I was applying too much pressure and did not have the right blade angle. Once I got those things figured out my shaves became irritation free and I use a buffing pass and get BBS almost everyday. Great advice Truckman, of course we expect stuff like that from you.
Thanks for the kind words, Bryce! I've also been down that road myself, so I speak from experience, too.
yeah I shave in the direction of growth, and i had this problem even before I switched to shaving with a DE. I also maybe have made the situation seem worse than it is, its not my WHOLE neck, is the right side, just past my adams apple, maybe 2 inches tall, an inch wide. Its just a nuisance, i can do 2/3 passes on every where else but that area, i can only shave that area once with the grain.
I've been DE shaving for almost 6 months now. It's taken nearly this long to fine tune my shave technique to reduce irritation on my neck. Just follow the advise above and try to change your technique slightly every couple days. You'll learn what works best for you slowly over time. I know it's finally paying off for me.
I'd suggest, if you can, to let the area heal up as much as possible first. The trouble is once it's already irritated, it won't fully go away as long as you keep shaving it. If you can, let it go over the weekend or something, then hold the razor perpendicular to the floor, concentrate on 0 pressure (almost like it will fall off your face), check your angle and only do the 1 pass. Good luck, keep us updated
I have the same problem, but mine is compounded by the fact that my neck is the only place on my face where my beard is actually curly. My neck (and the irritation of it) was actually one of the reasons I started DE shaving in the first place. My solution has been two WTG passes and the realization that I'll never have a BBS on my neck. I would rather have a stubble only I know is there than the red painful bumps of trying anything more.
I have a swirl right in the middle of my neck beside my Adam's apple!! Talk about a shaving nightmare!! It looks like a hurricane. Of late, I've been using a product call "High Time Bump Stopper". It def helps with the bumps and redness. The "Bump Stopper Medicated Shaving Gel" helps too. I used to break out within 30 min of shaving. Now barely any redness at all. YMMV...good luck -Greg
Nope, I mean perpendicular. If his hair growth is E-W/W-E, then it essentially grows sideways, or horizontal, aka parallel to the floor. In order to cut the hair in that direction, the razor would need to be perpendicular to the hair growth.... It's a crude drawing..... View attachment 10259
i understand, and i usually do let it heal up, only takes an extra day or so and its all gone. will give it a go tomorrow, thanks!
The bottom half of my neck has the beard grows this direction <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< toward my ear. The top half grows down and to the left. But the patch under my chin grows straight down all the way to my adams apple. My point? It's all crazy below the jawline. After a lot of trial and error I found the balance between close and comfort in this formula. I make three passes straight down and one up. Pass one: Down, no stretching. Pass two: Down, pulling my skin at the jawline. Pass three: Down, stretching the skin just behind my razor. Pass four: I shave up, stretching the skin behind my razor on the bottom half and the top half I J-Hook upward. If I try shave against the grain. Not matter how sharp the blade, the angle of the razor. Gentle pressure or not. Against the grain kills my skin. But the above method I am able to get a near BBS every time.
My bad, I'm with you now. I was thinking oh nevermind don't want to add anymore confusion than i already have. I know what u are saying.
Yeah, sometimes it can be confusing, and Lord knows I'm not the best communicator - just ask my wife! :happy102
i guess i need to work on my technique, although today i mixed a soap and a cream, and had the best shave to date, with less redness on my neck!
I have this problem sometimes too... on my lower left neck area it grows E-W, but then on the right side it grows N-S and as it goes down my neck from my chin it sort of grows NW to SE. Very confusing. I'm fine using a disposable though. Also, the Merkur is easier to maneuver for me. When I use the Lord Tech though i nearly always get skin scraping, which is definitely a result of too harsh a blade angle, but it also affects my neck as well in the same areas you're mentioning. I have never scraped with the Merkur.
To correct all soreness - its a matter of : 1) Time for your face to adjust to shaving this way 2) Finding the right blade for your razor 3) low pressure technique whist shaving 4) Prep/Soap routine For me nearly 12months in (both DE & Straight) : 1) 4 weeks 2) Crystal Blades (IP Reds) in a Murker Futur 700 adjustable (position 2) 3) Allow the razor to skip and bump if it needs to - especially against the grain - By that I mean don't force it through the whiskers let it skip and mis some if thats what happens 4) 2 hot face washes - then TABAC shaving soap on a boar brush (cheap but I much prefer it over my Trumpers Silvertip). Tabac soap is really the defaco beginners soap - sooooo protective. Its the soap I would use if I'm experimening with other parts of my routine. Hope this helps Simon London UK
