Tips for side to side on the neck?

[HankG]

My face technique is coming along, but I'm having a lot of trouble with my neck. N-S and S-N aren't bad, but I can't at all figure out how to hold the razor to do E-W and W-E with good angle/pressure. The last time I tried I ended up with a bunch of nicks on both sides of my neck.:001_rolle

Anyone have any tips for the neck?

[jfreaksho]

My hair grows half sideways and slightly up on my neck. S to N is WTG for me, mostly. N to S is mostly ATG, except it's also XTG. The best I've got is S to N, then N to S, then both of those again at different diagonals to keep reducing the stubble. E to W is not something I would try with a straight.
J.

[HankG]

The problem is that my hair grows sideways on my neck, so N-S and S-N are both XTG. The result is that it is more irritating since I can't do a WTG to get the hair down a bit and not close since I can't do an ATG to finish it off.

[solgood]

Direct E-W neck passes are awkward for me as well, so I've been compromising by shaving at something like 20 degrees off E-W. It works pretty well on the side of my neck that grows N-S but the other side the hair grows E-W and it is the most stubbly area on my face left over.

I'd be interested in what the pros have to say...

[Magruder]

I have the same issue trying to go sideways on my neck. I start way over on the side, coming up and over at about 45 degrees, and shifting the blade closer to vertical -- as close as I can -- as I approach the centerline.

After many months of trying variations, I discovered that stretching the skin from above, pulling it over the jawbone instead of stretching from below, makes an enormous difference. Don't understand why it works out that way, but I never got very close on my neck until I figured this out.

[Zanzibarstar]

I have the same issue trying to go sideways on my neck. I start way over on the side, coming up and over at about 45 degrees, and shifting the blade closer to vertical -- as close as I can -- as I approach the centerline.

After many months of trying variations, I discovered that stretching the skin from above, pulling it over the jawbone instead of stretching from below, makes an enormous difference. Don't understand why it works out that way, but I never got very close on my neck until I figured this out.

I guess I'm not the only one with this issue. I've pretty much just resolved myself to not getting a perfectly smooth shave on my neck, but I will have to try pulling the skin from the top and see if this makes an improvement. Thanks for the tip!

[NFlames]

I discovered that stretching the skin from above, pulling it over the jawbone instead of stretching from below, makes an enormous difference. Don't understand why it works out that way, but I never got very close on my neck until I figured this out.

+1 I stumbled across this method last week, made a huge difference in the quality of shave I got on my neck.

[Maplerunner]

My hair grows half sideways and slightly up on my neck. S to N is WTG for me, mostly. N to S is mostly ATG, except it's also XTG. The best I've got is S to N, then N to S, then both of those again at different diagonals to keep reducing the stubble. E to W is not something I would try with a straight.
J.

I'm in this same predicament, but I am able to tip my head and shave E-W down my jaw line (from ear to chin) to catch some of my upper neck. Short strokes and very shallow blade angle seem to work. I still cannot get a real close shave under my chin. One time, I tried shaving E-W under the chin (ATG) and cut myself. Now, I simply shave XTG (neck to chin, S-N) a couple of times and I get a pretty close shave, but not BBS.

[Fnord5]

multiple XTG passes, and a diagonal XTG pass are what I end up doing for the sections of my neck that have horizontal hair growth.

To get BBS though, I need to buff with a DE, usually my slant.

The only other possibility would be a short bladed straight, something like 2 inches?

[Thebigspendur]

I've been shaving with a straight for years now and haven't figured it out. No matter the stretching or angle I do not get BBS on my neck. However with a few razors I do. Its all about the contours on the neck and the individual shape of the blade. If you have a large and rotund neck its easier to use a broader angle however I have a narrow and highly contoured neck so unless I'm using my Japanese razor which is very small I can't do anything near E-W passes.

[HankG]

This is not the good news I was hoping to hear. :tongue: I'll give the skin pulling a go to try to move the skin to a more shaveable area. Maybe between that and trying to get a XTG/ATG angle, it'll get close enough. The good news is that the straight shaves so closely that XTG passes give a much better shave than DE XTG passes.

I like the idea of the Japanese razor but I don't understand how it'd be easier. Even if the blade is smaller, doesn't the non-foldable handle make it even harder?

[Hawkeye5]

This is why neck beards were once popular.

[Lucius]

I find a 45 degree angle to be the best way for me. The neck is definitely a tricky area for me.

[pal]

This is why neck beards were once popular.

And this is why most of us, when you are looking for a BBS, will do the last pass ATG with a DE.

[Trius]

Not much to add here except practice, practice. My growth is E-W on one side, W-E on the other side, so ATG is W-E and E-W. Stretching up helps, but basically for me it just requires patience and a light touch. I don't sweat getting BBS on the neck on weekdays.

[tg16]

Thanks all! I started using the stretching as well as tilting my head and it works.

[HankG]

Well I finally got to shave again today. Have been too sick to do the whole routine so have just been letting my beard grow. First pass sucked because I wasn't thinking and led with XTG on a week's growth. However, the following passes were nice and smooth. For the neck, I pushed, pulled, tilted, used multiple grips, and got a shave I could be proud of.:biggrin: It's not BBS or even DFS, but it isn't far off and it is by far the smoothest as well as least irritating shave I've had yet. Definitely gave me hope for getting a great shave with the straight. :thumbup1: