BBS Face, Mangled Neck

[stevensj2]

Hi everyone,

I've been wetshaving for about 3-4 weeks now, using the following products:
-Merkur HD
-Derby Blades
-C&E BBB
-Tabac Soap
- Various A/S (AquaVelva, Gilette, Brut)

I've been shaving daily, trying to both get my face used to the new stuff, as well as give me more frequent opportunities to learn.

The routine:
-Shower, leave face wet, rinse in warm water for a little bit while brush soaks in a mug of very hot water. Work up some lather, and then...

The shave:
-My facial hair grows N->S. My neck grows SW -> NE (weird pattern )
-I do a WTG pass, followed by XTG, then XTG the opposite way, then AGT (all in relation to the direction of growth for the respective location (face or neck)).

The results:
-Face: A baby would be lucky to have a butt this smooth. Infact, I do not get a BBS shave, rather, some babies are born with a JFS (Josh's-face Smooth) butt.
-Neck: I look like I wore a turtleneck shirt made of thumb tacs. No matter what I do, I always feel dragging and pulling on my neck. I apply practically no pressure (just enough to keep the blade on my neck, as shaving upside down somewhat requires it).

My neck has always been problematic, even with an M3 that I was more used to for a number of years, but it never caused the nicks and weepers that I experience now.

Any suggestions? I've watched Mantic's vids, read numerous threads on here, and no matter what I physically try, I have problems. I've gotten a nick-free, relatively-smooth shave on my neck maybe two or three times

I really love how much smoother, healthier, better feeling and IMO better looking this has all made my face.

If I could get my neck anywhere near as smooth and comfortable as my face, I'd be an incredibly happy man

[The Weez]

Something I have noticed in my new venture of DE shaving is I have to really watch the grain of hair growth on my neck. I assumed it ran north to south and I couldn't be more wrong. It actually goes different directions on each side of my neck.

I guess what I am saying is find your grain and treat it carfully and I think you will find a much closer and smoother shave. If I go the wrong way with the wrong pressure I have a real mess, but if I carefully do it all right I am very happy with the results!!


Practice...practice...practice!!!

[Ookla The Mok]

I have a pretty problematic neck as well. My neck hair grows from my ears toward my chest. If I grew it long, it would most likely have a little mohawk on the adams apple. I stretch the bejesus out of the skin on my neck and usually only do 2 passes with really short strokes.(WTG,ATG) This usually leaves me irritation free and smooth.

[Henchman]

-Face: A baby would be lucky to have a butt this smooth. Infact, I do not get a BBS shave, rather, some babies are born with a JFS (Josh's-face Smooth) butt.

My 11 month old daughter was born with a Josh smooth butt, but as she gets older, its really isnt quite as smooth, now just BBS.

Hench

[stevensj2]

I have a pretty problematic neck as well. My neck hair grows from my ears toward my chest. If I grew it long, it would most likely have a little mohawk on the adams apple. I stretch the bejesus out of the skin on my neck and usually only do 2 passes with really short strokes.(WTG,ATG) This usually leaves me irritation free and smooth.

Stretching. That's something I haven't tried yet. That sounds like a really good idea.

And about stroke length: Do you notice short strokes to be better?

I've been using all long strokes (just what I'm used to), and it never crossed my mind to switch it up and test it out.

Ah, the joy of learning

[Consettmag]

The neck really is a divilish area, took me ages to crack!

What I do, after a long prep, is shave twice WTG on my face and neck and twice XTG on face and neck. So for XTG on the neck, for me this is N-S as my grain seems to go from adams-apple to my ear kinda direction. A 5th and final pass is XTG in a S-N direction from my neck to jawline and ATG, S-N, from my jawline up over. I can now get pretty much BBS on the neck without going ATG this way as I kinda figured that it was this move that was giving me the ingrowns and the usual horrors that come with it.

5 passes may sound a lot but it's all about whisker reduction, taking your time and good old faithfull - blade angle and definitly no pressure.

As stated, practice, practice, practice. It will pay off..

[bb557]

Stretching. That's something I haven't tried yet. That sounds like a really good idea.

And about stroke length: Do you notice short strokes to be better?

I've been using all long strokes (just what I'm used to), and it never crossed my mind to switch it up and test it out.

Ah, the joy of learning

With a whopping half dozen shaves under my belt, I definitely ain't the last word, but yes on the short strokes. I too used the Mach 3 Swath of Fury stroke on my first shave with a DE, and the results were not pretty. By using very short strokes, light pressure with the grain and making sure not to cover the same area multiple times(an old habit), my neck was very smooth without all of the irritation.

Hope it works for you.

[Nick75]

It's all about pressure. You don't use ANY pressure. Not even light pressure. Your hand is just there to hold the razor and move it in whatever direction it's going. And...you HAVE to stretch the skin.

I've learnt the no pressure thing the hard way, with people talking about the fact that they feel the need to at least use some degree of light pressure when shaving with a DE. That always made ME feel the need to at least use some degree of light pressure. And what have I had constantly for the last 18 months of DE shaving? Yes, always the odd nick on areas of the neck, coupled with the odd patch of irritation every now and then. And what did I blame it on? The lather, and sometimes the prepping.

Last few days, shaving with only a Merkur blade, but concentrating like hell on zero pressure, I have finally been able to get nick-free shaves on the neck. And very smooth shaves to boot.

That says it all for me thanks.

[WithTheGrain]

I had similar issues. My grain runs side to side, this means that I have to shave side to side to go WTG and AGT. This never works that well because of the natural curve of my neck. Basically, the two sides would dig in and the middle wouldn't make contact. My solution was to go diagonally down WTG (which is also partially XTG). It doesn't irritate my face nearly as much as trying to be perfectly WTG.

I think the key is to pay attention to both your grain (which we always talk about) and the angle of your neck and the way the razor makes contact.

[jkh]

I am also new to DE shaving and got into DE shaving because of ingrown hairs on my neck from the M3. I have had very good luck with very short strokes (and of course, no pressure). Also, super lather seems to work well for me. To date I have NEVER done an ATG pass and I haven't had any issues with ingrown hairs on, in, or around the neck area.

[brooklynlou]

It's all about pressure. You don't use ANY pressure. Not even light pressure. Your hand is just there to hold the razor and move it in whatever direction it's going. And...you HAVE to stretch the skin.

I've learnt the no pressure thing the hard way, with people talking about the fact that they feel the need to at least use some degree of light pressure when shaving with a DE. That always made ME feel the need to at least use some degree of light pressure. And what have I had constantly for the last 18 months of DE shaving? Yes, always the odd nick on areas of the neck, coupled with the odd patch of irritation every now and then. And what did I blame it on? The lather, and sometimes the prepping.

Last few days, shaving with only a Merkur blade, but concentrating like hell on zero pressure, I have finally been able to get nick-free shaves on the neck. And very smooth shaves to boot.

That says it all for me thanks.

+1 on the whole "CONCENTRATE AND DO NOT PRESS DOWN!!! AT ALL!!!" thing. The razor should feel like a gentle caress across your face.

You may also want to try a slightly less aggressive blade, like the Dorco or the Merkur. Derby's are sharp, well respected blades, but are not for everyone.