# How to shave one's neck \[new title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 3, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316 "2003-06-03T05:02:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316/1 "2003-06-03T05:02:56Z")
Okay, so I switched to regular razors after I decided the electric one wasn’t getting close enough, and was just an overall hassle. Well, the results were pretty good on my facial area, no nicks, cuts, or anything, and pretty damn close shave (smooth as a baby’s ass, even). On my neck, however, isn’t that great. No nicks still, but can’t get it as close as I’d like to. Nobody taught me how to shave with a regular razor so maybe there’s something I’m missing on how to shave my neck. So, any tips? ---
**Author:** ![heresiarch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@heresiarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heresiarch)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316/2 "2003-06-03T07:47:58Z")
It helps if you shave right after getting out of the shower. The warm water softens the hairs. If that doesn’t fit your schedule, try letting the shaving cream sit on your face for a few minutes before you start shaving. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316/3 "2003-06-03T08:05:55Z")
Yes, soften your facial hair while showering. More importantly: DO NOT rinse your razor with scalding or even ordinary hot water. Imagine a heated steel blade rubbing up against your skin and think about cold water. Work your shaving cream into your beard (assuming you are male or someone else who needs facial shaving advice). Literally massage your shaving soap into your face. Work it in again. Start with your cheeks and then the lower neck. Wait until last for your chin and upper lip. If symptoms persist, heat-soak your own face with a steaming hot towel before proceeding. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316/4 "2003-06-03T08:14:02Z")
You are giving your thread a non-descriptive title. That’s what. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316/5 "2003-06-03T09:55:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xgxlx \* > \*\*Okay, so I switched to regular razors after I decided the electric one wasn’t getting close enough, and was just an overall hassle. Well, the results were pretty good on my facial area, no nicks, cuts, or anything, and pretty damn close shave (smooth as a baby’s ass, even). On my neck, however, isn’t that great. No nicks still, but can’t get it as close as I’d like to. Nobody taught me how to shave with a regular razor so maybe there’s something I’m missing on how to shave my neck. So, any tips? \*\* Make sure you use shaving cream (experiment with those, I find some better than others), for the closest shave, shave against the direction your beard grows in\*. \*Caution, although this gives a much closer shave it also gives me razor rash/ingrown hairs so I don’t do it, ymmv. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316/6 "2003-06-03T12:51:27Z")
Generally speaking, shave upward below the jawline. However, you may find a spot or two that gets missed. The hairs are growing in another direction. In the trouble spot, you’ll have to make another razor stroke in the direction opposite the spot’s growth. Don’t let the razor slip sideways. I find it helps to wet the face with **cold** water before applying the foam or gel. That makes the skin a little less puffy, which makes the whiskers stand out. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316/7 "2003-06-03T14:05:36Z")
First, a better title would be “Need tips on shaving neck” > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xgxlx \* > \*\*. . .Well, the results were pretty good on my facial area. . . .On my neck, however, isn’t that great \*\* Notwithstanding the good advice in foregoing posts, most of which I have done over the years, I never get as close a shave on my neck. The shave results I get, from best to worst, are: [list=1] [li]cheeks[/li][li]jaw and “jowels”, down to jawline[/li][li]upper lip[/li][li]neck[/li][li]area from chin to lower lip[/li][li]chin (curvy part)[/li][/list=1] The neck problem is mostly due to the varying direction of hair growth. I shave twice–once in the same direction of growth then lather up again and go against it (i.e., down, then up). I get very good results like that but it is much rougher on the skin of my neck to shave directly against the grain. I’m not sure why. So I don’t push it, and therefore don’t get as good a shave on my neck. (The other difficult areas are difficult due to surface curvature. The upper lip skin is very sensitive and cuts easily but I find I can also get a close shave there without working it over too much.) Everybody’s skin, bone structure, and beard is different so try a few different angles of attack to find what works best for you. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316/8 "2003-06-03T14:16:57Z")
Another tip - I started shaving in the shower ~10 years ago, and it’s a great time saver. I wash my hair first so that the whiskers have time to get softened up, then lather my face with regular old soap. You may be surprised to learn that you don’t need a mirror at all - just use your (soapy) other hand to feel for whiskers. Also, since I started this, a razor blade (I use the Mach III) lasts about six months. An eight-pack is a four-year supply. ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316/9 "2003-06-03T14:36:18Z")
Another shower-shaver here–and it changed my life. 😃 I’ve got a mirror in the shower that installs with suction cops and only cost slightly above nothing. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316/10 "2003-06-03T15:02:10Z")
\*Shave after a bath/shower. Hell, stay in the shower and shave there where it’s nice and steamy. \*Razor bumps/ingrown hairs don’t happen to everyone. So at least try shaving against the grain a couple times. First shave down, then shave up. \*Go with out shaving once in a while. I seem to get a closer shave if I have a 2 day shadow. I think a longer whisker get’s pulled up more by the blade, get’s cut, then snaps back down below the skin line more than a shorter whisker does. \*SCREW SHAVING CREAM. Try [King of Shaves](http://www.sesto-senso.com/king_of_shaves2.html) or [Shave Secret](http://www.shavesecret.com/). They give an excellent, extremely close shave that is smooth as silk! I like King of Shaves a little better than Shave Secret because Shave Secret has a little too much menthol, but I still recommend both. Try them. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316/11 "2003-06-03T15:05:46Z")
The prices on those links are high. Look for this stuff on E-bay. I usually get it 6 bottles for $18. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316/12 "2003-06-03T15:10:37Z")
I changed the title of this thread. In the future please try to choose more descriptive titles. bibliophage moderator GQ ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316/13 "2003-06-03T15:29:53Z")
I too shave in the shower. I wash my hair first as well as by the time I am ready to shave my face is moist and ready to go. I have to disagree with previous posters however regarding not rinsing the razor in hot water. I have found that if I let my razor rinse in scalding water before I shave, and keep it hot like that thoughout the process I get the closest shaves possible. As far as your neck goes, I let mine grow for a couple of days to see exactly what was going on down there. I saw, as others have mentioned, that the hair grows in different directions. I need to shave a couple of different directions to get it right. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316/14 "2003-06-03T15:55:41Z")
Shaving is individual, so all tips don’t work for everyone. Here are generic tips that work best for me: Shave with, then against the grain Shave in the shower or the night before (my facial hair grows in slowly, so I shave every 1.5 days) Use a quality shave cream/foam/gel. I like Lab Series for Men or Nivea for Men. Use a non-drying facial wash. Again, I use Lab Series or Nivea. Use moisturizer, especially at night if shaving in the morning. Use a good, sharp razor. Dispose of disposables. I really liked Wilkinson Sword blades, found Shick and generic to be useless, and use Gillete Mach3 now. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316/15 "2003-06-03T16:11:14Z")
Regarding the shower shaving situation, there’s a neat mirror I got at my Nirvana - Bed, Bath, and Beyond - that attaches to the shower head. Why, you ask? You twist a valve, and hot water goes from the shower head to the mirror, thereby keeping it defogged. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-shave-ones-neck-new-title/179316/16 "2003-06-03T19:23:47Z")
The reason I heard for not rinsing your razor in hot water was that it speeds up dulling and corrosion, reducing the number of times it can be used. YMMV. I also recommend trying the two-pass method - first with the grain, second against. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CurtC \* > Also, since I started this, a razor blade (I use the Mach III) lasts about six months. An eight-pack is a four-year supply. This has to be a record. I would’ve thought it was more likely that your wife was playing a very long-term prank and secretly replacing your blades! And here I thought I was stretching it by using one for two weeks.