# Shaving Your Neck. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 29, 2012, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324 "2012-02-29T08:02:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324/21 "2012-02-29T23:32:12Z")
Everyone seems to have understood what he was talking about, since he related it to the time he shaves his face. What other part of the neck do you shave at the same time you shave your face? **Gary T** the OP mentions his face twice in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324/22 "2012-03-01T03:00:38Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Link please? [Head shaving.](http://http://headshaveproducts.com/forums/index.php) [Another](http://www.slybaldguys.com/). [THE general shaving site. Great resource for blades, etc.](http://http://badgerandblade.com/) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324/23 "2012-03-01T03:02:33Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > What other part of the neck do you shave at the same time you shave I do everything above my chest (except eyebrows and lashes)😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jake\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Jake\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324/24 "2012-03-01T04:37:59Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > The OP Is talking about the \*front \*of his neck. :rolleyes: > [@TBG](#): > > Then he should say _throat_.:rolleyes::rolleyes: I won’t add to the annoying collection of rolleyes here, but your throat constitutes a small percentage of the front of your neck. Much smaller than the portion that needs shaving. It generally refers to the esophagus, or the portion of the neck directly in front of it. When you “grab somebody by the throat” you are more accurately grabbing them by the neck. The throat part is useful to say because you do have their throat in your grasp, and it distinguishes which side of the neck you grabbed them by, but unless you’re doing some two-finger ninja shit, you have them by the neck. Most men have beard growth that covers most of the front of their neck, hence the phrase “neck beard” as a derogatory term to describe men with unkempt beards. You don’t shave your throat, per se. Frankly, that sounds horrifying. With that out of the way… My neck stubble actually grows in a spiral on both sides. I shave the entire neck up, then downward diagonally from the ears to the throat, then down, then up again. It’s a major pain in the ass, but it works. Shaver implies electric, and as others have pointed out, you’re simply not going to get a very close shave with an electric, especially on your neck. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324/25 "2012-03-01T22:57:27Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Then he should say _throat_.:rolleyes::rolleyes: I assume you are all just joking. But yes, I did mean the front of my neck [the throat, or whatever you want to call it] (why else would I have mentioned it as part of a _“shave”_;)). ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324/26 "2012-03-03T07:26:02Z")
Well, I guess this discussion is over with. One more thing: although this was put in IMHO (and bear with me, I have never been in IMHO before, so I am not familiar with its content), I actually thought of submitting this question to Cecil Adams. Just insert: Dear Cecil: … Jim B. Thank you:) ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324/27 "2012-03-03T07:58:14Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > It sounds to me like he’s talking about the old fashioned “shave and a haircut.” Places that do hot lather shaves are still around, but a bit pricey. So they can no longer be had for just two bits, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324/28 "2012-03-03T08:48:51Z")
If it helps any guys out there, I’ll let you know a friend of mine did laser removal of his throat/neck, with great results. He used to only shave that area once a week, because it was such a pain in the ass. Shaving resulted in breakouts, ingrowns, and it was just a mess every time he shaved. His face was fine, it must be just the difference in skin from face to neck, the neck skin just isn’t happy about dealing with his thick beard and shaving. I didn’t ask him about cost, but he mentioned it was less expensive than he expected when he got quotes. Said the results after multiple sessions were worth every penny. I can say as an observer, it’s nice to see his poor neck is never such a mess any more, and he can let what’s on his face grow a couple days at a time without looking like the wolfman with bad acne. His 5 o’clock shadow and 3-day beard always look nicely groomed! Might be worth looking into for you guys with lots of neck beard. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324/29 "2012-03-03T09:52:59Z")
Count me too as someone who has trouble getting a clean shave on his neck. I use an old safety razor with a single blade (my grandfather’s; must be about 70 years old–I really should change that blade;) ). I just go over it several times in different directions with various facial contortions until it’s satisfactory, not perfect. Remember the Heaven’s Gate cult that committed mass suicide in the '90’s? One ex-member who got out in time said that leader Marshall Applewhite instructed the men to shave the neck in only one direction (don’t remember if it was up or down). My first thought was, That wouldn’t work for me. My second thought was, Wow…ultimate control freak…how could they allow themselves to go along with that shit…? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324/30 "2012-03-03T12:40:51Z")
I got lucky in that my beard stops where it’s supposed to stop and I don’t have any hair until you get to the top of my chest. So, beard-free neck. ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324/31 "2012-03-05T01:52:57Z")
Went on a cruise last year and had a seminar on shaving as one of the activities! The important part about shaving your neck is to determine if the hair is growing in the same direction as on your face. You should NEVER shave against the grain. Apparently the direction the hair grows in can be different for different people. On my neck, it all grows in the same direction so I can continue strokes all the way to the base. If it didn’t grow that way, I should change the direction I shave where the hair changes. You can shave across after shaving with the grain but never against. I use a Gillette Sensor 3 bladed razor, but I shave the same with a Mach III as well. No beard rash or ingrown hairs in 30 odd years of shaving with a wet blade. I used an electric when I was young and never got anywhere near as good results. It was a Phillishave Rotary so it may have been better if it had been a different style. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324/32 "2012-03-05T02:18:31Z")
> [@Kiwi\_Fruit](#): > > You should NEVER shave against the grain. Why not? Nothing bad has ever happened to me doing so, and if I don’t do that then I might as well not shave at all. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324/33 "2012-03-05T02:31:53Z")
I have not heard that you should NEVER shave against the grain but if you do there is an increased risk of ingrown hairs. ---
**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:** [March 5, 2012, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324/34 "2012-03-05T13:52:47Z")
> [@Kiwi\_Fruit](#): > > You should NEVER shave against the grain. Well, you can’t believe everything you hear on a cruise ship. 😉 I have ALWAYS shaved first with the grain then made a second pass against the grain. I’ve been doing this for the last 34 years and have somehow survived it, and have never found a way to get a closer shave. I have had an ingrown hair maybe once in my life. (This might be more of a problem with very coarse or curly hair.) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324/35 "2012-03-05T14:22:15Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I have ALWAYS shaved first with the grain then made a second pass against the grain. That’s how I do it, and that is the advice I’ve read in shaving discussions. Shaving “with the grain only” is recommended if you have problems and you are trying to rule out technique based factors. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-your-neck/614324.md?page=1)