When I discuss neck problems with new traditional shavers, I often discover that while their
products and shaving technique may work fine, their shave preparation needs some work. Some
just splash water on their face for a few seconds to wet their beard and think that's
enough. Then they wonder why they get nicks and cuts on their neck. The fact is very little
water is even getting to the neck.
To make matters worse, cleaning the neck properly is often overlooked. Water by itself is not
enough, the skin must be properly cleaned with a gentle soap to get rid of all the little
nasties that are getting in the way of a good shave. But, you learned this in hygene class
at school, right?
So use a gentle
soap or some other cleaning product meant for the face. There are a lot of fine products
to choose from.
But avoid a deodorant or body soaps if you can; some are too strong and strip too much
of the skin's natural oil off, resulting in a poor shave.
And this is one case where a pre-shave oil won't do any good. Pre-shave oils just help
lubricate the skin, not clean it.
After you have shaved, another problem with the neck often raises its ugly head, literally.
Its those little white bumps you sometimes see. I often see shavers splashing on a little
cold water then going on to apply their aftershave. Unfortunately that is often not enough to
thoroughly rinse off residue from shaving lather. The lather then clogs the skin's pores
and you get those little white bumps. So take some time to really rinse the area well, with
warm water, to wash away that residue. Some people like myself take the additional step
of using a cotton pad soaked with witch hazel to provide some added cleansing. If you don't
want to use witch hazel, try a hydrosol like rose water or even an aftershave splash. Then
rinse with cold water and your aftershave of choice.
So keep that neck wet and clean for a better shave, and be sure to leave a comment with
how these tips worked for you.