Switched from clippers to straight razors for neckline cleanup about 4 months ago

I used to always use my clippers to clean up necklines and it looked fine but never really crisp. A older barber at the shop I work at in Denver told me I was leaving too much fuzz and handed me his straight razor. After about 3 weeks of practicing on my own head and some willing regulars, I finally got the hang of it. Now necklines look SHARP and I get way more compliments. Has anyone else made the switch and noticed a big difference in their fades?

2 comments

2 Comments

gavins438d ago

Yeah that thing about leaving too much fuzz really hit home for me. I read this blog post from a barber in Chicago who said straight razors catch those tiny hairs that clippers just miss because they don't lift the skin enough. For me the biggest difference was how clean the neckline looks after a couple days. With clippers I'd get this shadowy stubble within 24 hours but with the razor it stays crisp almost three or four days. I also noticed my fades look smoother where the neckline meets the skin. It took me about a month of shaky hands and a few nicks but now I can't go back.

ericfox8d ago

Wait, you said a whole month of shaky hands? I couldn't even handle one week without slicing myself up. @gavins43 you have way more patience than me, I gave up on the straight razor after like three days and went back to clippers. That three to four day clean look sounds nice but man I don't think I have the steady hands for it.