How to Self-Shave the Back of Your Neck

Posted on 26th July 201626th July 2016 by rbdadmin

No one has the time to bother with a weekly barber’s appointment. Although some haircuts look better after a few weeks of growth, the back of the neck always looks best with regular upkeep. So instead of wasting your weekend sitting in the barber’s chair, learn how to self shave the back of your neck between appointments.

Collecting the Proper Tools

Before trying to shave the back of your neck, you’ll need two mirrors. One mirror should be a large, wall-mounted mirror, preferably located over a sink. The other mirror should be a large hand mirror or a shaving mirror with an adjustable swing arm. It’s best to get a shaving mirror because you’ll have less to hold and a smaller chance that your arms will get tired.

You’ll also need a razor and some shaving gel or shaving cream. What you use on your face is fine, just be sure that your razor is sharp to prevent ingrown hairs. If you won’t commit to shaving the back of your neck every week, get a pair of hair clippers to trim the hairline before you shave.

3 Steps for Shaving the Back of Your Neck

1. Stand with your back facing the wall-mounted mirror. Position the other mirror so you can see the back of your head easily. Make sure you’re standing up straight and your head isn’t tilted.
If you have a significant amount of new growth, use clippers to make your first cuts. Start by shaving a horizontal line across the back of the neck, following your natural hairline as well as your previous hair cut as much as possible.
With the horizontal guideline set, rotate the clippers and trim the back of your neck using short, vertical strokes until you reach the horizontal line you just created.

2. Check the position of your head again, making sure that your shoulders are straight and your posture is good. If you normally have a rounded hairline, carefully trim the edges of your neckline, making sure that the curves are even.
Rotate your body so you can see one side of your head. Now’s the time to clean up any extra hairs along the side of your neck with the clippers. Check the other side as well, trimming the hairs along the back of your ears as necessary.

3. Apply a very thin layer of shave gel or shaving cream along the back of your neck. Be sure not to cover the existing hairline with shaving cream. Use your razor to shave the areas along the back of the neck you just trimmed. Always shave in the direction of the hair growth.
Rinse the back of your neck with cold water and pat it dry with a towel.

Getting a Low Maintenance Cut From Your Barber

Trimming your hair regularly will keep your neckline looking tidy, but it may require more time than you’re willing to invest. In this case, talk to your barber and make sure that you’re getting a natural cut along the back of your neck, rather than the standard round or square cut. A natural cut omits cutting off the tail area in favour of a more subtle shape.

A natural neckline should eliminate the need for trimming the middle of the back of your neck. Instead, you’ll just have to trim the sides where the hair tends to grow towards the collar. In these cases, there should only be a few hairs on each side to shave.

No matter what your preferred haircut, knowing how to trim the back of your neck is an immense time saver. It’s also a great skill to have when you want to demonstrate your exceptional grooming habits, such as before a job interview or a wedding.

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