What is the correct way to shave the back of a man’s neck?
My boyfriend had been shaving his head bald, now he is growing out his hair. I know how to cut his hair, but always seem to screw up the back of his neck. Are there any standard rules to follow?
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It depends on whether he wants a tapered or blocked edge at the nape. A zero tapered edge usually looks better but is difficult for home barbers to get right with home clippers and without a lot of practice. It usually looks best to taper the edge at the nape and outline the arch around the ears as it comes down to the edge of the nape. I hope that made sense. There used to be a video named something like barber of cape cod that showed the technique. Essentially it involves clipping the edge to the skin with no guard on the clipper and varying the setting of the taper lever shorter over a certain vertical distance, eventually reaching the shortest length at the edge of the edge! On standard home clippers the taper lever in the long position cuts at #1 blade length. This leaves 3/32" of hair or about 5 day’s growth. In the close cutting position, the clipper cuts at #000 blade length. This leaves 1/50" of hair or approximately one day’s hair growth. [Assuming the standard rate of scalp hair growth of 1/8" per week.]
For a blocked edge at the nape. Cut the hair to #2 Guard and then shave across the nape. Most guys look best with squared corners but some like a more rounded look. In a standard haircut it is common to cut the edge first. Then the back and sides and the top last.
The general rule for cutting the rest of the back and sides is to start with a long guard and cut from the edge to the upper sides. Then go to a shorter cutting guard and cut from the edge to the middle to upper sides, but not cut as high, arcing the clipper out of the hair in the longer cut area so as not to leave a definite transition line. The degree of the taper and number of graduations of length is as preferred. I don’t know how he is wearing the top. The simplest is a butch where the top is then cut the same length as the upper sides with the guard in contact with the scalp. A crew cut or ivy league has the hair graduated in length on top. Longer at the front hairline and shorter towards the back. The general idea is for the outline of the hair, when brushed back off the forehead and standing upright to appear horizontal when viewed in side profile but when viewed from the front to somewhat contour with the shape of the skull. The clippers are not in contact with the scalp when cutting the top but are either held freehand or the hair is cut clipper over comb. A longer style is cut with scissors on top.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Crew_cut#Clippers.2C__Blades_and_Guards
Good Luck!
Here’s a step by step guide for ya
http://www.ehow.com/how_2330879_shave-mans-neck-between-haircuts.html
Use a razor … what else ?
Carefully! Seriously, with cream and a Bic razer against the
‘grain"!
I don’t see how you can screw it up.
If you are just ‘sculpting’ the back of the neck you can do it a couple of ways.
1. Use an electric trimmer
2. Block it
http://americanhaircuts.com/images/about.jpg
3. Taper it
http://menshair.about.com/od/yoursalonvisit/ig/Necklines/Necklines—Block-vs-Taper.htm
4. Shave the loose hairs with the trimmer all the way down.
5. Trim around the ears and the sideburns (if preferred)