Thread: Bad Irritation on neck

Hey guys, I have been DE shaving for about 3 years, and just recently started with my straight. I have had this problem with the DE and now the straight. I will go about 4-5 shaves no problem, then randomly I will get horrible irritation and bumps and ingrown hairs on my neck, only around the adams apple and about 1-1.5" radius.

What do y'all use to quickly get rid of bad irritation, bc it will continue unless I give my neck a few days break, and lets me honest, I love shaving too much to stop for half a week to let my neck stop irritating.


Thanks for the help guys!

Originally Posted by Hward92

...What do y'all use to quickly get rid of bad irritation,...

I had this problem with electrics, carts, DEs and straights (though less so) until I started following FOG Basics Advice here. Now, not a problem. Making redness, irritation and bumps go away was not "a" thing but everything.

Keys for me:

Prep - soap/water face wash at a minimum
Preshave - Noxema
Lathering - moosh it into your face for at least a minute
Shave - trash a DE blade at the hint of a pull; learn how to keep a straight edge keen with best stropping procedure and basic (hone or pasted strop) touch up; don't keep reshaving the same area over and over; use least pressure possible; keep the blade angle very shallow
Rinse - thoroughly with fresh water (for me, never hot - lukewarm at most) and then rinse a few times with cold water, especially on the irritation-prone areas; pat face dry, don't scour

And consider the soap/cream you are using might not agree with your skin. That happens. I love the feel and scent of Cella, for example, but it makes my neck turn red as often as not. Gave it up and end of problem.

Considering it is only in that isolated area I'd assume it is not your prep at fault. Are you overstretching that area? Have you got a pointy adams apple? Weird direction of hair growth there? Could it be the angles of the adams apple?

or too many passes in that area trying to get close?

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

Considering it is only in that isolated area I'd assume it is not your prep at fault. Are you overstretching that area? Have you got a pointy adams apple? Weird direction of hair growth there? Could it be the angles of the adams apple?

You have suffered from this with the de and sorted it out. What was the cause and cure. For irritated, ingrowns etc a loofah scrub seems to help me.

I don't try to get too close in this area, for the main purpose of I know I get irritated. The hair grows out away from my Adams apple, so I usually can only comfortably to a diagnal, half with the grain and half across the grain. I usually have to do this two times to get a comfortable shave in this area. I don't think I have ever gotten what I would call a really close shave in that area, due to the chance of irritation.

At the moment I don't use any preshave product, I lather once, rinse then start the lather and shave process. I might look into the Noxema, if anything maybe it will help condition the skin a little.

Thanks for the quick responses guys!

I suspect it might be your technique, which with time as you improve the irritation will get less and less.
May I suggest you try cold water shaving, does not work for everyone but those who successfully switch over notice drop in irritation. Anyway hope the noxema works for you.

Even a dab of hair conditioner as a pre shave can help relieve irritation. A dab of Cremo, Kiss My Face or any similar cream in a tube, used sparingly as a pre shave, can help lubricate the area and give a little more glide to the razor and less irritation.
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And I'm all for cold water, or temperate temp water, shaving. Cured a lot of problems for me.

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I wanted to let yall know my results in case it might help someone else.

I started using Noxema as a preshave, put it on as I make my lather after I have stropped. Then shave my face with a with the grain and across the grain pass, but my neck I do a diagnal pass on my problem areas. It is an odd angle to do with the grain and I don't like doing across the grain so I do a hybrid. I actually do it twice with a relather In between.

Then post shave I relather and massage with the brush, then rinse with warm(not hot) water, then the coldest water I can find. Follow with witch hazel, and I use coconut oil, I shave at night so I don't have to worry about the oily face, but if I am planning on going somewhere and don't want my face to be a little oily I use Afta aftershave.

This has completely removed irritation from shaving. I hope this helps anyone with the same issues.