Thread: Razor Bumps

After my first shave I developed big razor bumps on one area of my neck. First I thought it was acne but now convinced they're bumps. I never had them before and hope to never have them again.

Can anyone tell me how long until they go away?

I did my second shave today and still did not want to attempt my chin and upper lip. I did my pre-shave and lather well but still didn't feel comfortable to try. Maybe next time. I stayed away from the bumps and went over them with a safety blade instead without incident. No blood on my second shave :-)

Don't get too down on the shave just yet. As a fellow newb, I know that technique is a large factor.That will come with some time in my experience. Are the areas that get bumpy the same areas you find yourself struggling? Also use light pressure with the blade and stretch the skin as much as you can. That way you end up with less skin removal and irritation. Try finishing with a really cold water rinse and a soothing aftershave or balm. I have sensitive skin as well and problem areas on my neck. After learing better tecnique, preperation, and some experimentation with blade angles your shaves will get better and better. I hope I'm not just telling you what you already know.

I used to get them from time to time. In my experience, they go away after a few of days but if you use aloe vera, they go away faster. Do you think that you used to much pressure or a less than optimal angle?

Al raz.

It could from the direction of your beard growth too. If you're not paying attention to the grain you could end up doing an ATG pass on certain neck areas without intending it, especially if pressure is applied.

In my very short and limited experience they go away after about a day if you use Aloe of some kind. My roommate, who I am currently mooching off of straight razor wise until I can get my own, has an aloe aftershave stuff that works very well. It's called "Thayer's Natural Remedies" Its got aloe and some scent in it to (he has lemon and withhazel) so it gives you healing powers and a nice smell.

As for the bumps, I think I'm starting to notice I get bad bumps when I shave against the grain first on my neck. When I shave with the grain I only get one massive red splotch that goes away with some aloe and an hour or less. So try making sure you first shave with the grain until you really develop your technique. I recommend shaving twice. Once with the grain, once against. It gives me a much more comfortable shave with little razor burn.

There's probably more than one ailment than can appear as "bumps" on the shaving area. IME red bumps are ingrown hairs. Faces differ, but through the years when I have had them (I had them for years using an electric and figured it was part and parcel with shaving) the only way to make them go away was free them with a pointed tweezers.

Ingrown hairs if that's what you're experiencing IME comes from shaving too closely ATG. I agree with Ryan that neck whiskers are notorious in growing in haphazard directions, swirls, etc. In one pass in one direction on a neck, a person could end up cutting some whiskers WTG, XTG and ATG. I have a few areas on my neck like that. It sucks. You have to learn where those areas are and experiment with the best approach; use a very light touch.

Chris L

I'm pretty sure I went ATG in this area out of habit of different directions with an electric. It was only after that I learned not to go ATG. I'm going to try letting it grow a few days and take a close look at growth directions.

If not aloe the bump fighter stuff you can get at walgreens and walmart woorks pretty well. I've used it for a couple months at a time when i only have access to a mach 3(In the Army) i get some bad bumps on my neck and this stuff helps.

I too get some bumps on one part of my neck...on my off hand side...i only shave with a shavette so i contribute that to part of the problem...

my way of healing is to make sure i use an alcohol AS...i use thayers witchhazel ... the original with alcohol...this cleans the bacteria...

then when i shower i use a lufa facial sponge...i use a acne cleanser and scrub the area to remove the top layers of the skin to allow the hairs to free themselves...and the acne cleanser has medication in it to help with the ingrowns...because its almost like acne...if you can remove the dead skin and allow the infection to come out they will come out on their own...

light pressure and dont go against the grain only wtg and xtg...that will help too...

FWIW..I like the EVERY MAN JACK...Cleansing face wash...it is scent free and has sacylic acid for acne ...

they also have a cleansing face scrub which is nice for a preshave...and a acid free face scrub for preshave..all of which are nice.

and make sure you moisturize to keep the skin soft so the hairs can pop through your skin...if its too dry its hard and the hairs just curl..

ok long enough response...have fun and let us know if you find any other remedies...

I am going to provide a little bit of wisdom that works for me, but goes against what you will hear some other members recommend. So, with that in mind, use this as you see fit.

Stretch your skin less in those areas that have generated the bumps. Stretching the skin gives you a closer shave. That area of your neck may be prone to ingrown hairs when the shave is too close.

I stopped stretching the skin with my hand (just funny shaving faces) and had a huge improvement in the comfort of the shave in my trouble spots on the neck.

Also, little to no pressure on the blade.