Tips for the neck

So today I had my first straight shave. It was awkward at first, but surprisingly I got pretty comfortable with both right hand and off handed. Obviously I still need a lot of practice though. I was able to do a pass and a half with no nicks, but as soon as I started to shave against the grain (straight was parallel to my face) I started getting quite a few nicks. Do you guys have any tips or advice you can offer to help me avoid this again? I know ultimately it comes down to practice practice practice, but any type of curve will be greatly appreciated :)

Any time you experience nicks or razor burn, you are getting a clue to back off on pressure. If you stretch your skin, get the angle right and use little pressure, as close to none as possible, you'll be on your way to avoid nicks. If you're using enough pressure to cut your skin, that is too much.

Prep is your best friend, beard prep and razor prep.
Start with a well honed razor and strop it well and carefully.
Also, make sure your beard is saturated with water and covered in a good lather.
Finally, prepare your mind. Be in an attentive place for your shave and focus on it for your pleasure. Take your time.
After that, yeah, it's practice.

Your a brave man.

The usual advice when starting is just tackle the easy areas first until you gain facility with the razor.

Most wouldn't even try the neck period for quite a number of shaves and any ATG shaving is advanced not to be attempted for weeks.

Your experience should give you pause to heed this advice.

When I first went to the straight it took me a couple of months to figure out atg, especially on the neck. The keys for me were extremely light pressure, almost flat razor angle, and I had to hold the razor firmly and not handle it gingerly. Light pressure and holding the razor firmly may sound like a contradiction but they actually go hand in hand.

Keep at it, and don't be afraid to make the switch incrementally. I know I did and I'm sure that many others here have as well.

Good luck and don't give up.

Charlie