Help with neck bumps? [pic]

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with this pic i realized that my neck hair grow E-W (i think, right? lol), and my double passes with a SE have been N-S and then S-N, so maybe thats the problem, but I've always had these neck bumps. I've only been SE shaving for a lil over a week, I love it (like would probably marry it (for real (lol))), and will continue even if I still have to put up with these bumps (not like it was diff before). So I hope it's just the fact that as YMMV, and my milage is at nine shaves and it will improve, but any input is welcome.
P.S. I am using a soap (col conk, but after a bit of washing lather down the sink I think I've got it pretty much down; always can improve) and a shavette with SHARK blades, but have a DOVO starter in the mail (the white scale 5/8 blade that every site seems to recommend (plus a strop + strop paste on order too)). I shower before, use a decent lather each pass, finish with hot towel and then cold water. Then the aftershave (I tried alcohol, but now have a Nivea balm that I think I like better).
Any tips on the neck bumps would be greatly appreciated. Though after taking this pic and realising that my hair grows different kinda gets me excited. Lurking on SRP for so long makes me think that this will be a huge factor, from always shaving XTG then XTG, then switching to WTG, followed by X or A TG; Though I still want any tips on "neck bumps" ya'll can give since I've always (really, since I was 13) dealt with them.http://www.zoominto.com/zoomapi/ZoomButt.gifhttp://www.zoominto.com/zoomapi/ZoomButt.gifhttp://www.zoominto.com/zoomapi/ZoomButt.gifhttp://www.zoominto.com/zoomapi/ZoomButt.gif

Hello there,

I will suggest hot towel before shave and after shave Honeybee Gardens: HBG for Men Herbal Aftershave For Men and at the end (that`s fanny but yes simple ) Nivea after shave balm for sensitive skin. Works for me.

From other hand-do you use fresh towel for hot towel everytime you shave? When I use my towel twice I got bumps too, always!

I believe it is mantis59 on youtube who has a nice collection of videos, one of them involves dealing with ingrown hairs. My advice (and I am no expert). Witch hazel, post shave balm (I also use the nivea) helps. Too much pressure will cause razor burn and shaving ATG can help lead to ingrown hairs. Try shaving WTG only for awhile, and if you can skip a day or two between shaves go for it. Let the skin heal some. Once it is cleared up go WTG then XTG. I rarely shave ATG and I get a DFS that I am more than happy with. If I do shave ATG extremely light pressure.... A more experienced member told me "focus on removing the lather not the hair" and that little piece of advice helped put into perspective how light of a touch to use.

hah, i have so much to learn (who doesn't). I'm thinking 'hot water.' I could have cared less about 'clean towel,'
though mine isn't 'dirty', it's not freshly washed. I will get an extra few and keep them clean.

I mostly shave after a shower. A clean towel (no prior use since washing) is helpful. One step at a time, you'll get there

I had the same problem before. I always wash my face with hot water, after I use the hot towel, but the light touch on my skin is the key for me. I slow down the movements at the neck part and touch the skin softly. After the shave I use a kind of greasy cream from the pharmacy....and wash the towel I use every time:)

Ive had that before! Its awful! +1 on slowing down at the neck. Small soft strokes and try different angles carefully!

This is what I do after my shower, after my shave:

-Keep using a hot towel before but also try right after as well. When you rinse the excess cream off, keep it hot!

-Then finish with several very cold towels until your skin feels kinda numb.

-Dry your face, patting it with a clean towel then let it air dry even further in a cool breeze. NOT IN THE BATHROOM

-Then very lastly, once the bathroom has aired out, use a moisturizing cream and rub it all the way in to your skin gently, especially in the neck area.

I find aftershaves and shave balms make my razor burns WORSE. I could swear they are just nice-smelling placebos that just don't work on me.
If you live with a girl or know one well enough, try borrowing her moisturizer cream. Something not greasy preferably. Laugh if you want, but I use "St. Ives creamy vanilla, softening" after every shave and after every facewash.

Goodluck!!!

Cold shaving works for me.along with non alcohol aftershave like Thayers witch hazel,my neck looked the same until I tried cold shaving.

What I've learned in my first couple months of shaving with straights, is pressure (or lack there of is key). I was getting these bumps on my neck as well, and my hair grows similar to yours in the pic, all sorts of crazy directions. I really lightened up the pressure, I'm talking none at all. It helped substantially with the razor burn.

Good luck.

Your issue looks very similar to the one I had. Mine were ingrowns from my Fusion. I ditched my Fusion and am all DE now transitioning into str8s. I corrected my technique to prevent(all I had to do was switch the direction I was shaving on that patch of my neck so that it was more agreeable to the funny grain there). Prevention is key and exfoliate to treat. I used St. Ives 2% salicylic acid peach scrub. Cheap, effective treatment and would recommend it for sure. My bumps are long gone and am so happy. I had them for years. I go very light on the pressure on my neck too.

I have no skills with str8s yet but have my prep and DE technique nailed down and overcame my ingowns. Don't hesitate to message me and I'll try to help where I can.

Try to adjust your strokes so your first pass is wtg everywhere on your face, then atg. And like others said more prep. If it keeps up just stop the atg for a while and revisit in a month when your skills have improved.
My neck grows the exace same way, it will always be a challege to get bbs, but a sharp razor and more practice and that will clear up.
Good luck!

Hi!!

+1 to all above, one of those techniques will likely help a lot.

I had that problem too, and still occasionally do. I use str8's only, have a very similar hair pattern and found the closer my shave the worse the bumps.

First I bought some Tend-Skin and tried that, it did help, but wasn't the complete answer. Then I tried not shaving quite so close until my skin began to adjust, which I was hoping it would, not really knowing if it would or not.

Then I tried varying the pressure and direction of my strokes under my jawline. What I found worked best, was never going truly ATG, and only settle for WTG and XTG on those sensitive area's. With a second pass WTG I can get plenty close and not cause the whiskers to settle in UNDER the skin when I'm finished, which is the primary cause of bumps. As the whiskers again have to penetrate a layer of skin it causes the irritation and bumps.

Avoid razor burn with pressure, and don't try for the BBS shave right off, settle for the DFS (damn fine shave) for a while. Finally my neck has stopped bumping so badly except for the occasional bump.

I also use a pre-shave gel that lets the razor glide a little smoother for me.

So to summarize what worked for me....

1. less pressure
2. only 2 passes, avoiding the ATG pass on the neck
3. Tend-Skin before any balm or aftershave
4. Witch Hazel
5. pre-shave gel under my lather to assist in less friction on the WTG stroke.

Good luck mate!! I hate the bumps, and can say I think I have it whipped now, except the occasion I get carried away and shave too close and cause me some razor burn. Those area's tend to bump after a few hours.

M