Thread: Neck with rash after shaving

I would ditch the cartridge and get a DE. Go with the grain on the neck which ever direction that is for you. I would not go against the grain on my neck with a multi blade cart.

Originally Posted by macpowa

EDIT : Would this be a good idea that I clean my cartrige blades with some 70% alcohol before shaving with?

I would say no, as it'll dry out the skin while you shave and there wouldn't be any point unless you share your razor with other people, its only there to sterilize.

Even with my straight razor I just use hot water, dry it and then let it air dry.

EDIT: Shoki has a point with the going against the grain with a cartridge they are nasty ATG and might explain the ingrown hairs.

regards alex

Ok thanks for the advice, I will not go ATG with my cartridge. I will wait to do it with my straight.

Before I began wet shaving I wouldn't have known to go ATG. I never even conceived multiple passes!

Originally Posted by macpowa

If I split my neck in a half horizontaly, the upper section grows down and the lower secion grows up. When I do my first shave (WTG) I respect that direction and when I do the second shave (ATG) I feel that sometimes it is not very confortable in the lower section.

I got the razor bumps only in the lower section. I don't have alot of bumps but I don't find it very esthetic and confortable.

Should I forget to do ATG in the lower section? I would prefer not because I really like the feel of a close shave. Any idea of what I should try first?


EDIT : Would this be a good idea that I clean my cartrige blades with some 70% alcohol before shaving with?

This sounds very familiar to me. The difference with my face is that the whiskers on the "top half" of my neck (as you put it) grow sideways
towards my ears, while the lower section grows up (like yours). Basically a downwards stroke would be ATG at the bottom of my neck, which is where irritation, if any, is most likely to occur. To make matters worse, the whiskers there lay almost entirely flat, which is the reason why they get cut so far under the skin with an ATG stroke. Unfortunately on a day to day basis I must settle for a DFS in that area as it is not worth the razor bumps. Only on very special occasions do I shave there ATG for a perfectly smooth finish.

As for cleaning a razor with alcohol before shaving - why not? I'd just make sure that the alcohol has evaporated before shaving.

Originally Posted by macpowa

Forgot to say that just before doing ATG I rince with cold water.

Rinsing with cold water will close the pores and can trap stuff in there. Use warm to hot water for rinses in between passes and cold water only for your final rinse.

All I've ever used are disposable cartridge razors. I can NOT go ATG or I get a similar reaction. Really bad razor burn, ingrown hairs, little white heads. I just go WTG and deal with the fact that I don't get a close shave.

Its actually the reason I started researching straights. I ordered one off the classifieds and should have it be the end of the week.

Have you tried going cross the grain for the second pass on your neck instead of Against? I found when I go against I get nasty ingrowns and so I started going cross for second passes and that gave me a nice smooth finish with no bumps.

Don't splash.

Originally Posted by MasterRolf

Don't splash.

+1 on this. I have sensitive skin and get much better results with just the balm after shaving. If you like the scent of the splash, you can rub it on the back of your neck or the top of your chest to enjoy the fragrance.