My skin is really tender/sore after shaving

[slybaldguy86]

Hi, I shave each morning and each time my skin is very sore (Especially the back of the neck).  I don't cut myself either.  I'm a lighter skin tone so I don't have "leathery" skin and I'm new to shaving my head.  Any advice on how I can avoid getting such tender skin?  It hurts when I apply after shave and  sunscreen (even an hour or longer after shaving).  These are the products that I use and my routine:

1) Apply hot water to my head
2) Use shave brush to apply "Noxzema aloe & lanolin" shave cream to head
3) Use "Harry's" 5 blade razor while shaving in the following directions (Against the grain)
- Starting from forehead, shaving to back of the head washing off blade after each swipe
- Starting from ear and turning the blade horizontally and towards the back of my head
 Starting from back of neck and shaving towards top of head
4) Use Norelco three (round) head razor over my head (to get head really smooth)  (I tried applying lectric shave prior to using this razor and it burned my head like crazy)
5)  Apply "Afta" original after shave.

[Sir Harry]

Welcome, SBG86!

Try rubbing your head with an ice cube all over or run extremely cold water over your head to keep the pores open. Also, if Harry's works for you, nothing wrong with that, but many people have said they have had problems with Harry's razors. Also, maybe you need to cut back to shaving every other day, everyday shaving can be irritating to sensitive skin.

[kerryman]

It's normal .My head was on fire the first few times i shaved .Just a matter of the head getting used to it.maybe shave every other day and let your skin get used to it. I did that and mine is fine now .

[jbrit25]

I bet that Afta has drying alcohol in it. That stuff kills me. Switch to Nivea cooling shave balm for sensitive skin, or something similar that doesn't have drying alcohol.

[Paul]

Like Harry said, the cold water rinse can help quite a bit.  I have also gotten into the routine of putting Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera on afterwards for soothing that tender skin

[AJ Q-Ball]

Like Paul said, I also use FOTE Aloe Vera gel as an aftershave. It's wonderful as far as helping with skin irritation.

[invaray]

Stop using Harry's" 5 blade razor , it is not safe to use on your head it can cut you badly. Switch to Mach 3 ,  I have found that to be the safest for head shaving.