Thanks for the responses. I've attached a picture of the back of my neck so y'all can get a better idea of the problem (though I feel like the picture underplays the issue). Again, it's not necessarily a bump problem. Yes, it started out that way when I first started shaving, but now it's just a mild red irritation.
I don't think you should be exfoliating every day. Use the Head Shed no more than twice a week as daily exfoliation is not good for your skin.
I don't necessarily exfoliate every day because I haven't been as good about shaving every day lately as I used to be. But I do exfoliate before every shave, whether it be my face or my head. It just seems like a good way to clean the skin and scrub away the dead skin before a shave.
What worked for me was to *stop* using any bump-specific product or or ingrown hair or aftershave healer or whatnot, and just moisturize the area at least twice a day with a really good facial moisturizer.
I've always been paranoid that using any anti-acne or anti-bump product will only bring the problem worse once you stop using it. It's their way of getting you to continue to buy their product[/conspiracy theory]. Back when I used acne wash on my face, I had more breakouts than I do now, now that I've stopped using anything except for a regular, non-acne-specific face wash. The moisturizer idea could be something worth looking into I suppose. I wipe my head down with a damp paper towel a few times a day, but that's about it.
Great advice, I agree.
I just wanted to add that also applying a bit of virgin coconut oil to the area now and then may help as well. It's great for skin.
Coconut oil, eh? I might have to give that a shot.
Make sure that you wash your pillowcases, the dirt/sweat may be getting into your pores
You know, I actually could be better about how often I wash my cases and sheets. I am going to start being more diligent about that, thanks.
In the six years that you have been shaving your head and getting irritation on the nape of your neck, have you always used a multi-blade cartridge? While the three blades do guarantee a close shave, that system really doesn't work for everyone's skin. You have gotten some excellent responses and advice here and I would like to suggest that you switch to a single blade disposable razor.
Yep, for as long as I've been shaving, except for maybe a short period in the beginning, when I was trying out some two-blade razors on my HeadBlade, I've used triple blade razor cartridges. From what I remember about the two-blade razors, they weren't too kind on my head. I settled on Sensor3s because they seemed to be the best razor that I found that were adaptable to my HeadBlade, though I admit I didn't try them all. I like a really close, smooth shave, and if I'm going to have to make more passes over any given area anyway, due to the single blade, I can't think that there would be too much advantage to this.