Gilettes shavers, some of them have these 2 colored bars on the shaver to prevent this.

Make sure that your hair has been softened by the shower before your shave...wash your skin with anti-bacterial soap to get rid of any germs then use a good quality razor and shaving cream.

Hello! - You should get an exfoliating cloth and use it in the shower - use it after you've gotten a chance to get "good and wet" in the warm water. Wet it with warm water and add a conditioning body wash, not soap. It's best to shave after you're done showering, because the warm water opens your pores. Also, you should be shaving in the direction the hair grows on your neck, not against it. That will help keep down the irritation. IF YOU can't shave after a shower/want to shave without taking a shower, you should use a very warm (but not quite hot) wash cloth and put it on your face for a minute or two (until it cools), so it gives your face/neck/skin a chance to soften and open pores. Definitely invest in a decent razor, not those disposable ones. Preferrably one with 2-3(?) blades and a conditioning strip. I know it can be expensive, but if you only use the razor just to shave your face/neck, it lasts quite a long time. (and you can buy the knock-off brands/store brands that will fit those razors for 1/2 the price.) Also - avoid aftershave, if you feel like you have a bit of a burn, it makes it worse. Wait until your neck has gotten a chance to recover from shaving before putting stuff like that on it. If you do start bleeding, put COLD, cold water on it.. it closes pores/the bleeding area much faster -- try a cold wash cloth. ** (Super fabulous tip to everyone out there, because that's the kind of gal I am, ditch the shaving cream, use a conditioner instead! It's awesome, seriously. - even better, a cream conditioner! I get the smoothest legs around!! (Shh! It's my little secret!) Shaving creams have alcohol in them, they irritate skin, and dry it out after you take it off. Conditioner doesn't! Plus it's much cheaper and you hardly need any!!!!! ANOTHER, important, NOTE TO EVERYONE: NEVER EVER use anti-bacterial soap, folks!! It's so bad for you, and it helps to make all those bacteria that is around become immune to all these anti bacteria products that are around, including anti-biotics. Doctors are finding that there's all these new bacteria that wont be killed by these products anymore. (NOT all bacteria is bad, keep that in mind.. and our bodies can naturally fight a lot of the bad ones.) Don't buy products with that in them. REGULAR soap gets rid of germs anyway! Much better than most people think!!