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Pull the skin tight with the fingers of your free hand before you pass the razor over it. That should solve the problem.

This has become my standard answer to similar questions:

I've suffered with fierce razor burn since I was a teenager (I've just turned 40), and having tried electric razors, found wet shaving was better. It took me until the end of last year to finally eliminate it almost completely. 'Traditional' wet shaving is the answer!

Getting rid of the 'goop in a can' style shaving cream or gel and replacing it with a decent glycerin-based cream or soap applied with a badger brush is a good start. Always shave after a warm bath or shower - this helps to open the pores and lift and soften the hairs (the brush helps with lifting the hairs too). Quality soaps and creams seem expensive, but a little goes a long way, and a tub, tube or bowl lasts a very long time compared to the canned crap. Good skin preparation is a big part of a good shave- just ask a barber who does wet shaving. Even if you choose to ignore the advice on razors in the next paragraph or two, skin prep will make one heck of a difference!

Next, the razor. The best thing you can do is ditch the fancy cartridge razor if you're using one - these work by pulling the hair as you drag it across the skin, then cut it off - the result is that the end of the hair drops back into the follicle, and this is a big contributor to ingrown hairs. Try a single bladed, double-edged safety razor - that's the type that uses the old-school razor blades. The Merkur HD (also known as the 34C) was recommended to me as a first razor of this type and it has worked a treat. Edwin Jagger are another good make, usually cheaper than Merkur too. They're not that cheap to buy initially, but will last a lifetime and the replacement blades cost a tiny fraction of the overpriced cartridge type heads, saving you the initial price many, many times over. A double edged razor will also cope with longer hairs a lot better! I'm just about to start learning how to shave with a straight razor- supposedly the ultimate shave. The learning curve is steep, but I'll take it easy!

After the shave, use a non alcohol-based shave balm. There are lots of good ones out there.

I now actually enjoy the whole shaving experience, rather than it being a chore as it was before. The new ways may be a little quicker, but that doesn't mean they're better. I mentioned to my mates I was shaving the old school way and they laughed, but I'm not the one with the razor burn!

If you do fancy trying this, remember that there is a learning curve and it takes a little more care than using a fancy pants multiblade razor. Let the weight of the razor do the work for you. I'm yet to cut myself - the only time I've drawn blood is when I've shaved the top of a spot off, and I've done that with multiblades too.Check out Mantic59's youtube channel for advice - he has some VERY handy videos there. There are also forums dedicated to traditional wet shaving, full of friendly people all happy to give advice.

In the end it's down to you whether you listen to this advice or not - it may seem eccentric, but it works. Newer isn't always better. Multiblade razor cartridges are a rip off - they cost pennies to make, yet a fortune to buy, and don't last five minutes.

You can't put any pressure. Shave with the razor lightly on your face and let the razor do the work. Also you have to wash your face for 2 minutes prior to shaving

Make sure you are prepping your beard enough and not pressing down hard with the razor.

What you want to do first is map out your beard hair if you haven't already. Beard hair grows in ALL directions. You beard hair can grow up, left, down, right and diagonally. Your beard hair could be growing to the right and suddenly changes by going up. Your beard hair could grow in a circle.

Mapping out your beard hair is essential to finding with the grain for you. Always shave with the grain first. meaning shaving the direction your hair grows. Mine grows in different directions then yours

If you shave while in shower:

1. While in shower put conditioner on beard hair and let sit till you rinse off

2. Apply shaving cream

3. massage it into your beard and let it sit for a couple minutes

4. Shave with the grain using light short strokes and rinse

5. re-lather and shave across the grain and rinse

6. re-lather and shave against the grain and rinse or you might try another across the grain but opposite direction.

Shave after shower:

1. Take a shower

2. While in shower put conditioner on beard hair and let it sit till you rinse off

3. Towel off but leave the beard area wet.

4. Wet beard for 30 seconds

5. apply lather and do steps from 3-6 in above post

shave with no shower

1. Wet beard for 30 seconds

2. Apply lather let it sit for a minute

3. get hot wet towel and apply over beard let sit for minute

4. wipe off all the lather with towel

5. re-apply lather and do steps from 3-6 in above post

Make sure you are not over using your cartridges. You should get an average of 7 shaves out of each one.

And of course apply a good after shave when done

I still cut myself at least once every time I shave and I am twice your age! You will get better at it. Try not to rush. Make sure your face is nice and wet. Try and not be hyped up or recently having drunk caffeine as your hands may be slightly shaking.

maybe you just have sensitive skin, use a shaver with a guard