Electric or.....

I started off with the blade and cream. Got my face and neck so cut up and irritated that I had the parents buy me a nice electric for Christmas one year. The hair on my neck was so hard to get off with an electric that even that left my skin horribly irritated. So now it's a blade and shaving gel in the shower. The heat and steam from the water opens those pores up and it's a much closer shave. Plus your skin and hair is softer so it doesn't hurt as much.
Started going bald at 17 (thanks Wisconsin family genes) so now I shave my head with a razor and cream normally once a week. With my head though, I only shave with the grain. I tried shaving against the grain and it was irritated for weeks.
Now I have a good system down. But the secret is the shower. I've got to shave in the shower. I try to bring a small mirror with me on vacation or business trips just so I can keep the routine up. Can't shave my head outside the shower.