Shaving against the grain -- it never works for me.

[doctorsimon]

I've always had a bad reaction to shaving against the grain.

I discovered years ago that it gave me a really really smooth face. BBS. However, days later my face erupts with a rash that I now know is lots of ingrowing hairs waiting to break free. Generally I don't do it.

Today, however I had such a nice lather on my brush and my razor was being so kind to my skin that I thought 'what the hell' and went for it again. I have walked directly from the bathroom to my computer to type this. Immediately I realise again that this never works for me. Surely I am not unique.

So a quick poll for you all:

Who here can shave against the grain without complications?

[Kyle Stoner]

Today I shaved against the grain and had some definite razor burn/irritation. Yesterday I shaved 1 pass with/across the grain and 1 pass against the grain on 1 1/2 days of growth and had very little irritation. I rarely get true BBS going as against the grain as I can, but yesterdays wa close enough that I had to stretch my skin a bit and drag my fingers against the grain to feel anything.

This is a common result for me, I am still working on techniques to get better. Todays shave was irritating because I shaved so close yesterday, and I shaved with the grain on my first and only pass. I can get away with this if I am careful but I was also using a Sharp on Day 2.

The Sharps, by the way, are working very well for me so far although I experience a very strange 'ripping' sensation like theres a lawnmower on my face (not painful or irritating,just very pronounced cutting sounds and sensations).

I cannot shave against the grain without complications unless I am well prepared. Usually this means I have skipped a day or I only shaved with the grain the day before, or if my skin has been in very good shape lately. I am still learning the techniques to be able to get a close shave without irritating my skin. Any tips are always appreciated. Thanks for this post/poll, I am sure it will be quite valuable!

I voted 'yes' because I can get a BBS ATG shave but it is not often and many times there are complications. wish I coulda voted 'sometimes'!

[xChris]

Right now, I shave in three passes, with the final one being against the grain. Whatever the result is -- Super BBS, BBS, scratch -- is what I stay with. If I try to clean up any further (maybe a little T&C), I will usually induce some irritation/razor burn. So, I wait to try again tomorrow for the SBBS. :wink:

[htownmmm]

Just think- a black man shaving against the grain and not having any problems. :biggrin:
There was a time when shaving at all meant road rash,ingrown hairs, and infected follicles,but no more!
Now I look forward to that last pass of ATG bliss knowing my face will be BBS upon finishing.
ATG-bring it on!:thumbup1:

Marty

[kuzmo]

Mostly when I go ATG I get irritation free perfect BBS. But that's not what I'm trying to achieve. My aims, however, will probably change as in 3 days I'm going home and be with my girlfriend :biggrin:

[GeeQue]

There is no way to get a "smooth shave" going with the grain. You can get a "visibly" clean shave that way...but when you touch the face and move your hand upward on it, it will not feel "crystal smooth" ...not BBS !

[MJB]

Most areas year, I must be extremely careful against the grain under the nose and under the right jaw line. Strangely against the grain on the right jaw and neck in up to down which is the opposite of the method shaving published patterns.

[kuzmo]

Most areas year, I must be extremely careful against the grain under the nose ...

Mustache ATG is the only part of shaving I do not enjoy :sad:

[ratcheer]

Shaving ATG does cause some minor irritation, but it is the only way I can get rid of all the stubble in some places.

Tim

[Groomer Monkey]

I had my first DE shave the other day and went against the grain - something I haven't done for a while.
Oh boy, did I pay for it :blushing:. I don't think it helped that I had a few nicks and cuts which really gave me grief.
However, I braved it again yesterday , but first got in there with some face scrub, then I finished up with a post-shave repair treatment, and so far so good.
Having said that I dare say my technique improving from day one probably helped.

[ouch]

ATG every day.

[TimmyBoston]

I shaved with an ATG pass for months, but the past couple weeks, my ingrowns have been so bad, I've just been doing a single pass to look presentable, but hopefully I'll be heading back to ATG country soon.

[BroJohn]

In the poll, I answered that I do the ATG pass, but that's not the real answer. I reduce, then go ATG everywhere except the mustache area down to the corners of the mouth. ATG simply isn't possible there. I've learned to use several Cross TG passes instead. I can go ATG in the mustache with a Gillette Tech and a new blade, but rarely do it.

The CTG will give me a BBS. The ATG in the mustache gives me BBS and ingrowns and rash/razor burn.

As with all, YMMV.

-- John Gehman

[Stauff]

I can get away with it on my cheeks, but not below the jaw line.

[Paul10]

I shave daily, after shower, in the morning.

I do 5 total passes. The 5th pass is very quick and more of a touch-up.
Pass 1 - N->S
Pass 2 - W -> E on sides of face and around mouth, NE->SW on neck
Pass 3 - W -> E again on sides of face. E->W around mouth and across neck
Pass 4 - this is the ATG pass and doing a S->N.
Pass 5 - quick lather up, fast passes again ATG to clean-up.

You can see I kinda follow different patterns..this is how I've observed my beard growing so I can get the most out of each pass.

So, ATG is fine for me. I will note that when I use my Gillette Fat Boy that my ATG is easier to handle.

Peace.

[Agent86]

ATG is not really a good idea for me. Across the grain seems to workout better.

[crackstar]

ATG is out of the question for me with a straight, and not even necessary, although, I'll do it lightly with a DE on my second pass.

Jeff

[berzerkeleyan]

I can get away with it on my cheeks, but not below the jaw line.

Same here. I can do also do it on certain parts of my neck, but generally pay the price with razor burn.

[Mottern Man]

Just think- a black man shaving against the grain and not having any problems. :biggrin:
There was a time when shaving at all meant road rash,ingrown hairs, and infected follicles,but no more!
Now I look forward to that last pass of ATG bliss knowing my face will be BBS upon finishing.
ATG-bring it on!:thumbup1:

Marty

Marty,

You have no idea on how many PFB ( Pseudofolliculitis barbae, or shave bumps) patients i see (personally I think some are just trying to get out of shaving, the Navy gives out no shave chits for bad cases), I am going to use you as my spokesperson. :biggrin:

[TraderJoe]

I go against the grain, only on the neck....on the second and final pass. :thumbup1:

[Lyrt]

I do a blade buffing against the grain everyday with either my DE or my Feather AC.

[fuerein]

I can do an ATG on my entire face, including mustache with no problem. However, going from right to left (which is ATG across my entire neck) on the neck can be tricky. I can do it, but only about 50% of the time do I end up without a bunch of irritation and cuts. Going about 45 degrees off the ATG gets me nearly the same shave without the irritation/cuts.

[battleboar]

ATG has never agreed with my face, no matter what I have tried. True, I have found it to be impossible to get a BBS shave without the ATG pass, but quite honestly, BBS everday is not a priority for me. The shave I get with a simple two pass is close enough for me, and more importantly, comfotable enough for me to enjoy it.

[zachster]

I avoid going ATG on the sides of my neck, as it causes irritation there. Everywhere else I go ATG on my final pass.

[Creslin]

I'm kinda anal about getting as BBS as I can so I go AGG. Lately it has been causing some problems in irritation, weepers, and not a BBS. This evening i changed some things up and got a great shave with no where near the irritation I've been getting. What did I do different? I went back to basics. Going slower and multiple passes. I've found that, for me, you can go AGG only after you have reduced your stubble to the greatest extent possible. For me this appears to be five passes with touch and cut. The five passes are basically Ron's four passes with an extra throuwn in to account for the weird growth pattern on my cheeks. My touch and cut ainvolved J hooks where needed. Result? I'm now ready to go out chasing two legged deer. Don't worry ladies. I'm a lousy hunter. I just really enjoy the chase.

Y'all have fun.
Seth

[Scorpio]

I do my third pass against the grain with no problem regardless of what DE I use at the time. Using a straight is a little different so I have to x pattern the right side of my neck to get it smooth and ready for a cleanup pass from a DE. The rest is not a problem with a straight. I get BBS ATG every time.

Raf

[Lynchmeister]

I go against the grain, only on the neck....on the second and final pass. :thumbup1:

Joe, I also do this. I've found that if I go ATG on my cheeks, they get itchy as the hair grows back. I recently discovered that I lack the coordination to do XTG along and below my jawline, but ATG is no problem and much more comfortable that attempting XTG with a fixed head razor. Above the jawline with and across, though, and I'm good to go.

[Kyle]

I do some mild ATG work during T/C. The slant is the only razor that ever gives me any trouble doing so.

[dszpiro]

My final pass is always ATG: I could not get a BBS otherwise.

I have always included ATG passes as part of my shave since I can remember, certainly since my teens )i.e., the 1970s). So, I have gone ATG with a Trac II, Mach III, Quattro, and Fusion. I went DE in September (never going back!) and continue to go ATG as the final pass.

Cheers,

[doctorsimon]

bump.