# For people who shave their legs/faces **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946 "2010-08-11T16:29:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/41 "2010-08-12T13:28:24Z")
One pass with the grain, then against. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/42 "2010-08-12T13:56:08Z")
Every which way. Up and down and back and forth. I feel it gives me a closer shave. I’ve never had an ingrown hair. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/43 "2010-08-12T14:24:41Z")
I have fine blond-reddish facial hair, so I can get away with shaving a couple times a week with the grain. I had a close against the grain shave at a barber and it was irritating as hell. ---
**Author:** ![gurujulp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba9def/32.png) [@gurujulp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gurujulp)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/44 "2010-08-12T17:06:23Z")
I do once each way, first down, then up. (face) If I have an old/duller razor, the up can cause razorburn. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/45 "2010-08-12T17:09:05Z")
Electric shave, both ways. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/46 "2010-08-12T17:10:53Z")
I’m a guy with an injector razor. I shave my face and neck down (from the cheekbone). I have tried shaving my neck up from the shoulders. It wasn’t worth the effort. I couldn’t feel a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/47 "2010-08-12T18:36:55Z")
> [@gurujulp](#): > > I do once each way, first down, then up. This is my out-of-context quote of the day. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/48 "2010-08-12T19:08:06Z")
I generally shave down on the cheeks, up on the neck - that is, towards the “edge” of the face. I believe this stems from a feeling of sorta not knowing how far to start, and making sure I start high/low enough. I suppose I sometimes go back over in the other direction, but I can’t recall because I shave extremely irregularly - I get my beard trimmed by a barber once every two months and only shave otherwise for special occasions. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/49 "2010-08-12T20:00:23Z")
I use a depilatory. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/50 "2010-08-12T20:53:18Z")
I shave my neck below my beard, and cheeks up above the sideburns / chops / whatever-you-callem Against, then with, then 90° angles, then 45° angles, then against again. Check with fingers to see if it’s making any progress. Repeat. ---
**Author:** ![Rala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@Rala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rala)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/51 "2010-08-14T11:07:16Z")
I was told (by my mum and teen magazines) to shave against the grain, so that’s what I always did. After seeing this thread, I tried doing it once each way. My legs are so smooth now! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/52 "2010-08-14T12:13:27Z")
Shave once with the grain and repeat against. The important thing is to shave after you shower to maximize the time your beard has to soak and break down the keratin and soften it before shaving. ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/53 "2010-08-15T04:21:41Z")
I usually go both ways. First, I’ll start against the grain. Mainly because I’ve found it to be a closer shave and the skin doesn’t appear as dark. If I shave the entire way with the grain, it looks like I’ve got a 5:00 shadow at 9 AM. But I also have to give a few sideways strokes if I want to get a close shave. And then a few strokes in whatever direction is needed to make my face baby-butt smooth. Add me to the list of those who prefer to use an electric razor. Just faster and less fuss. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/54 "2010-08-15T06:05:36Z")
I use an electric. It requires shaving in a circular motion. Even thought the blades have longer contact with my skin, there is no burn. Otherwise, I shave against the grain. Sure, it’s worse for the skin, but I likely will only have to make one pass (on most places). If I shave with the grain, I would be starting the day with more than a five-o’clock shadow. ETA: I didn’t even read UBW’s response above mine. Seems we have similar reasons for shaving against the grain. EATA: I got my electric mostly because razors get expensive–as I have to have the Gilette Mach-3 or I will never get done. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/55 "2010-08-15T06:17:20Z")
Male here, discussing face shaving. I’ve read the advice about shaving with the grain to avoid irritation, but I have never been able to achieve a smooth face unless I shave against it. This is with the full spectrum of cheap hand-held disposable razors - your drugstore house-brand single blade throwaway up through the Mach-4 razor. Never tried an electric razor, though my brother claims to love his. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/56 "2010-08-16T07:54:06Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Trying to shave my legs knees-down sounds like way more work than it’s worth. Amen! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946/57 "2010-08-16T08:55:20Z")
I do a once over with the grain on my face and neck. Then again, I always leave stubble (intentionally) so perhaps I’m not the best to ask about close shaves. I wasn’t ever taught how to shave. I just picked up a razor and did it the way it seemed most natural; and that was with the grain. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/for-people-who-shave-their-legs-faces/549946.md?page=2)