all guys know they’re supposed to shave downwards, but i don’t think i’ve heard of one guy doing the entire process this way; how many actually do?
I do. Generally because it’s quicker (at least for me) and does a good enough job. If I’m going out for the night or on an interview or something then I shave downward to remove the majority of the fuzz and then against upwards to smooth it all down to nothing.
“I guess one person can make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.”
I do what Jophiel does. Does that make me his evil twin?
Why WOULDN’T you shave downwards?
Neck - up
Cheeks - down, then up
Above mouth - down
Chin - down
Jawline - east and west
I almost thought you ment something else. (oops)
Rather than ‘downwards’, I shave ‘with the grain’ which I think means the same thing as what you mean when you say downwards. My beard has a weird flow pattern, so for a portion of my face I have to shave up to be going with the grain.
However, for special occasions where I’d like less five o’clock shadow, I’ll shave against the grain. It isn’t too great for your skin, but if you have a fresh blade on a good quality razor you’ll get a much closer shave.
If I only shave with the grain (downwards) I might as well not have shaved at all–my five o’clock shadow looks like a full days growth. Against the grain is a must for me–smooth as a baby’s butt!
You face a certain direction when you shave your jawine? Whatever suits you! 
A rule to follow…
When dating a MUCH younger woman, shave in all directions, up, down, and sideways. Closer to peachfuzz the better.
Of course, when dating a MUCH older woman, don’t shave for 3 days.
“Everybody smokes in hell”
My facial hair grows in no particular pattern (willy nilly!) so I shave with the grain once and then against the grain second, the actual direction changes based on what part is being shaved…
Sweet Basil
Didn’t get voted for a damn thing!
(thanks guys…)
I have wiry whiskers and sensitive skin. I learned, early on, to go over a given area of whiskers twice: first downward, then upward. Only then can I be sure that I’ll get a clean shave.
I always shave down (with the grain).
In reply to TheUnforgiven,
nirror’s on the south wall… we do what we have to do.
Only against the grain here… Gimme speed along with a close shave. Bring on the pain baby!
Very curly hair. I have to shave in all directions. Shaving sucks.
Peace,
mangeorge
I only know two things;
I know what I need to know
And
I know what I want to know
Mangeorge, 2000
I shave only when a woman is watching. For some reason, it turns them on. 
Peace,
mangeorge
While we’re on the subject of shaving, how many shaves do you think a blade is good for? I’m a cheap prick and I get a good 30+ shaves out of a blade, track 2 or 3. The older blades can gouge or hack your face more easily but still give a good shave.
Over the years some (probably all of them regularly)of the mainstream men’s mags - GQ, Esquire, Playboy… I can’t remember, have done elaborate articles on shaving. One of them said three shaves to the blade, and one, I think it was Playboy, said one shave to the blade. This has got to be horseshit. Those inkstained wretches, those hacks, probably get cases of razor blades delivered to their magazine offices by grateful razor blade companies every time they bullshit their loyal readers in such a manner. The triple blades I use cost over a buck apiece and I ain’t going to budget $30 a month for blades.
My father used double edged safety blades and resharpened them in a little leather box with a winding crank on the side that stropped the blades with a short leather loop. Before the mid-twentieth century most men still used the old straight razors they sharpened themselves and kept forever. Were these as sharp as a modern high tech razor blade?
I figure the new blades today probably stay sharp enough for a lot longer than people think.
I’ve used the same blade for up to a week and a half, but I have to keep applying more and more pressure. Then switching to a nice, new, sharp blade and using the same amount of pressure to which I’ve become accustomed–YOW!
DHR
Al, I have a fairly coarse beard and I get a couple of months per blade (Track 2). Of course, I’m a pretty cheap guy, too.
i’m using a mach 3 right now, and they are really nice. Anyways, i shave in the EXACT some pattern as beatle posted above.
(i haven;t quite mastered the quote technique yet!)