I was just curious as to how other people shave: with or against the direction of hair growth?
I’ve read that going against can cause razor burn. I also read that if you go with for a little while it starts to get closer but I doubt it.
I searched for this question but only found general shaving threads.
So yeah, with or against?
Against. Started while my Dad was overseas, had no guidance. Works for me.
Nope - with the grain!
(See how helpful these boards are?!)
All the so-called experts I have seen on TV and read in magazines (GQ and the like) say you should shave with the grain.
If that weren’t enough, in Lethal Weapon 2, Murtaugh teaches his son to shave with the grain! So there!
Having said that, I sometimes go against the grain myself - usually on the neck.
Sideways. :eek:
Against, if I want a close shave.
With, if I need to get rid of some hair but don’t want to risk ingrown hairs or need to be extra careful with sensitive skin.
(Sideways? :eek: indeed!)
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But I have to hold the razor upside down if I want to go against the grain… it’s really awkward.
I’ve always read “Against” is the way to get the closest shave, in magazines and all that. Ingrown hairs are not pretty though. Be caaaaareful.
What, may I ask, prompted this? Just a random query? Praytell Kelvin, what it was?
Against. I’ve never had trouble with ingrown hairs. I tried going with the grain, but wasn’t satisfied with the results. For me, a Mach 3 going against the grain gives smoooth results.
For my neck I go with, against, sideways… anything to get the stubble all gone. I must have a multigrain neck.
Well Searching for the Truth I’ve always shaved with an electric razor. (always being the past couple years) This week I started trying a blade and I was curious how other people do it.
For those who go with the grain, do you get a close shave? The few times I’ve done it, after going with the grain I still have visible stubble…
Gah… that’s Searching for Truth
I wish we could edit our own posts. sigh
I guess that’ll teach me not to preview.
Speaking as a chick, I have to shave in all different directions in my pits, because the hair there grows in all different directions! I always shave my legs against the grain, and have never had a problem with ingrown hairs (on my legs). I have sensitive skin, though, so I have to wait a couple days before I shave, or else I get razor burn- which is NO fun in yer armpits! Can guys shave every day, or is it better if they wait a couple days between shaves? I guess it differs from guy to guy, eh?
Both. I first do a cursory shave with the grain, then a second one against. Anything else doesn’t quite get it all. But then, I usually go a week or so ‘tween shavings, so I’m always quite gritty when I finally whip out the ol’ Mach 3.
With the grain except under the chin. There it’s against the grain. I can’t seem to do it any other way.
Not much problem with stubble except right on the chin. I think I must miss quite a lot.
Oh, and I used to dahve every other day, which was good enough for most purposes. A year or so ago, at the tender age of 40, I finally decided the growth was heavy enough to warrant every day. I now do that–most of the time.
Evidently the cheeks and chin have picked up what the top of the head has begun refusing to grow.
Generally against, particularly on the chin. Ain’t no way I can get the hairs off on the chin except by going against the grain.
And, yes, my chin does sometimes look like a particularly inept suicide attempt. That’s why I try to do it in the morning, before going to work in the afternoon. Gives the wounds a chance to heal.
Of course, if I didn’t reuse the blades so many times, I probably wouldn’t have much of a problem.
I shave my legs underarms and…stuff…against the grain. I think it’s an angle thing. Everything else I pluck. 
Well, back when I shaved, it was against the grain. It honestly never occurred to me to do it any other way. Sure, I cut myself on a fairly regular basis, but it was smooth. Then, about five years ago, I realized something. I hate shaving. It hurts. It’s uncomfortable. Ick. So I stopped. I grew a beard, bought one of those groovy electric trimmers, and now I trim once a week or so. Much better. Aaahhhhh…
Sort of depends on the stiffness and density of the hairs I think. For me, since I leave things for a few days at a time, usually once over sloppily with the grain to “thin the brush out”, then again carefully against the grain to get the escapees and uneven stubble for that smooth-as-a-monkey’s-ass feel. Around my chin the whiskers are more dense and seem tougher, so they only need one pass with the grain. Those guys have more guts and will stand up at attention to be lopped off. Most everywhere else many of the skinny little bastards would just as soon hit the deck (hug my face) and let the blades pass over top, missing being cut at all. But the opposing pass gets them and their shorter buddies, ha!
since i usually go for it every couple days (or once a week when i’m unemployed) and it’s the combo style. with on the 1st stroke to get the bulk of material, against on the 2nd stroke to get the stubble. no other way works.
PS haven’t done the chin or mustache in years cause it hurt too much.