# Shaving---with, against, across the grain

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-against-across-the-grain/386324>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [January 1, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-against-across-the-grain/386324 "2007-01-01T17:59:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Leisureguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a9a28c/32.png) [@Leisureguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leisureguy)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-against-across-the-grain/386324/1 "2007-01-01T17:59:10Z")

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[**The Straight Dope post on shaving**](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mshave.html) was interesting and helpful. I got into shaving with a double-edged blade and safety razor last year. The thing I discovered was that it transformed shaving from a chore to a pleasure—and produced better shaves, as a by-product. I collected everything I’ve learned into [**one long post**](http://leisureguy.wordpress.com/2006/07/10/a-guide-to-the-gourmet-shaving-experience/). Take a look and see whether you might find this a good idea to make the morning more pleasant.

Generally speaking, the use of a safety razor involves **stubble reduction** : you make multiple—typically three—passes, rinsing your beard and relathering before each pass. The passes for an experienced shaver are with, then across, and finally against the grain: the against the grain pass occurs after the stubble has been greatly reduced. A beginner with the safety razor might make three passes: with, across, and across the other way, skipping the against the grain pass.

Read at the link for more info.

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**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\
**Post date:** [January 1, 2007, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-against-across-the-grain/386324/2 "2007-01-01T19:31:36Z")

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Wow.

I have absolutely no shaving experience other than Atras and Mach 3’s, but that looks like an amazingly thorough write up. I also have to confess that it has made me want to try a safety razor.

I’m sure some Dopers with more shave experience will chime in as well.