Originally Posted by
kwlfca
I echo Carl's thoughts on growth direction.
I personally don't do against the grain on my face. I usually do (unless I'm just doing a quick one pass shave) a pass with the grain, and then a with the grain/diagonal J-type stroke from my sideburns (just above mid-ear) to my chin, and then an across the grain from chin to ear on one side, and from ear to chin on the other (that's the direction that my hair grows).
My neck is a little different however. A downstroke on the left side will get my skin smooth, however to get that same smoothness, I need to do an upstroke on the right side. That's the only upstroke style against the grain that I do, and only because I have to. I say "upstroke style against the grain" because growth direction is a factor in what's actually against the grain.
Don't get stuck on feeling like you have to do against the grain like it's a formula...there's no universal WTG+XTG+ATG=CORRECTSHAVE.
I also echo using the razor that you have best results with until you have enough shaves under your belt to feel more comfortable with a straight. It will help you better focus on technique. Things like skin stretching, prep and stropping are all essential.