Thread: Against the grain trouble.

So I'm a little new with straight razor shaving. I've been using my dads old safety and then I decided I would like a straight and bought one. I picked up shaving wtg and xtg pretty easily but when I go against theres is one are where I have some trepidation, and that is against on the neck area. I know everybody's hair grows differently but I figured it would still be somewhat similar so I looked up some youtube 3 pass shave videos and it seems like when they do an across the grain and against the grain pass they are actually doing the same motions for the neck. For me when I go vertically either up or down on my neck that is across the grain and to go against the grain on my neck I would need to go from close to the ear to my chin and I am not quite comfortable doing it yet because I haven't figured out the best way to hold the handle and thats why I was looking for a video to learn but can't seem to find any.

As you said, everyone's beard is a little different so it will be tricky to find a video that models your beard exactly. Add to that the fact many people have the same difficulty as you, and that video becomes even more elusive!

My first advice would be not to even worry about going ATG at all if it is giving you trouble. It is not "necessary" and many experienced shavers only do one or two-pass shaves. So option #1 is just to relax, work on going with and across the grain until that feels totally comfortable. And *then* work on expanding your repetoire to include ATG if you so choose. Again, it is not necessary.

That having been said, everyone's different and if you want to go ATG, you're probably going to figure out a way. There may be some contortions involved depending on the exact direction that you want to go, whether you're a one or a two-handed shaver (i.e. always use your dominant hand, or use the other one as well), etc. You may also want to explore some of the different cutting strokes that you can use. For example, the not at all intimidating-sounding (!) guillotine and scythe strokes. (see here: Shaving passes - Straight Razor Place Wiki ). They can let you approach your beard from different angles without having to alter your grip as much as you might otherwise.

So really, I would advise just not to worry about it for now. I had probably been shaving with a straight for a good six months before I even attempted going ATG, and another few months before I was doing it regularly and comfortably. There's no need to rush.

Good luck!

Yeah don't ever rush anything with a straight in your hand. That smooth you get going ATG is great on the face wear a shemale might rub her face against yours or a hand to feel the smooth. I pull skin here and there to get the pass I want but then I got skin like a Cocker Spaniel too. You'll find a way and maybe get some cuts finding it . Just be careful.

Originally Posted by Cangooner

My first advice would be not to even worry about going ATG at all if it is giving you trouble. It is not "necessary" and many experienced shavers only do one or two-pass shaves. So option #1 is just to relax, work on going with and across the grain until that feels totally comfortable. And *then* work on expanding your repetoire to include ATG if you so choose. Again, it is not necessary.

I'm new to this also, but think this is good advice.

For me, trying to go for three whole passes caused all sorts of problems. Blood loss, of course, but mainly making the shave a lot harder and less enjoyable. I don't even know what a comfortable position is for some of my WTG yet or how to get the right angle on the way my hair naturally lies never mind about XTG or ATG!

WTG is like crawling, XTG like walking and ATG like running. I'm still crawling, so it's with at the moment and maybe a little XTG, and I am amazed at how much I'm improving at just that and getting closer and closer shaves. Miles better than the disposable already.

Good luck!

Welcome to SRP. Have you checked out the beginner's guide in the SRP library here ? Note that forum founder, Lynn Abrams, has an article in there on "The first straight razor shaves." Most of us start out biting off more than we can chew, so don't feel like the Lone Ranger.

I was reading in a shaving manual written in 1906, that going WTG twice is better for some folks than WTG/ATG. I've tried this a few times and it ain't half bad. Of course most of use are mixed grain rather than true one direction or the other. That is why starting slow, using the straight for the easier areas and a DE, or whatever, for the more difficult stuff, is probably the least painful way to go if you're a beginner.

Cosperryan-
I'm also pretty new to this and just recently got somewhat effective in ATG. Like everyone else was saying I didn't even go there immediately.
My hair in the jawline also grows chin to ear, and even for portions of the neck.
The most effective way I have found so far is this (when you feel comfortable enough to try):
I hold the razor exactly as I would (classic hold I guess) starting at the cheek. Then pull all the skin you can up to the cheek area (pull your neck to your cheek). Then I do an arc motion from ear to chin. This seems to work better than just going straight from ear to chin. I know others have discussed this motion before.
What also helped me probably equally as much was getting my lather right to glide that much better.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Yeah don't ever rush anything with a straight in your hand. That smooth you get going ATG is great on the face wear a shemale might rub her face against yours or a hand to feel the smooth. I pull skin here and there to get the pass I want but then I got skin like a Cocker Spaniel too. You'll find a way and maybe get some cuts finding it . Just be careful.

You scare me.

I'm with Jimmy on this one- get comfortable doing the wtg and xtg and use the DE to finish up- even though I have been doing this for 7 months already I still feel more comfortable going for bbs with my DE- and that's ok by me BC I get the best of both worlds! I'll probably stick with this system for good. Don't rush it though- it will come. No sense in drawing blood if you don't have to!
Good luck,
Tony

+1 to not rushing. That said, your blade needs to be in top condition for comfortable ATG passes. Otherwise the hairs may, instead of being sliced, just guide the blade down into your skin, where we all know it doesn't belong.

For the same reason, it's good to keep the blade nearly flat to your face during an ATG pass. That is, both the edge and the spine should be touching skin.

Many folks report that they like to thin their lather a little for the ATGs. And never, for any stroke, apply more pressure than it takes to remove the lather. If your blade's as sharp as it should be, the whiskers will follow when you aim for the lather. If you actually aim for the whiskers you'll court razor burn, weepers, and the chance for measurable blood loss.

Best wishes and happy shaving.

Thanks to everyone who replied. I had previously read the articles on first shaves and shaving techniques like the scything and guillotine motions and to have the blade at 5 degrees at most for going against the grain. I think I have figured a technique out for it.