Thread: Shaving against the grain

Sheisst. Double post.

when you're talking about a scything action are you literally talking about casting an arc with the blade, leaving the heal quite stationary while the point draws out a radius? or are you simply talking about stroking in a diagonal direction?

thanks

orfeo

Originally Posted by orfeo

when you're talking about a scything action are you literally talking about casting an arc with the blade, leaving the heal quite stationary while the point draws out a radius? or are you simply talking about stroking in a diagonal direction?

thanks

orfeo

The arc motion you just mentioned is the only way I can shave my chin across or against the grain. I also have to stretch the skin there to the theoretical point of separation from the bone.

The grain on my neck grows almost perfectly side-to-side. I've been experimenting and my best results so far are to shave with the grain and then a 45 degree pass and then a 135 degree pass.

just my 0.02$, but if the grain on that part goes upwards, does that mean that the 1st pass in that area is ATG? And if so perhaps you should try going WTG on first pass (ie bottom to top)

like I say, just my .02$....

I never go against the grain. It irritates the heck our of my skin, and frankly, I just don't see the need. A good single pass with a proper scything motion get's me as close as I need to be, and the shave lasts for about 36 hours.

Originally Posted by orfeo

when you're talking about a scything action are you literally talking about casting an arc with the blade, leaving the heal quite stationary while the point draws out a radius? or are you simply talking about stroking in a diagonal direction?

thanks

orfeo

Yes, it's an arcing motion. This is important, because it causes the blade to slice through the hairs, instead of trying to chop through them. You can demonstrate the effect with a sharp knife and a piece of string. First cut the string by chopping through it (push the knife through the string without moving it laterally). Next, slice through the string. Which was easier, which give a nice smooth cut edge?

The scything motion used in shaving (if done properly) accomplishes the same effect on the hairs without slicing your face to ribbons.

It is a simple fact of physics that all blades cut better when slicing. This is why slashing swords (e.g. the Japanese Katana or a cavalry saber) have a curved blade as this enhances the slicing action.

Originally Posted by orfeo

when you're talking about a scything action are you literally talking about casting an arc with the blade, leaving the heal quite stationary while the point draws out a radius? or are you simply talking about stroking in a diagonal direction?

thanks

orfeo

My scything motion seems to be a bit different than what others are describing...but it works.

As others have described before, I think of a guillotine and the angle of the blade. The blade comes STRAIGHT DOWN WTG, but at the crazy guillotine angle which slices the hairs. There's a diagram of this somewhere...I'll see if I can find it.

Originally Posted by cwrighta70

My scything motion seems to be a bit different than what others are describing...but it works.

As others have described before, I think of a guillotine and the angle of the blade. The blade comes STRAIGHT DOWN WTG, but at the crazy guillotine angle which slices the hairs. There's a diagram of this somewhere...I'll see if I can find it.

Mike has a diagram on his website at thewellhonedrazor.com which appears to show scything motion to be what you're describing. Shaving at an angle is different than scything though - I refer to it as a windshield wiper blade motion

Also, to the gentleman who said he gets a 36 hour shave on his neck without shaving against the grain, I say, "Well done!" I don't even get half an hour out of a with-the-grain shave on my neck. My skin there is very sensitive but my hair is thicker than a stalk of corn. Maybe I need a brush

Man, I just can't do against the grain on the SECOND pass. That would kill me.

Having shaved just the previous afternoon, but only one quick WTG pass, I went ATG on the first pass yesterday morning with no problems. Beard prep was, I'm sure, key to a comfortable shave and I must confess that I do have a light beard in the first place.

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