Thread: Time for a Smooth One

Well I think I'm getting my cheeks down pretty good, my left hand feels more natural by the day. Well I do remove all the stubble on my cheeks for the most part, somewhat smooth but if I move my hand against the grain I can feel tons of stubble. What are some recommendations for against and across the grain. I tried doing what Lynn does in the video, didn't really work though. Glad I started this young so maybe in a year or so I'll have this down.

The classic barber shave is three passes, each preceded by a hot toweling and lathering. They involve with the grain, across the grain, and against the grain. This is followed by after-shave, moisturizer, and a light dusting of talc.

Though some don't, I always re-lather before a subsequent pass. Across the grain is definitely easier than jumping ahead to against the grain in an abbreviated two-pass shave. Know which way the grain is laid out. I have a swirl under my chin to the left side of my throat that's a pain to deal with. It's sort of like a cowlick like Alfalfa had in the old "Our Gang" black-and-whites, but on my face .... Ah, well .... one of life's burdens, I guess

I shave mostly every day with my str8. I don't have alot of luck with across the grain. I basically stick to with and then against the grain. This alone gets me a very close shave. For me I always seemed to nick myself with the across the grain. I don't know why! :shock:

I'm with Rich on this one. I simply do with the grain followed by against the grain. I've tried across, but I made lots of pink soap in the process.

Cross grain nicks come from spike points and blades over 3 inches long for me, but I have learned to angle the point away from my face following a couple of ouchies.... ink: Lynn

For me it's I can't seem to get the skin taunt enough for a cross grain. I invariably have a pink sink :lol:

I can't get a really close shave the way Lynn does it. I have to have the third pass plus touch up.

I really don't cut myself much. I've been a DE shaver for a long time so I have the light touch down. The problem is more irritation on the sides of my neck and under under the jaw. That happens because "against the grain" is forward there and I just can't do that with a str8, not even a Shavette. I can't get the razor in a good cutting position and I end up blocking my own view.

I can get a little of it by pulling skin up on my cheeks, but a lot of the jawline and neck doesn't get up there. I have to limit how many strokes I take there because the skin is very seneitive, so I end up finishing it (the forward pass) with a Schick Injector. That razor will cut with no pressure and it's head is so small that I can control it with pinpoint accuracy. Shaving forward under the neck is then easy and painless. I just lay the blade under my jawline and pull forward.

I have a couple of spots that need a second pass but I try and stick with one for most of the face, downward...not sure I really need a close shave more than I need nice looking skin...a straight is now offering me some of both.

Maybe it's my hair type, but If I go slowly enough with the grain it is smooth without having to go against the grain, although I need to do a second pass on the jaw line and sometimes near the sides of the mouth. I jut find the angle very awkward going against the grain on the throat.

I find that it takes three passes on my beard (heavy and coarse) to get smooth with either 7/8. I re-lather between passes, and no nicks yet even with the Kikuboshi spike. I still haven't worked up the courage to go against the grain on my neck. I just can't seem to get the right angle for that. I think I'll try some of my smaller blades for that and see if that works.