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Hi,
I have shaved myself with a straight about 6 times now. I really dont have any hair on the sides--only above my lip and chin. On my chin , the hair is pretty thick but far apart. My upper lip has finer hairs. I try shaving with the grain but it does not seem to work. I do get a good shave when I shave against the grain. Is my hair too thin that I should just go against the grain?
well i think everyone develops their own style - i have read some interesting shaving routines which include sometimes 3 lathers and 3 shaves.. First one with the grain, 2nd one across the grain, and 3rd one against the grain!
I've got a pretty light beard myself and can't be satisfied unless I go against the grain. Kyle says he goes against the grain on the lip which is pretty taboo since it's way too easy to cut yor nose that way. Hey Kyle, how do you do your final pass on the upper lip? I have to work a whole new technique together for my lip. Perhaps your razor could be keener and that would help on the first pass with the grain. Also go across the grain, east to west and west to east. Use the heal or toe of the blade and you should be able to angle it upward slightly and still steer clear of those nostrils. I've found this gives a pretty close result everywhere except the Charlie Chaplin patch.Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnyKwst
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Do whatever works! :)
I'd say I have a "medium" beard, and I use the with the grain/across the grain/against the grain method. Not to mention all the spot checks and touch-ups.
Well, I'm no expert... but for me success is more strongly related to the direction I stretch my skin than the direction I push the razor. To me, stretching the skin serves two purposes - standing the hair upright and flattening out the skin around the hair so the razor mainly cuts the protruding hair (I think at the microscopic level, no matter what you do you're always cutting some skin, too). Remember, a really sharp razor cuts whatever is in it's path, be it hair or skin. If the hair is standing straight up and your skin is tight you minimize skin taken, and hence the irritation (razor burn, what-ever). So, in areas where my beard stands up naturally I stretch the skin in all directions by tensing muscles, cocking my jaw, whatever. Where my beard grows with a grain I pull the skin opposite to the grain to stand the hair up straight.
Here's a pic of a hair follicle... imagine what happens as the razor passes thru the area in various directions 1)if the hair is exiting the skin at a fairly low angle, 2)what stretching the skin will do when you stand the hair upright and 3)what will be cut off in both cases.