Thread: Got against the grain

Well, not on my neck, of course: I don't have a death-wish.

But I did manage, after two "chevron"-style diagonal passes, to get in a thorough S-N pass from the jawline up. The key, for me, was to pull the skin from above, in front of the edge (I forget who suggested that: Superfly? Xman?), and to stay with a left-hand-left-side/right-hand-right-side grip with the pads of my fingers downward and the blade edge upward.

Bonus: this would appear to reassure me that I've honed my razor shaving-sharp (my beard is very coarse and very thick).

Oddly, although this against-the-grain pass hasn't irritated my face at all, I still can't get even two passes on my neck without considerable burning and redness. It seem to get slightly better each day as I massage my technique, but it's really taking me some time.

But for today, I'll just bask in the smooth-cheeked glory of my S-N pass. Dang, and my wife is out of town and can't feel it!

Deepweeds

That's great to hear. Yeah, I use the same technique moving my stretching hand in front of the razor as I have done for years with the disposables.

On the neck: Although I don't have much in the way of whiskers on my neck I understand that most men experience a grain which actually grows upward. If this is the case for you and you are shaving North-South, then you would already be going against the grain without having gone with the grain first. Seems to me like that would be irritating. The first pass on the neck is "supposed" to be a South-North pass. Check the Shave Diagrams in the Permanent Archives of the Help Files for a more detailed look.

X

Hi X,
my neck is actually a sideways growth, growing outward from the center and slightly downward (except about 4-5 upward-growing little guys at the very bottom). Problem is, I haven't figured out how to shave with the grain: too many pointy parts in the way, like jawbone, adam's apple, and whatnot. So I'm doing a N-S pass that "scythes" outward (with grain), and then a N-S pass that "scythes" inward (against grain). I think at some point either I'll massage this technique into a good shave, or else I'll need to try a whole new plan on the neck.

Maybe I need to start a thread aimed at guys with my kind of neck growth.

For one month on the straight, though, I'll gladly take the progress I've made!

Deepweeds

In this situation, for against the grain closeness, try reaching from above, stretching up and bring in the razor towards the centre line from the outside with the tip toward the adams apple and the tang pointing out from the jaw. Works well for me.

X

I have that same kind of growth on my neck and haven't found a comfortable way to tackle it yet. I'll try that pass xman suggested, though.

The neck is pretty difficult to get baby butt smooth. I do the same thing X does and with a sharp razor and steady hand it gets pretty good.

I'm glad I'm not the only one having trouble shaving my neck. After months of practice, it's getting a bit better but I'm still not there yet. I'll try the alternate stretching method and see if that helps.

Sounds a bit weird but my neck grows in a spiral (well the whiskers on my neck do anyway ). Luckily it's the right side and pretty light which makes it easier to shave. I'm not real good with the left hand yet.
So with one stroke I can go with the grain/ against the grain and a bit inbetween.

The only way so far that I've been able to get a really smooth throat/neck is to go against the grain...left my skin a bit irritated for a while so I'm still experimenting with other methods...

My growth is heavy in that area also and my hair grows toward earlobes on each side. I finally setteled on the following: N-S pass; S-N pass; and then the hard part...a shallow "V" pass from the right earlobe done with the left hand tip of razor leading (tip pointing sort of NW up, edge down, and tang down pointing toward collarbone, sort of SE), down to just above adams apple. Then reverse using right hand from left earlobe tip of razor leading and tang pointing toward collarbone. It is a little convoluted but gets the stubborn area usually with one pass each side. If you try this practice with a taped edge or a butterknife first until you get the movement and only start with a round point. The last pass (done with a shank hold - thumb + 2 fingers) is a reverse shallow "A" (without the crosspiece in the A) done with right hand on right side starting bottom right and aiming to chin, edge up. Then reverse for left side using left hand. it's easier to do than describe. No other directions of shave in this area gave such good results. I pull the skin tight and make facial gyrations to get skin tight. The razor must be very sharp especially in the rear 1/3 of the edge.
Monte