Thread: tip for shaving against the grain

Until now, my throat always had a smooth first pass with the grain, and a scratching pass against the grain. I often had skin irritation during shaving, but no razor burn.

Just 15 minutes ago, I was starting the first pass against the grain on my throat and discovered that there is absolutely no resistance at all if I lay the razor completely flat against my skin.

The upward pass was so smooth that I actually stopped to check if the stubble was really gone
And it was. the hairs had just disappeared without any resistance at all.

Maybe this is old news to some, but I just wanted to share in case someone didn't know.
This was one of my top shaves ever and I know that the against the grain shave is often difficult for newbies.

gonna have to try that


Says he who cut too close this evening and has the irritation to prove it.

Sorta seems taboo, but I've done it and it worked for me just as described. I think part of it has to do with the whisker being longer, which makes it easier to get underneath it and cut it. After a with the grain pass, most of the forest is cut down but it makes it harder to get at some whiskers. If you have barbed wire for a beard or are a fast grower this might not work as well for you. I'm a fairly light-bearded guy.

That's how I do my against-the-grain pass on my lower neck. I don't think it's particularly unusual or taboo, though Joe Lerch and I once had a lively debate as to whether this would actually deliver a close shave, he said it wouldn't and my neck said it would.

Mine grows mostly sideways on the neck so I can't go ATG with a straight there but I'll give this a try.

Oh, Joy! I'm glad it isn't just me! I seem to have more trouble on the neck w/ a straight shaving with the grain the first pass than against it. Exactly the same technique too. Holding blade very flat to the neck and shaving against the grain w/ short strokes. A DE is another story though. Odd how differently they operate. An SE Gem Micromatic I have works the same as the DE; with the grain is OK, even recommended before going against it. My beard is average thickness, but pretty coarse as it was auburn red before it turned grey. Seems to actually be softer now that it's turned color. I've heard other people say just the opposite about that.

I find it works pretty good. However, sometimes I've noticed a vacuum type sucktion within my full hollows that will slow or hault a stroke. Likewise, gotta keep things wet for best results.

I'll jump in with another vote for keeping the razor at a very low angle for against the grain passes (as I recall this was discussed at length about 6 months ago). I don't/can't skip the first with the grain pass no matter how flat I keep my razor. However, once sufficiently reduced, a flat angle greatly improves the comfort of my finishing pass against (or across) the grain.

Just another data point,
Ed