Sly Bald Guys Forum
Head Shaving, Grooming & Care => Head Shaving => Topic started by: Morthen on May 09, 2010, 11:09:39 PM
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Hey i'm probably going to be shaving pretty soon, I just wanted some advice about going against the grain.
The first time I shaved i went against the grain on the top and with the grain on the back and sides The top come out great and smoothe with no bumps or anything, the back i like hacked it apart though trying to get it smoothe, so should I go against the grain on the back? I heard you can get ingrown hairs by doing that
So i was wondering when i shave should i go with the grain all around then shave again against the grain? would that lower the risk of ingrown hairs?
Thanks in advance for the advice
Edit: pretty set on doing it this thursday at the earliest.
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I normally shave WTG and then ATG. Personally, I get ingrowns a lot when going ATG in the back- so skipped that part. A lot of the problems associated there has to do with using too much pressure on the razor. Give it a shot for a couple of days and see- just remember to use a light touch.
Everybody's hair is different. You may have no problems or you may look like a lot of the pictures here when you're done. It's all trial and error.
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First with, then against.......... the entire head. That will give the smoothest shave.......
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Hey i'm probably going to be shaving pretty soon, I just wanted some advice about going against the grain.
The first time I shaved i went against the grain on the top and with the grain on the back and sides The top come out great and smoothe with no bumps or anything, the back i like hacked it apart though trying to get it smoothe, so should I go against the grain on the back? I heard you can get ingrown hairs by doing that
So i was wondering when i shave should i go with the grain all around then shave again against the grain? would that lower the risk of ingrown hairs?
Thanks in advance for the advice
Edit: pretty set on doing it this thursday at the earliest.
P@^
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so the consensus is shave with the grain first, rinse, then shave again against the grain. Do this for a while and see whether or not it has any adverse effects?
sounds good thanks fellas. I'll get a pic up of my shaved head when i do it
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I shave WTG and then ATG. Like others I don't put a lot of pressure when I do ATG. I've had a couple of instances of ingrown hairs -- every time it was because I was trying to stretch the blade life beyond what I should. WTG only isn't smooth enough for me.
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I think your going to have to just find your groove. I just go front to back and then back to front. So technically, I go against the grain in the front and with the grain in the back on my first pass. And then I go against the grain in the back and with the grain in the front on the second pass. :o Ok even I'm confused after that one. :D
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Practice makes perfect...like most I always go with the grain first then finish off with going against the grain...
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I'm the same as the others, WTG then ATG, then ATG when finding the odd little patches i missed.
If you go ATG to start you'll end up with...alot of cuts, well i do anyway ;D
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I go exclusively against the grain.
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I mix it up. Mostly against the grain: I go all directions in turn, to get it really smooth. 8)
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I do nothing but shave against the grain and haven't had more than 1 occasion where I have broken out or had in-grown hairs. I have one shaved with the grain once and that was the first time I shaved. Everyone is different though and I do hear that if you shave with the grain first you get a longer smooth feeling
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I go against the grain all the time now, but couldn't do it when I first started. Your technique improves with time and blades (and shaving products) have gotten better.
The only time I ever got ingrowns was with a Norelco Rotary electric razor.....still have a could of scars on the back of my head from those and that was 9 years ago. D#tG3t
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If your new at shaving I suggest go wtg only see how that works out. After a few shaves if every thing works out then and only then try atg. Doing to much at first causes the problems many new shavers have. IMHO.
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i did all with the grain for my 1st shave it was okay. I did against the grain today for my 2nd shave and i like it MUUUCH more, sooo smoothe and it feels great.
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WTG then ATG FTW IMO
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I go against the grain only. Never had a problem.
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It depends on your scalp, some guys get razor burn or bumps going against the grain. I don't have that issue so I go against the grain to get as close as I can. O:O
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i normally go against the grain... i dont have any problems with it either... but ive enver thought of trying WTG then ATG.. i need to shave so maybe ill try that after i finish this post... i always get a smooth shave but i keep trying to get that hairless look. i have dark hair and even after i shave you can still see hair underneath the skin, any way around that? im hoping i start to grey soon so my hair wont be as obvious when i shave (how many 28yo's do you hear that wish to go grey)
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Shaving against the grain always results in a far better shave than when I shave with the grain.
I don't understand the logic behind shaving with the grain first then following it up with an against the grain shave. The best shaves I ever get are the times I skip a day or two then shave it off with only against-the-grain swipes. It hurts more, but the shave is great. To me this implies that having a little length is beneficial for an against-the-grain shave and by preceeding a shave with a with-the-grain shave it seems like you'll eliminate that.
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I go front to back then back to front .. after that i get the weird spots from the side and basically meet in the middle.
My head has to be totally cue-ball smooth when im done or it drives me nuts.
The toughest spot to get smooth for me is high on the back were a cowlick would be if i let it grow out.
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I've always shaved against the grain, but it depends on your head and hair, really. Everyone is different, and there's no right answer.
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We are all unique and so is our skin and hair type.
As for me, Against the grain.
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I always go against, never had any problems
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I was fearful of going ATG, for fear of a head that would look like a slice of pizza! Finally tried it the other day and followed it up with some Clear Head. Have had NO problems and feel it's the only way to go...if your scalp can handle it.
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Always begin WTG and then ATG, but I also shave sideways because going WTG and ATG is not enough for me. I have to shave sideway from right to left and from left to right to make sure I get the best possible smooth shave. For me it’s the only way to get rid of all the stubble.
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I only go ATG around the ears. Otherwise, WTG then ACROSS the grain. No irritation that way and it's just as smooth as ATG.
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So far im preferring to first go over WTG and then follow up ATG. Then its time to root out all those tricky areas....
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I use Shavers Secret shaving oil (available at Walmart for a couple of bucks), and shave exclusively against the grain. Its a lot faster, and gives me a smoother and longer lasting shave. Have never cut myself or had any ingrown hairs, and I've been doing it for 2 years now.
Everyone is different, and you'll just have to find what works best for you. The secret is to keep your scalp stretched, and as slippery as possible.
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I shave front to back and than back to front and side to side. Hair around my neck always wants to put up a good fight against the razor, i dont know if there a different type of hair yet, but still trying to master cutting em down.
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I have always gone ATG. Never had a problem. Feels great.
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I have tried the WTG then ATG technique, but don't really see the benefit of that over just going ATG in the first place, unless you have a few days stubble and need to cut it down a bit first before going ATG.
In any case, however, I can only do that on top of my head. I can't do the back ATG, it's too coarse, dense, bumpy (I have a "shapely" skull ;)) and I have those ever-present HT scars to dance around.
I did try it once, it didn't really get me any closer than using my new Conair Cleanhead, and irritated my skin.
So now my routine is, currently: I use the CC on the back of my noggin, ATG, yeah, but it's an electric. I get a buttery smooth shave. I still use a blade for the top and front/sides, ATG. Seems to work pretty well for me.
I just shaved, and right now, all I feel is skin, any direction I move my fingertips across my scalp.
I'm liking that Conair.
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I pay no attention to the grain, but I suppose, thinking on the matter, that I go more ATG than WTG, but certainly both get some head time. What counts is, "Is the dome smooth to the touch after?"
That is, when I'm actually shaving. For the past few weeks I'm letting it grow out and giving sly a rest for a while. Really, one way or the other...I'm indifferent, actually.
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I shave front to back and than back to front and side to side. Hair around my neck always wants to put up a good fight against the razor, i dont know if there a different type of hair yet, but still trying to master cutting em down.
Me Too. I almost shave exclusively ATG
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I have tried the WTG then ATG technique, but don't really see the benefit of that over just going ATG in the first place, unless you have a few days stubble and need to cut it down a bit first before going ATG.
Yeah, since I shave every 2-4 days and have a decent amount of growth by the time I shave I go WTG then ATG. Going only ATG after that long promotes more drag IMO and more of a chance to cut myself.
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I alternate depending on the day. I shave every morning with a dual-blade Headblade. One day I'll go front to back (against on the top, with down the back) and the next day will do back to front (against the back, with the top). The sides are kind of cross-ways each day. My hair is thin and shaving every day means there's never much length, so against isn't too rough at all; haven't had an ingrown hair yet.
This is convenient because I don't have the patience to do two passes every day. But if I need it to be super smooth, I'll go against all over (usually that's the second shave of the day before going out).
It also isn't perfect. In the evening, my 6 year old daughter can rub my head and tell me which direction I shaved that morning :@`
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I have tried the WTG then ATG technique, but don't really see the benefit of that over just going ATG in the first place, unless you have a few days stubble and need to cut it down a bit first before going ATG.
In any case, however, I can only do that on top of my head. I can't do the back ATG, it's too coarse, dense, bumpy (I have a "shapely" skull ;)) and I have those ever-present HT scars to dance around.
I did try it once, it didn't really get me any closer than using my new Conair Cleanhead, and irritated my skin.
So now my routine is, currently: I use the CC on the back of my noggin, ATG, yeah, but it's an electric. I get a buttery smooth shave. I still use a blade for the top and front/sides, ATG. Seems to work pretty well for me.
I just shaved, and right now, all I feel is skin, any direction I move my fingertips across my scalp.
I'm liking that Conair.
Just curious as to why you dont use the CC all over your head? If it gives a buttery smooth shave on the back, doesnt it do as well on the rest of the head?
I'm debating on buying one, so I'd like to know the advantages/disadvantages before I spend the money.
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I have tried the WTG then ATG technique, but don't really see the benefit of that over just going ATG in the first place, unless you have a few days stubble and need to cut it down a bit first before going ATG.
In any case, however, I can only do that on top of my head. I can't do the back ATG, it's too coarse, dense, bumpy (I have a "shapely" skull ;)) and I have those ever-present HT scars to dance around.
I did try it once, it didn't really get me any closer than using my new Conair Cleanhead, and irritated my skin.
So now my routine is, currently: I use the CC on the back of my noggin, ATG, yeah, but it's an electric. I get a buttery smooth shave. I still use a blade for the top and front/sides, ATG. Seems to work pretty well for me.
I just shaved, and right now, all I feel is skin, any direction I move my fingertips across my scalp.
I'm liking that Conair.
Just curious as to why you dont use the CC all over your head? If it gives a buttery smooth shave on the back, doesnt it do as well on the rest of the head?
I'm debating on buying one, so I'd like to know the advantages/disadvantages before I spend the money.
I could, I just don't want to totally give up blade shaving. Besides, blade shaving seems to last longer. I would blade shave my whole head if it weren't for the HT scars in th back. That makes for an uneven surface which means, potential for nicks and cuts and worse. So for the back, the CC works very, very well. I usually have to touch it up later in the day though. But after the morning shave, it does feel buttery smooth. So does a blade, however, and I can use that on the top.
Best o' both worlds, I guess..
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my relatively new felling about ATG or WTG. I never seem to get a good shave WTG so it is ATG all the time unless i have 5 or more days of growth. then i HB WTG then 5 blade ATG.
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I go all over the place with my Gillette Quattro. With the grain, against the grain, over the meadow and through the woods. No nicks, no runs , no errors. But, since I possess a reverse Mohawk, I only have half a head to worry about.
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I go with the grain first, top sides and back. Then I go against the grain. The first sweep clears away a lot of the resistance for the reverse trip.
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Just an update on my use of the Conair: While it does get pretty darn close, and the skin feels smooth to the touch even when rubbing it ATG with my fingers, I have found that if I run a blade ATG, there is definitely still some stubble there for it to "catch" onto.
So I've been slowly starting to use a blade on the back again, ATG, after using the CC.
For me, this seems to work well; my grape is a crazy landscape of HT scars and natural ridges/valleys, so I have to be careful, esp when going ATG in the back. The CC helps me get a tiny bit closer than going WTG using a blade, which lessens resistance for the coup de grâce. But going ATG with a blade is the ultimate.