Sly Bald Guys Forum

Head Shaving, Grooming & Care => Head Shaving => Topic started by: shakf on September 27, 2007, 08:00:43 AM

Title: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: shakf on September 27, 2007, 08:00:43 AM
Hey guys just wondering who shaves with the grain and who shaves against. For the first time I shaved against the grain this morning and it feels so smooth its unbelievable.
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: Robmeister on September 27, 2007, 08:15:17 AM
You got it, bro.

Definitely one of the ABC's of shaving.  Against the grain = closest shave.
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: PigPen on September 27, 2007, 08:42:46 AM
Against
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: warhawk on September 27, 2007, 09:09:08 AM
against.....of course. O0

WARHAWK O0
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: KALBO on September 27, 2007, 09:50:49 AM
against.....of course. O0

WARHAWK O0
Ditto. O0
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: WannaBePadre on September 27, 2007, 10:12:26 AM
Against.
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: tomgallagher on September 27, 2007, 11:19:07 AM
Against the grain.
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: n00tch on September 27, 2007, 12:13:54 PM
I too find that against the grain is smooth as a baby's butt. However,  when I go against the grain I get massive amounts of ingrown hair. Until I get this whole head shaving thing down, I have to go with the grain. :(

Anyone know a major retailer that sells witch hazel based aftershave? I keep reading so many good things about it, but I've never found any store in my area that has it.
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: Paul on September 27, 2007, 12:31:39 PM
Only way to go baby.....against the grain.
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: JohnMont on September 27, 2007, 01:04:22 PM
I too find that against the grain is smooth as a baby's butt. However,  when I go against the grain I get massive amounts of ingrown hair. Until I get this whole head shaving thing down, I have to go with the grain. :(

Anyone know a major retailer that sells witch hazel based aftershave? I keep reading so many good things about it, but I've never found any store in my area that has it.

Try "WithchAloe"  by  the company Jason .  It combines of course, witchhazle and aloe vera.   It is sold in healthfood stores.

John
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: JohnMont on September 27, 2007, 01:07:58 PM
Hey guys just wondering who shaves with the grain and who shaves against. For the first time I shaved against the grain this morning and it feels so smooth its unbelievable.

Absolutely; against the grain gives the smoothest results .   You just have to do it once; no re-lathering and re-shaving (as  I think you mentioned in another post) . 

If you use a good razor (Fusion is the only one for me),  and have a good routine including moisturizers like aloe vera ; you will have good results .   In my VAST  ( ?!?!?!? --- 2 months ??? )   experience; shaving against the grain has given me no bumps or ingrown hair.  Just stick to a good routine.

John
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: charleton on September 27, 2007, 01:21:23 PM

Both. With the grain first to reduce the stubble so the against the grain pass doesn't hurt.  O0

Gene.
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: hipstersaint on September 27, 2007, 01:24:47 PM
against! got to be as smooth as possible!
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: YOSP on September 27, 2007, 01:39:17 PM
I too find that against the grain is smooth as a baby's butt. However,  when I go against the grain I get massive amounts of ingrown hair. Until I get this whole head shaving thing down, I have to go with the grain. :(

Anyone know a major retailer that sells witch hazel based aftershave? I keep reading so many good things about it, but I've never found any store in my area that has it.

N00TCH...I am the same as you, for about 2 months I had to shave with, but now its against, that and the ice cube keeps me slick for a long time. I use TendSkin to help me and it has reduced irritation for me a great deal.
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: Alexander215 on September 27, 2007, 01:42:43 PM
Against the grain. I've started shaving my face with my headblade too but I shave my mug at a diagonal not against and not with either.
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: zetaeffe on September 27, 2007, 02:58:05 PM
Hey guys just wondering who shaves with the grain and who shaves against. For the first time I shaved against the grain this morning and it feels so smooth its unbelievable.

Against the grain is the only way, you don't get it smooth otherwise.
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: xnewyawka on September 27, 2007, 05:52:50 PM
I go with on top and back, and then I go with and then against on the sides.
I get close enough on top and back, and I don't want to worry about ingrown hairs.
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: skinhead002 on September 27, 2007, 07:47:43 PM
Against the grain.  I take my free hand and stretch my scalp tight and go against the grain with my Schick FX extreme.  My head is as slick as a greased bowling ball!
Regars
Skinhead
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: SLYinKC on September 27, 2007, 07:58:03 PM
For me it's against the grain all the way.  Going with the grain is just like not shaving.  Doesn't get it close enough.  There are those spots, like on the crown of my head, where you gotta go in all different directions just to try to get it smooth. O0
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: Tyler on September 27, 2007, 08:10:19 PM

Both. With the grain first to reduce the stubble so the against the grain pass doesn't hurt.  O0

Gene.


Same here!
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: JDog on September 28, 2007, 06:04:20 AM
There are those spots, like on the crown of my head, where you gotta go in all different directions just to try to get it smooth. O0

The hated crown region :Xo! This single area takes more time to shave then the rest of my entire head due to the weird angles you need to do to get it smooth.

I am always AGAINST the grain. The smoothest shave can only be had by doing it this way. O0
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: BALDANDRE on September 28, 2007, 10:51:26 AM
For me with the grain is so sub par..

against gets it super smooth and super bald...

and that's the point , right?
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: Razor X on September 28, 2007, 08:52:22 PM
There are those spots, like on the crown of my head, where you gotta go in all different directions just to try to get it smooth. O0

The hated crown region :Xo! This single area takes more time to shave then the rest of my entire head due to the weird angles you need to do to get it smooth.

I am always AGAINST the grain. The smoothest shave can only be had by doing it this way. O0


Another problem area for me -- how do I describe this?  The top of your head is a clock, with 12 o'clock being the back.   10 o'clock and 2 o'clock are really hard for me to get smooth for some reason.  Is that  the case with anyone else?
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: Cam on September 28, 2007, 09:50:57 PM
Against all the way. When I shave with the grain, I feel as if I haven't shaved at all.  O0
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: Scott on September 28, 2007, 11:57:31 PM
There are those spots, like on the crown of my head, where you gotta go in all different directions just to try to get it smooth. O0

The hated crown region :Xo! This single area takes more time to shave then the rest of my entire head due to the weird angles you need to do to get it smooth.

I am always AGAINST the grain. The smoothest shave can only be had by doing it this way. O0


Another problem area for me -- how do I describe this?  The top of your head is a clock, with 12 o'clock being the back.   10 o'clock and 2 o'clock are really hard for me to get smooth for some reason.  Is that  the case with anyone else?


Yep, same for me too Razor X!  I tend to shave those areas with, against, side-to-side, whatever it takes!
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: Paul on September 29, 2007, 06:22:26 AM
There are those spots, like on the crown of my head, where you gotta go in all different directions just to try to get it smooth. O0

The hated crown region :Xo! This single area takes more time to shave then the rest of my entire head due to the weird angles you need to do to get it smooth.

I am always AGAINST the grain. The smoothest shave can only be had by doing it this way. O0


Another problem area for me -- how do I describe this?  The top of your head is a clock, with 12 o'clock being the back.   10 o'clock and 2 o'clock are really hard for me to get smooth for some reason.  Is that  the case with anyone else?


Yep, same for me too Razor X!  I tend to shave those areas with, against, side-to-side, whatever it takes!

Same here Razor.  Found I have to go front to back at an angle and then back to front at an angle to get those two areas properly smooth. 
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: shakf on September 29, 2007, 02:03:47 PM
I spent about 40mins this morning going against the grain just to get the smooth feel. I got about 98% correct but one or two spots I couldn't get right. It will come with practice I suppose.
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: Tyler on September 30, 2007, 02:45:22 AM
I'll quote a song by Garth Brooks to answer this one...

Quote
Well, I have been accused
Of makin' my own rules
There must be rebel blood
Just a-runnin' through my veins
But I ain't no hypocrite
What you see is what you get
And that's the only way I know
To play the game
Old Noah took much ridicule
For building his great ark
But after forty days and forty nights
He was lookin' pretty smart
Sometimes it's best to brave the wind and rain
By havin' strength to go against the grain
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: ShavinMaven on October 05, 2007, 06:18:45 AM
Always WITH the grain.  Take a look at the shaving demonstrations on Bump Patrol's site.  There's one specifically on shaving your head and it's really helpful:  www.bumppatrol.com
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: shakf on October 05, 2007, 09:25:03 AM
I think it's up to the individual. Each expert has his own opinion.
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: joergHH on October 05, 2007, 12:31:10 PM
For me it's against the grain all the way.  Going with the grain is just like not shaving.  Doesn't get it close enough.  There are those spots, like on the crown of my head, where you gotta go in all different directions just to try to get it smooth. O0

That's my way!

J
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: TheSlyBear on October 05, 2007, 07:21:28 PM
With on the first pass, against on the second.
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: baldntat05 on October 07, 2007, 08:36:56 PM
Absolutely against the grain.
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: Balditicus Maximus on October 08, 2007, 05:35:54 AM
With on the first pass, against on the second.

Ditto
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: n00tch on October 08, 2007, 10:06:41 AM
I'm having a lot of success going with then grain and then going not against the grain, but on the side of it. Feels just as smooth as going against on the second pass but without the razor bumps I normally get.
Title: Re: With the grain or against the grain?
Post by: nomad on October 08, 2007, 06:31:52 PM
The only times I have gone with the grain is when I first did it and the couple of times that I let it go for 2 days. I normally go all over the grain to get it done smooth ny hair has to many dang grains.