First pass direction?

Hey guys,

So I have been watching a bunch of mantic's videos and sifting through a bunch of these threads, and I have come to a bit of a contradictory. In mantic's videos as well as some posts, people have been saying to go N-S on your first pass. Other posts are saying to go with the grain first.

Well considering my grain swirls, going N-S is against the grain in a lot of spots.
I am currently using a DE razor.

What should be my plan of attack?

Thanks!

 

Your first pass should be with the grain, as much as that allows with a swirl pattern.
Experimentation will be your friend. Try with the grain, WTG, first on your next shave. On the shave after that, try XTG, across the grain, first.
Since none of us have your face on our head to practice with, none of us can tell you what your first pass must be. Trial and error will tell you what works for you.

 

^What Steve said. Also, another thing that might help is letting your stubble grow out some and map your face. Whatever way the hair grows, shave WTG in that direction. I have the same issue you do. The only places that are N-S are my cheeks and the part of my neck between my Adam's apple and chin. So in some parts I have to W-E and vice versa like on on the sides of my neck below my jawline.

 

I go N-S on my first pass and I don't really worry if its with or against the grain "YMMV" of course. The GOAL is to get from a stubble filled face to a smooth face, how you get there is a personal preference. As I understand it going with the grain is more comfortable(less resistance) but not close and against the grain(more resistance) gets you a smoother/closer shave but can cause more irritation. The shorter the hair the easier(less resistance) it is to shave in any given direction. Beard reduction is used "as I see it" for only one reason to eliminate or at least reduce as much as possible shaving irritation while achieving your GOAL. If you could shave in a couple of minutes using alot of preasure, with a fast stroke in any direction with NO irritation and get a BBS shave you'd be crazy to do it any other way!
The reason for the first pass going with the grain is comfort, but if your comfortable going another way thats ok also. So it's not really shaving direction that is most important its using a direction thats the most comfortable and effective for you at any given time in your shave..At least thats how I see it.

 

Most of my facial hair grows E-W. My first two passes are N-S and S-N. My third pass is W-E, then I finish with some ATG buffing. It's just not comfortable for me to do the first pass from left ear to right. Whatever works for you is the right way.

 

I like it!

 

Thanks for all the responses I appreciate the help.BPlatton, everything you have said makes a lot of sense and I will start thinking about the shave in that light. I shaved about an hour ago, trying to shave with the grain. Since the hair on my neck swirls it was not a single direction that I went, and I went over the same way for a second pass. My face is nice and smooth with minimal irritation, but my neck looks terrible. Take a peak..

..I mean its pretty terrible looking. It doesnt go away after a couple of hours, to be honest it doesnt go away in a couple of days so I feel like I am never starting with a non irritated neck. Anyone ever correct an issue like this?

 

You didn't say, but how long have you been DE shaving. I ask because time and practice can/will also make alot of difference in your shave. Sometimes its just a matter of time for many irritations to go away or at least improve. One of the factors that makes this hobby so rewarding,interesting and aggravating is the fact that there are "ALOT" of factors. Practice,patience,research and experimentation are the best ways to proceed. On that note what AS are you using splash w/alcohol or balm without?

 

I have not been DE shaving for all that long, only about 2-3 weeks. I am using the art of shaving package (oils cream brush and balm).

 

First, if you can, I'd probably give your face and neck a rest for a few days and let it heal up. Second, I'd trying to map out your neck some. My guess is the grain of your facial hair in that area is radically different from the rest of your face. I had similar issues if my neck until I realized the grain was S-N along my Adam's apple, and from my ears toward the center of my neck on either side. An extremely light touch helps too. I don't know about you or anyone else, but the skin on my neck is more uneven compared to my face, as it were. Granted this is all anecdotal, but hopefully it helps get you point in the right direction.

 

Yup, thats a face that needs some time... Lots of razor bumps/ingrown hairs there... I have a similar neck. Don't lose hope! Very light touch, very short strokes. in time you will learn what parts of your neck can handle what direction and how many times. It is, unfortunately, trial and error.

With tongue firmly planted in cheek (tightens up the overlying skin) I can tell you that bowing towards Bradford Yorkshire, England (the home of Mitchell's Wool Fat) 3 times before commencing the lather helps to orient the hairs as they should be, and minimizes razor bumps. YMMV, but just saying...

 

Im finding it very difficult to map out my neck for some reason (especially the parts that are irritated). Even when I run my index finger along my neck it is diffiuclt to tell, I guess because it is not a simple N-S or E-W.
Any suggestions on how to master this?

 

Try either a SE-NW or SW-NE. My neck doesn't grow in a N/S type of pattern either but I find the diagonal approach gives me a great smooth shave without any irritation.

 

My facial hair, like others here, grows in 3 different directions on one side mostly in 1 direction on the other. I go WTG, ATG, then XTG. I'm still using my Schick Hydro 5 until I get. My first DE.

 

This may sound farfetched. But hey, you're on a shaving forum. You are farfetched anyways haha.

From chin to neck my hair grows in 4 directions.


The top part of my neck (near my chin/jawline) grows N to S. But thats only the right side of my face.
The left side of my face (top part of neck) grows W - E.
The total middle part (the band) of my neck grows from W to E. This part is easy.
The bottom part of my neck is schizophrenic. The right side of my face of the bottom of my neck grows W - E.
The left side of my face of the bottom of my neck grows E - W. So they meet right near my adam's apple.

I figured this out by stroking my face (not in public) with 2 days worth of stubble.
And making a mental map of my neck. I actually wanted my wife to map it out on a paper for me since she doesn't need to rely on sense of touch only like me. She can use sense of sight and touch to see/feel the hair growth. I'll get round to it.

I'm still figuring it out exactly but 90% is as above. I say 90% because a few parts near the top left of my face feel liek they're growing NE to SW lol.

 

Your getting some great advice here..but pretty soon your gonna need a compass just to shave..lol..

 

lol...I find that WTG rarely does much for hair removal because I have pretty sparse hair, so sometimes I do two passes, XTG then ATG. Saves some time for rushed mornings.

 

For me N-S the across and then S-N and a few touch-ups if needed. But only you will know how and where your hairs grow, with more time you will have your shave taylored to you, as Steve said hair reduction, and no pressure was the best advise I got. Good luck with your next shave

 

For me, N-S first, then XTG and to finish, ATG always gave me good results. Im still struggling a little with my near, and since I have a facial percing (below the lip) and I keep a thin beard line, I really need to be carefull and go slow in those areas!