Shaving against the grain is a necessary evil for many men. It’s something you have to do to get that smooth, clean shave. But is shaving against the grain bad for your skin? Yes, it can be bad for your skin if you do it incorrectly or neglect other key steps of your shaving routine. If you know how to shave correctly and follow best practices with your shaving routine, there is little risk in shaving against the grain.
The real risk comes when you skip essential steps like prepping your skin with an oil-based moisturizer or lathering up with a quality shaving cream before you begin. When you don’t prep your skin properly you open yourself up to increased friction when shaving and a variety of negative consequences like razor burn and ingrown hair.
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Why Does It Irritate Your Skin?
When you shave against the grain, you are pulling the hair out of the root at a different angle than normal. This breaks the hair at a different point and causes irritation on the skin around the hair.
Shaving against the grain also causes your razor to drag on your skin, increasing the likelihood of ingrown hairs or razor bumps. Bumps happen when hair follicles get caught under the skin and become inflamed. They are a telltale sign you not using the right shaving products or aren’t using a technique that works with your skin type.
Personally, I found my perfect shave after experimenting with dozens of different methods and products. For my coarse hair, I wet shave with a safety razor and be sure to use pre-shave oil and soap applied with a shaving brush. Finding the right methods and products for your skin can completely transform your shave and your skin.
Shaving Against the Grain Is Essential for Getting a Smooth Shave
Shaving against the grain is a necessary part of your shaving routine to ensure you get an entirely smooth shave. This is especially true when wet shaving with a safety razor as a second pass is almost always needed to finish.
After a first shaving pass of your face, you will notice that a little bit of stubble remains. This is when you apply your cream or soap to your face once again and shave against the grain. Shaving against the grain should be done ONLY when you are shaving stubble and if your skin is protected with cream or soap.
3 Tips to Help You Shave Against the Grain Without Irritating Your Skin
- Exfoliate your skin before shaving. Exfoliation can reduce the amount of dead skin and other contaminants on your skin.
- Lather up with a quality shaving cream or gel. These can be especially helpful for men who shave against the grain because they provide a barrier between your skin and the razor.
- Pre shave oil can be helpful for men who have very coarse facial hair because it creates an extra barrier between the skin and the blade. This can help minimize irritation and razor bumps that may occur. I ALWAYS use a pre-shave oil or cream in my routine as it has a dramatic effect on the quality of my shave.
Conclusion
Shaving against the grain will irritate your skin if you aren’t using the proper tools or following best practices with your shaving routine. Exfoliating, applying a pre-shave oil or cream, and lathering up with a quality shaving cream can help.
It’s always best to remember to follow the direction of hair growth when you shave. If you can still feel a bit of stubble left over after you shave, make a second pass against the grain. You should use the exact same prep and products used during your first pass in the second.
