Its definitely important to my neck. Blades have always given me trouble which is why I have used a Braun foil shaver most of my life. Mapping was just one piece of the puzzle along with pressure, angle, preparation, etc.
I have to face West. If I don’t, I’m not looking at the mirror and will likely cut myself. Hard to get a close shave while gazing East at the crapper or North at the bath tub.This is how I do it. As I said above, I always stand facing the East. Then I lather and begin to shave. First I go from up to down. Then I go from down to up, always remaining perpendicular to the bathroom floor below my feet.
Sometimes LOTH looks like this.
You need to remodel your "den."I have to face West. If I don’t, I’m not looking at the mirror and will likely cut myself. Hard to get a close shave while gazing East at the crapper or North at the bath tub.
Perfect “excuse” for a den (oops, bathroom) remodel. How can a spouse argue with sound reasoning like: facing East improves my ATG pass and reduces irritation. Looking forward to the pics of the new den.I have to face West. If I don’t, I’m not looking at the mirror and will likely cut myself. Hard to get a close shave while gazing East at the crapper or North at the bath tub.
If I even joke about that, my wife will remodel “my face”.You need to remodel your "den."
Yes,I skip WTG because I end up with irritation by the time I do three passes and cleanup. By skipping WTG I can do two passes with cleanup if necessary (usually isn’t required) and end up just as smooth with zero irritation.Basically, you are starting XTG, if I'm reading this correctly.
I think its a YMMV kind of thing. If someone is going ATG on their 1st pass and is struggling with skin irritation, certainly mapping their beard is going to help them to get better results.If I don't go "north/south" on one specific spot to the left of my Adams apple, I get irritation. Took me FOREVER to figure that out.. That's the only place I feel the need to follow proper grain mapping. Otherwise it's a free for all. I end to just go down, then across, and perhaps an "upward" pass (ATG) but rare.
How can it be overrated and be YMMV at the same time?
What is wtg for one guy can be atg or xtg for another. That's the entire point of beard mapping.
Stubble on my cheeks is downward, jaw line is sideways, upper neck is downward, lower neck is upward, Adams Apple is a swirl, upper lip and goatee area is downward.
Without having mapped ask this, I would end up in ingrown hell!
YMMV for sure, but not at all overrated!
You nailed that one, Once you understand what's going on with the grain direction it makes it easier for a person on the Traditional learning curve of his technique. A person will not look at the map before every shave but when starting out with any shaving system out there (electric, cartridge, straight, DE, SE) it will help the person enjoy his shave more IMO.I think the beard map serves more as a guide than anything and it might help someone new to wet shaving.