Against the Grain Pain

[kFries]

Yay rhyming

Happy New Years, gents. I've got a question that maybe some of you experienced shavers can help me with. I have issues with weepers whenever I shave against the grain. No matter how lightly I try to press, nor how small my blade is angled, I cannot seem to avoid them. I know the usual suspects for weepers are pressure and blade angle, but I've tried going really light and at a really small angle and it seems not to matter.

I seriously doubt my skin just cannot ever be shaved against the grain. I call bull on that. Where am I going wrong? It's usually the fourth pass of a WTG, WTG, XTG, ATG shave. I'm using either KMF unscented or Bigelow cream. The amazing thing is, after all my efforts to clean up the crime scene, I notice areas that could use some additional ATG passes! For all that pain, I'm not even getting a good shave out of it! Help please.

 

[kFries]

Possible other problem: stretching the skin?

 

[rxonmymind]

Hmm. How much stubble is left after you do those three passes? Possibly the blade? Strectching the skin certainly helps but by the time you did three passes(gradual reduction) you should be well on your way to do ATG. However, do another XTg as your razor (didn't mention what you were shaving with) may be to mild for YOU thus not having reduced enough stubble prior to ATG. hope this helps. So a final wrap up.
1. Blade choice
2. Additional pass
3. Try a more aggressive razor

 

[barnstormer]

Here is something I have been trying. Instead of stretching the skin, relax it. I just tilt my head to the side of my face/neck that I am shaving. I had a terrible time with irritation and soreness on my neck, especially after the ATG pass. What I think was going on was that by stretching the skin, the hairs were standing up but lifting some of the skin around the follicle with it and i was catching that with the blade and making microscopic cuts. Letting the skin be loose lets the razor pass over any irregularities in the surface of the skin without cutting them. I have been getting very comfortable shaves and most are DFS, borderline BBS. I did get slightly closer by stretching the skin, but the added irritation was not worth the slightly better result. I'm still working with this, and expect the shaves to get better as I get more comfortable with it too.

Just my $.02 though, hope it helps.

 

[kFries]

Hmm. How much stubble is left after you do those three passes? Possibly the blade? Strectching the skin certainly helps but by the time you did three passes(gradual reduction) you should be well on your way to do ATG. However, do another XTg as your razor (didn't mention what you were shaving with) may be to mild for YOU thus not having reduced enough stubble prior to ATG. hope this helps. So a final wrap up.
1. Blade choice
2. Additional pass
3. Try a more aggressive razor

I use a vintage Tech with Astra SPs. More aggression could be the answer to weepers? Sounds kind of backwards at first, but I see your logic. Sharper blade/more aggressive razor could give a cleaner cut without ripping at the hair. Would a way to test this be to put in a more aggressive blade with the current handle? I've got Gillette Chrome Platinum's, which felt way more aggressive than anything else I've got (Wilkinson, Derby, Dorco Dollar Store blades, Astras). Should I give this a whirl again now that my technique is probably better than when I first tried it?

 

[Foyle]

I seriously doubt my skin just cannot ever be shaved against the grain. I call bull on that. Where am I going wrong?

I seriously think your problem is just this: you can't shave against the grain. A lot of gents can't. I can't. If shaving ATG causes nicks, weepers, and general irritation, then you can't shave ATG. There is no ninja-jedi secret to shaving ATG. Some people can do it, and some can't.

Out of curiosity, why do you think that it's bull that you can't shave ATG when the blood seems to testify otherwise?

 

[jhamlin38]

i would only get bbs shaves on my neck 25% of the time and still got weapers aplenty.
I recently revisited my lathering technique which has resulted in much less irritation.
I also find that adding a few drops of water to the remainder of the lather has helped. I tend to go atg on my neck last, and feel the lack of moisture is the culprit.
However, the best remedy for the weepers I got from atg on my neck was to use very cold water for the last atg pass. Give that a try.

 

[5thou]

Try a Futur on 5setting with a feather blade.

 

[celestino]

I seriously think your problem is just this: you can't shave against the grain. A lot of gents can't. I can't. If shaving ATG causes nicks, weepers, and general irritation, then you can't shave ATG. There is no ninja-jedi secret to shaving ATG. Some people can do it, and some can't.

+1 If you want to persist, you may want to try a different (more aggressive) razor to see if that helps. Good luck, but i would say to cease it if it continues. Shaving is about enjoying a DFS with comfort not pain.

 

[gash]

...What I think was going on was that by stretching the skin, the hairs were standing up but lifting some of the skin around the follicle with it and i was catching that with the blade and making microscopic cuts. Letting the skin be loose lets the razor pass over any irregularities in the surface of the skin without cutting them...

Brilliant! Straightforward, logical explanation that I hadn't heard. Thank you.

 

[Goes2Eleven]

I have a similar issue with going ATG, but not usually bleeders or weepers. I end up with bumps and irritation the next day. If I shave the following day after an ATG shave, I expect to have a mess.

I can only go ATG periodially - and I need to not have shaved ATG in the previous several days.

Typically, I only go WTG with XTG in a few spots. If I'm going to a wedding or something special, or having pictures taken, I'll go ATG knowing that I'll just have to deal with bumps and irritation the next day.

 

[lt114]

The razor you're using, Gillette Tech, is very mild. A more aggressive/efficient razor might work better for you.
Also, if you haven't been wet shaving long, your technique could also be the culprit.

 

[kFries]

The razor you're using, Gillette Tech, is very mild. A more aggressive/efficient razor might work better for you.
Also, if you haven't been wet shaving long, your technique could also be the culprit.

The technique was part of it for sure. Blade angle has been a struggle for me. As I get better with it (I've found choking up on the handle to help me aim the blade works for me), I think I'll look into a more aggressive razor. Any suggestions? Or do you think I'd get a similar benefit from switching to a blade like a Feather?

 

[chiefum]

I would try some different blade combinations...and like It114 said, maybe a more aggressive razor. Have you tried fewer passes....like WTG,XTG, ATG....or possibly WTG, ATG? and maybe some buffing after?

 

[Grumpy_Bottom]

i had the same problem until i started bullfrogging my neck for my first atg pass, then i go back and stretch for a second atg. i also needed a very aggressive razor in the r41 before i could get comfortable bbs