Shaving against the grain tends to pull the hair follicle up and away from the skin, which runs an increased chance of razor burn or skin irritation being left behind. We recommend shaving against the grain only in the areas of your face where there is stubble left over from your few passes with the grain.

Is it better to shave with or against the grain?

The only way to guarantee a more comfortable shave is by shaving with the grain. While shaving against the grain helps you get much closer to the skin, it also increases the risk of skin irritation, razor bumps, or even razor burn.

Does shaving against the grain do anything?

“Nothing really happens to the hair if you shave against the grain. It is the skin that gets the irritation and, in some cases, razor burn,” Salehi says. “The best way to avoid that is not to shave against the grain. Having said that, some faces may allow you to do that without any difficulty and irritation,” he says.