The Down-Up Shave

There is much hoopla about the three-pass shave. There may be an alternative that is quicker, simpler, and as effective as you want it to be. You might call it the down-up shave.

First pass: After a face lathering (to save time), I simply shave with downward strokes over my entire beard. This is with grain or nearly so above my jaw line. It is cross grain or against grain below my jaw line. When shaving against grain, I monitor pressure to maintain a light touch and stretch my skin a bit with my free hand in my lower neck, which is both easily nicked and sensitive.

Second pass: I face lather again, and shave with upward strokes. The exception is my upper lip, on which I stroke horizontally (and carefully).

This second pass usually results in a good shave above the jaw line. Between the jaw line and the lower neck, this area usually needs some horizontal strokes to get a close shave. So if I desire a close shave everywhere, I will perform the requisite horizontal strokes in that area. These don't require another local re-lathering, but can be accomplished with just adding a bit of water to the areas being shaved.

Happy down-up shaving!