Hi Matt! Great information on gain mapping. As a licensed barber, I can tell you that the first chart you showed is used diagramming the 14 shave areas and straight razor grips (Free hand, reverse free hand, backhand, and variations for up and down) used in each of these areas. As you said, each person is unique as to the grain pattern. In barber college we learned that a sharp blade, proper preparation, and limited strokes produced the most comfortable shaves. In practice, most of these ended with just DFS and never BBS. I would only go ATG if the customer asked. Proper post-shave hydration made the face feel smooth and limited irritation. I always look forward to your excellent videos...and this one will help the many. Thanks.
This is great information, but what helps more than anything is beard prep. Get a decent shaving cream (CO Bigelow can be found at any bath and body works and is basically proraso), and a brush. Hydrate your face and apply the shaving cream all over your face for two-three minutes (I have a three minute mini plastic hour glass I use for a timer) then shave. You can take it a step further if needed. after applying the shaving cream to your face, apply a hot towel right over the shaving cream for two-three minutes. Then reapply shaving cream and shave. I learned this techniques on a razor forum and have been shaving irritation free every since.
Grain Mapping is the first thing in my opinion. That should be done by any shaving person. I done it recently and my shave improved tremendously. I always wondered why i unable to get super close near my ears and i'm getting irritation when there shouldn't be one. Because mostly my hair grows not from North to South but from East to West and West to East. In horizontal manner. I hope my comment helps somebody to understand that it's very important
I had some guys asking about mapping so I went looking for a good video. I learned back in the day from Busta but couldn't find. OMG Matt this is a great demo! This is going to be my #1 shared video on this subject! Love it!
Thanks Matt for another great post. I mapped my face a week or so ago and like you, it was great to finally figure the 'mystery' of my neck. As you say, a little time to study what's going on will prevent so much irritation in future.
Thanks Matt, useful video. For me, I just kind work in same direction I used to use cartridge razor, except of course for around the mouth area and under nose, which I find tricky and is most common place I nick myself.
Great advice and I’ve downloaded and mapped. Been shaving with cartridges 40+ years and same routine and one pass. Came over to the dark side last week got a Muhle R106 and some proraso pre and shave cream. First shave no problem just one pass, second shave 2 pass. Boy do I have bad razor burn and bumps on lower neck. Few days off shaving but I can now see the growth direction and did my map. Question. If you get bad razor burn, would you continue with a one pass till it clears or persist with 2nd and maybe 3rd pass?
Mine grows in all directions. I have to make a 4 pass in order to get a baby butt shave. WTG, ATG nose to ear, ATG ear to nose, and against the grain. My hair grows in all 4 of those directions.
I need to do this, but I'm currently so obsessed with shaving that I'm going to have a hard time skipping even one day. I've heard this is why barbers appy lather with their fingers rather than a brush--so they can map your growth.
I have to that nearly sideways on the neck nonsense and it sucks lol. Luckily the bottom of the neck didn't grow up like that just straight sideways. So I can still shave straight down in my neck and it's like doing a mix between with and across grain at the same time.
Thanks Matt, this was very helpful. I have neck trouble as well and I’ve known that I need to map my beard but I never seem to get around to it. Well that stops today; I downloaded a few maps from your site and I’m gonna get this irritation under control.
I know you often rock a goatee but you are truly blessed with some terrific "beard genes." Of course, I understand that in your line of work/expertise, it might seem incongruous to grow a beard, but the consistency and symmetry of your facial hair pattern is almost perfect! Even your cheek lines seem inherently straight, so it's a kind of a pity that your work requires you to shave pretty regularly. Maybe you could grow a full beard while still showcasing the razors by trimming a few inches off the neck?
thank you for the kind words. Yes I have grown a beard before and just trimmed the neck - and got flack for it from customers, youtube fans and friends / family. Needless to say I can't do that again ;)
RazorEmporium 👍I always enjoy watching your videos and was inspired last year to get my first DE (Merkur 34C and Feather blades) after so many decades of cheap/expensive/wasteful disposable razors. However, I've recently decided that my face looks and feels best with a substantial beard, so I don't shave on a regular basis nowadays but I still appreciate the care and detail that you put into all of your demos and explanations. How many inches was your beard? Seems like 1 inch would be super full, based on your stubble👍 Ok, I just noticed a few videos with your short beard...looks nice! And, IMHO, much better than the goatee, which is still better than nothing. Ideally, shave down from the top of your Adam's 🍎 you'll still have to shave every 48 hours😊
Dang, looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the dumpster. Nevertheless, yours is one of the best grain mapping videos available & I'm sending it to some newbies - may as well learn it right from the best.
For that typical polish face and neck hair I'd recommend POLSILVER blades!!! who cares about grain mapping ,those blades take everything off smooth and clean!!
Hi Matt! Great information on gain mapping. As a licensed barber, I can tell you that the first chart you showed is used diagramming the 14 shave areas and straight razor grips (Free hand, reverse free hand, backhand, and variations for up and down) used in each of these areas. As you said, each person is unique as to the grain pattern. In barber college we learned that a sharp blade, proper preparation, and limited strokes produced the most comfortable shaves. In practice, most of these ended with just DFS and never BBS. I would only go ATG if the customer asked. Proper post-shave hydration made the face feel smooth and limited irritation. I always look forward to your excellent videos...and this one will help the many. Thanks.
This is great information, but what helps more than anything is beard prep. Get a decent shaving cream (CO Bigelow can be found at any bath and body works and is basically proraso), and a brush. Hydrate your face and apply the shaving cream all over your face for two-three minutes (I have a three minute mini plastic hour glass I use for a timer) then shave. You can take it a step further if needed. after applying the shaving cream to your face, apply a hot towel right over the shaving cream for two-three minutes. Then reapply shaving cream and shave. I learned this techniques on a razor forum and have been shaving irritation free every since.
I am going to try this.
Grain Mapping is the first thing in my opinion. That should be done by any shaving person. I done it recently and my shave improved tremendously. I always wondered why i unable to get super close near my ears and i'm getting irritation when there shouldn't be one. Because mostly my hair grows not from North to South but from East to West and West to East. In horizontal manner. I hope my comment helps somebody to understand that it's very important
I had some guys asking about mapping so I went looking for a good video. I learned back in the day from Busta but couldn't find. OMG Matt this is a great demo! This is going to be my #1 shared video on this subject! Love it!
Thanks Matt for another great post. I mapped my face a week or so ago and like you, it was great to finally figure the 'mystery' of my neck. As you say, a little time to study what's going on will prevent so much irritation in future.
Hi Matt- A very helpful and well presented video on grain mapping; thank you! Best regards, as always!
Thanks Matt, useful video. For me, I just kind work in same direction I used to use cartridge razor, except of course for around the mouth area and under nose, which I find tricky and is most common place I nick myself.
Funnily enough, I tried a techmatic for the first time a couple of weeks ago... not a bad shave at all !!!
Great video, folks. And very clever video editing to get Matt’s grain map ‘reversed’ for us. ;)
Absolutely brilliant.
Excellent video Matt. I too have to do this as well.
Thanks Matt now can you show us a shave with this grain map information
Great advice and I’ve downloaded and mapped. Been shaving with cartridges 40+ years and same routine and one pass. Came over to the dark side last week got a Muhle R106 and some proraso pre and shave cream. First shave no problem just one pass, second shave 2 pass. Boy do I have bad razor burn and bumps on lower neck. Few days off shaving but I can now see the growth direction and did my map. Question. If you get bad razor burn, would you continue with a one pass till it clears or persist with 2nd and maybe 3rd pass?
Mine grows in all directions. I have to make a 4 pass in order to get a baby butt shave. WTG, ATG nose to ear, ATG ear to nose, and against the grain. My hair grows in all 4 of those directions.
Doesn't it get too irritating after so many passes?
@@prithviraj1080 No it doesn't because I use good blades and good lather and I change out my blades after 2-shaves
That was a great video ,now i know why on the bottom of my neck the razor allways seems to grab, thanks
Excellent information, thanks.
Fantastic video!
Thanks. Great idea.
Matt suffering for his art to teach everyone.
I don't consider myself above average or below average, just out there, and so does my beard. That said, this is a very helpful vid. Thanks.
This was a great idea to provide to people!
Very helpful
I need to do this, but I'm currently so obsessed with shaving that I'm going to have a hard time skipping even one day.
I've heard this is why barbers appy lather with their fingers rather than a brush--so they can map your growth.
I have to that nearly sideways on the neck nonsense and it sucks lol. Luckily the bottom of the neck didn't grow up like that just straight sideways. So I can still shave straight down in my neck and it's like doing a mix between with and across grain at the same time.
Thanks Matt, this was very helpful. I have neck trouble as well and I’ve known that I need to map my beard but I never seem to get around to it. Well that stops today; I downloaded a few maps from your site and I’m gonna get this irritation under control.
I know you often rock a goatee but you are truly blessed with some terrific "beard genes." Of course, I understand that in your line of work/expertise, it might seem incongruous to grow a beard, but the consistency and symmetry of your facial hair pattern is almost perfect! Even your cheek lines seem inherently straight, so it's a kind of a pity that your work requires you to shave pretty regularly. Maybe you could grow a full beard while still showcasing the razors by trimming a few inches off the neck?
thank you for the kind words. Yes I have grown a beard before and just trimmed the neck - and got flack for it from customers, youtube fans and friends / family. Needless to say I can't do that again ;)
RazorEmporium
👍I always enjoy watching your videos and was inspired last year to get my first DE (Merkur 34C and Feather blades) after so many decades of cheap/expensive/wasteful disposable razors. However, I've recently decided that my face looks and feels best with a substantial beard, so I don't shave on a regular basis nowadays but I still appreciate the care and detail that you put into all of your demos and explanations. How many inches was your beard? Seems like 1 inch would be super full, based on your stubble👍
Ok, I just noticed a few videos with your short beard...looks nice! And, IMHO, much better than the goatee, which is still better than nothing. Ideally, shave down from the top of your Adam's 🍎
you'll still have to shave every 48 hours😊
Time for a straight razor shave!
Dang, looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the dumpster. Nevertheless, yours is one of the best grain mapping videos available & I'm sending it to some newbies - may as well learn it right from the best.
Well and horoughly done, Matt. 👍
Here is another excellent video on grain mapping as well: ua-cam.com/video/biHP6xlFP9Q/v-deo.html
For that typical polish face and neck hair I'd recommend POLSILVER blades!!! who cares about grain mapping ,those blades take everything off smooth and clean!!