Should you shave with the grain or against the grain? It’s one of the most common questions asked about shaving. To determine which the direction of your hair growth, rub your hand or a credit card across your face; if you encounter resistance, the direction of hair growth is ATG. Many say you should avoid irritation by shaving in the direction your hair grows. For some men, however, this might not result in a sufficiently close or smooth shave. If your beard is tough, first ensure you hydrate your skin for at least three minutes (ideally during a hot shower), as this can reduce the force required to cut hair by up to 70%! Also, make sure to use a quality shave gel to lock in moisture. Try shaving with the grain (WTG) first and then against the grain (ATG) if necessary. Re-applying shave prep before going ATG can also help.