How can I shave against the grain without all sorts of problems?

Question

I usually shave with the grain but I don't really get a good smooth shave from it... and the only way I get a really great shave is shaving against the grain. When I shave against the grain, my face is as smooth as a baby's bum, BUT only for a day-- the next day my face is digusting. I get whiteheads, blackheads, the whole shabangabang. It takes about 3 days for my skin to get back to normal after the traumatic experience. There's got to be a way to shave against the grain without having all these drawbacks! I've seen people shave against the grain and they don't get bumps or anything the next day. I shave with a Merkur Classic DE safety razor, with Merkur Super Platinum blades, and I usually do 3 passes. When I shave against the grain, I do 2 regular passes then the 3rd against, and I still get terrible results the next day. Are there any products that could help? Would applying baby oil on my face help? I need advice!

PS: I'm half African and half Indian (real Indian, not North American Native) if that helps. I'm only putting this in because I've heard different races have different facial hair, but my facial hair is pretty straight, and the rest of my hair is just a little curly.

Answer 1

try shaving sideways but a little upward. its like a compramise

Answer 2

You should try different lathers. You could be allergic to some. Experiment with different brands. Try a gel too.