I personally shave up to down, and then down to up afterwards. It's the only way that I can make sure it's smooth. Going up to down first shortens most of the hair, and going down to up wipes it all out.
And generally, shaving during or after a shower will feel much better than doing so beforehand. The hot water softens the facial air and opens your pores. It also cleans the dirt off your face, so you aren't scraping the skin clear and then shoving muck all over your raw face. I generally rinse with hot and then cold water afterwards.
Edit: And man, they're giving out Mach 3's now? When I turned 18, I just got the regular Gilette...whatever it was called back in the day. You know, the grey, metal razor. Loved it back then, though.
And generally, shaving during or after a shower will feel much better than doing so beforehand. The hot water softens the facial air and opens your pores. It also cleans the dirt off your face, so you aren't scraping the skin clear and then shoving muck all over your raw face. I generally rinse with hot and then cold water afterwards.
Edit: And man, they're giving out Mach 3's now? When I turned 18, I just got the regular Gilette...whatever it was called back in the day. You know, the grey, metal razor. Loved it back then, though.