Thread: ATG Impossible?!

Going against the grain is tuff with a straight razor. I have found that learning to stretch your skin really helps. There is a nice video on youtube. It's called the ten minute, three pass, straight razor shave. This guy is good. I'm a newbie and my shaving has improved after watching his technique.

welcome to srp! the upward and downward strokes you are doing are essentially both across the grain and if your holding the razor at proper angles then those 2 passes should be getting you 99% there, shouldn't really be leaving patches of hair after those 2 across the grain passes. the 3 things that id think right away without watching you shave are that you may need to work on stretching the skin more when doing those 2 passes (don't even do against the grain), you may need to work on the angle you hold the razor during the strokes, your razor may not be up to snuff or need stropping. an edge that's dulled a bit can still cut (scrape) away hair but often will leave patches uncut. as you progress and get more comfortable you will learn to use a scything stroke to get more of an across/against the grain "combo" stroke that will definitely help with the neck situation.
and remember- short strokes are your friend again, without watching you shave im just picturing things that could be problems starting out. sometimes theres a newbie tendency to do long strokes to mow down the hair. short strokes are key.

Some good advice there already. Time, patience and practice are you best friends. Especially patience. You will get there.


Mick

ATG passes on my neck continue to be a challenge. I have experimented with several techniques, and one that seems to help me when it comes to efficient stubble reduction with the least amount of irritation is 'buffing' strokes with the blade nearly flat against the skin. This combined with skin stretching and beard prep have helped me with all directional passes on my neck. And, I am never ashamed of picking up my DE to finish the job. As so many experienced shavers have told me on these forums, comfort over perfection. Good advice! Hope this helps.

Quote: hair on my neck is somewhat oddly-directed. Quote:

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How dare you scare me half to death with a statement like that. Your real name must be EDDIE MUNSTER.

Keep reading the forum. Help is on the way...........

My advise is: before worrying about getting a perfect smooth shave ATG, you should improve your technics when shaving WTG and XTG. Once you've got the hang of performing a good XTG pass, ATG is, at least for me, not really necessary. That's because you can get e very very close shave with a good across the grain pass, plus the benefits of not irritating your skin with an ATG pass. Good luck and take it easy

I've been shaving straight for a few years and I still don't to ATG. I may make two passes, but my tender skin can take no more...usually will get her done w/o a problem with a single pass, however.

Originally Posted by Tymus

I have experimented with several techniques, and one that seems to help me when it comes to efficient stubble reduction with the least amount of irritation is 'buffing' strokes with the blade nearly flat against the skin.

Pay attention to this comment on the "buffing" strokes! That's what I use and I thought I was the only one. Somehow, using them spears a little slickness around and helps "mini stretching" with the spine, I think. Anyway, it works!

90% of the time I only do a single pass. Some of that pass is in fact XTG. Only occasional do I include a second ATG pass. For that pass I use a weaker (slicker) lather (I add water to the lather I've used for the first pass) and very short buffing strokes. I also hold the razor very loosely in two fingers.

However, I feel an ATG pass on the neck where the hair grows W to E or E to W would be almost impossible; as you say the toe of the razor would come up against the neck under the jaw line.

You could try a very short round toe razor or strokes that are not fully ATG, i.e. NNW to SSE.

Other than that it's either stick with XTG on the neck and a single pass or use a DE. I don't really think one needs a perfectly smooth shave all the time, but that depends on the job and the thickness of hair and closeness of hair follicles.

I have this same hair direction issue - I don't even try anymore to go ATG on my neck. I do one down pass then do an up pass using "short, scythe-like" strokes. I find that by doing the short strokes I can get the neck clean.