Thread: Necessity of ATG

Originally Posted by BobH

Question is how long do your shaves last till you feel you need to shave again given a BBS shave to begin with.

Bob

Bob my S.R. shaving technique has really improved. I can also hone and strop keen edges on my razors now. I can do a three pass shave with one of my S.R. and not feel the need to shave again before 24 hrs.

I would try using cold water. I used to have the same problem if I had to wear a uniform later at night. For me it was easier to get a good smooth shave without irritation by doing a WTG and two XTG and cold water.

I've been adapting my shaving technique the past three months. Basically I don't use an ATG unless I'm going to a special event (which hasn't occurred for a very long time) and am content with a WTG and XTG on my face with good results. The adapting is in shaving my neck where WTG and XTG just haven't done the job. After watching, randomly, barbers giving shaves, I was struck by one where the barber started by shaving the neck area ATG then WTG. My neck hairs seem to be more wiry than the rest of the face so I now start my shave, when the blade is the sharpest, with an ATG & WTG passes and then my face with the WTG & XTG passes. My neck area is now, generally, smoother than my face for a longer period of time.

Originally Posted by feltspanky

Bob my S.R. shaving technique has really improved. I can also hone and strop keen edges on my razors now. I can do a three pass shave with one of my S.R. and not feel the need to shave again before 24 hrs.

Nobody doubts your prowess using and maintaining a straight razor. Just wondered how long it was till you "felt" the need to shave again. That brings up what is your criteria for actually feeling the need to shave? I mean things like just feeling stubble starting to come back, actually seeing stubble again or it does not matter once you make it through the work day so you are good till next morning?

I am just saying everybody has different regrowth rates, not everybody is after a BBS and will accept comfortable over close and also the criteria is different for everyone as to when they actually feel they need a shave.

I am a bit OCD and don't like to feel stubble even though my better half can see no stubble 10-12 hours later I can feel it. So I shave but it is likely good enough to tide me over till next morning. Consider too that I shave between 0400-0500 usually when I get up.

There really can be no set standard length of time a shave should last an individual because of all the variables.

Bob

I'm with BobH and Razorfeld - beard regrowth varies and what you're after also determines the game.

If I'm doing a quick clean-up shave or in a hurry, two passes or my Sledgehammer DE will get some game time.

If it's a normal shave, I like to take the time to do a full three passes, and sometimes, just for the extra clean feeling, here's where I'm with BobH, I'll do a fourth pass to get that very smooth feeling...when I do that, I'm basically not shaving for two days...it's completely personal and things can vary, even down to the type of razor, wedge vs hollow...you get the picture.

Usually after fourteen hours I begin to feel the emergence of stubble on my face. Based on my work schedule it's not convenient or necessary for me to shave for another ten hours. I totally agree that beard growth is different for each individual. The time between each individual's shave is not set in stone. It's a matter of each individual's preference and what's acceptable.

Originally Posted by feltspanky

Usually after fourteen hours I begin to feel the emergence of stubble on my face......
I totally agree that beard growth is different for each individual.

That's about when I begin to feel my stubble reemerge too.


But it's not only that, there is also a noticeable difference in opinion among shavers when it becomes necessary to shave again.

A stubble that one shaver might feel necessary to remove before going out for dinner may be perfectly acceptable to someone else.



B.

You need to shave in the morning.

My morning routine is a 3 pass, 2 with 1 against and ATG cleanup with water, 10-15 min start to finish, including stropping, cleaning and drying.

As said you need a keen razor.

Practice speeding it up and shave in the morning and face lather to save time.

I am a one pass guy, I get a good close comfortable shave that lasts the whole day.It makes no difference if I add two more passes, I will still have to shave the next morning.

I don't have a job that requires a clean shave. Granted I have a fairly thick beard but if I get it good on the with the grain then the against the grain is just water and blade and a few min. I do kind of blend my WTG and XTG in one lather, but that is partly because of the different directions my hair grows in from my sideburn to my chin. Almost has a paper fan pattern in that the direction my facial hair grows kind of points at my jaw just below my ear. So I take a two for one pass and then with just water hit the ATG. I don't get too picky though, because if I got that swirl that I have on my neck to where I couldn't feel the hair at all then I probably lost too much skin.