Thread: Necessity of ATG

For me, it's a carry-over from my days of BBS shaves with aggressive DE razors and blades. If I feel beard stubble my S.R. Shaves are incomplete.

Originally Posted by feltspanky

For me, it's a carry-over from my days of BBS shaves with aggressive DE razors and blades. If I feel beard stubble my S.R. Shaves are incomplete.

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

Bob

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'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.

Gentlemen,

I prefer comfortable to perfect, especially on the neck, and shave in three passes. The first pass is always with the grain north to south; the other two passes are a combination of across the grain and against the grain. I shave every morning and my face is pure Hollywood until the next morning. For me, one of the great joys in life is to start my day with a sweet straight razor shave.

Well, when you get to be my age (>65) most of the whiskers are white or gray and I don't get a shadow, I get "highlights" which unless I'm really tan aren't a problem