Thread: Suggestions on how to Advance

The story thus far:
I have a Dovo Best Quality 6/8, 3" Strop, 3 shave soaps/creams I alternate with. Shaved about 30 times WTG only and followed up with a 2nd pass with my DE. Rarely cut myself anymore! Yay!

I'd like to move up. That means (to me) to try and tackle an XTG or ATG as my second pass.

Which one of these do you recommend? And, what would be the best way to approach it w/out losing blood. I don't want to look like I just wrestled a panther. (Been there, done that).

Thanks for any tips.

PaBlum

PS: I also have a Dreadnought Shavette but that is most likely irrelevant here

If you go slow (meaning start with one XTG or ATG stroke on an easy area and expand as you get comfortable), stretch your skin and keep the angle low you should be good.

I'd say XTG or ATG depends on what's more ergonomic for you - as you've probably figured it out already straight razor shaving is mostly about building the muscle memory. So, the conventional wisdom is to start with easier tasks and increase the difficulty as you get proficiency.

You may want to get your razor touched up, too. At 30 shaves as a beginner a refresh is not out of ordinary. Sharper razor is better than less sharp

Funny you should say refresh. I have a balsa wood strop and some pastes that I was planning to try out this week. I was just reading a nice thread on pasted stropping to mentally prepare myself for the task.

Yep, great! I'd do chromium oxide, less is more (basically few light green skidmarks is all it takes)

I cannot disagree with the advice given, but would like to pitch in on the importance of skin stretching and holding, especially against or across the grain. As always slow and steady wins the race, so don't rush your shave or your learning, although I have to say it sounds like you have been taking your time at it.

Right you are! I got my last cut, a deep one, by forgetting to stretch the skin in my cheek and perhaps having too steep an angle. Too bad I can't time it to shave after I have my coffee :-).

Wasn't there a song from "South Pacific" that was called: "You have to be taut"???

I would do XTG next. Once you've got a few WTG and XTG shaves under your belt, look at adding ATG.

I'm back after a few days of trying out these suggestions.

The balsa wood strop I got at Whipped Dog has two sides. One has Iron Oxide (Red, 0.1 microns) and the Other Chromium Oxide (green, 0.3 microns). Oxide should not be confused with Oxhide which is the stuff that is on the outside of an ox and would probably make good strops.

Per instructions, I stropped 20 times on the green, followed by 20 times on the red, followed by 40 times on leather.

Yes, it made a difference. I even nicked my chin. All this time I thought I was getting better but my blade was getting duller :-). Guess I need to hit the balsa every few weeks.

Per suggestion, I only added XTG. First pass was WTG. 2nd XTG. 3rd DE. I lathered before each pass. Then Witch Hazel and then skin moisturizer to finish off.

After getting over the shock of looking into the mirror, it seemed obvious (to me?) that the only part of the face that XTG would work is my cheeks. My chin area is short strokes, manipulated to follow the chin planes. I have a mustache, so under the nose gets skipped. And my neck must only be for WTG & ATG. I can't imagine going XTG.

I've been shaving like that for about four or five shaves now.

That leaves some questions.

Does what I said make sense or are there things I need to vary?

Am I ready for ATG or should I stick with XTG for a while longer?

Am I correct in thinking that ATG should be for both the neck (as a 2nd pass) and for the cheek areas (for a third pass)?

It would probably be prudent to take either the cheek or neck first and add the other once I got it perfected. Which one is easier?

Thanks, in advance, for your patience and suggestions.

PaulB

3 or 4 passes leaves my skin irritated, so I only do WTG and ATG. Go slow and get as close as you can on the WTG pass.

large flat areas that visibility is good for are going to be the easiest so cheeks.

you are ready when you think you are, there are no rules or hours requirements, give it a go, if it isnt working out for you then stop.

i wouldn't recommend heaps of passes it will just end in pain, its better to have a comfortable shave than a sore one.