Thread: Relather every single stroke?

Hey folks -

I often find myself making a pass, and then realizing that I missed a small spot or bit of stubble. I then immediately go back over it with the blade. This works ok, provided I don't go over more than twice or three times. Obviously, once I've gone over the area the first time, the lather is gone. My question is, "Do you think it would be better to continue with the pass, relather, then shave the small spot I missed?" I was told, when first learning to shave from my father that you typically don't want to shave anywhere if there isn't lather where you're going to shave, to prevent irritation and reduce the risk of nicks.

Clearly, the way I'm doing it right now doesn't have cushion on the second or third small pass (I'm talking like 1" or less of actual area), but it _is_ much quicker than going back. Actually, to tell the truth, the reason I do it isn't because it's quicker. Once I relather the spots, I forget exactly where I wanted to get. By going over it without lather, I can feel with my finger whether I got the exact area or not.

Are you trying to do a complete shave in 1 pass? I do multiple passes relathering between passes, WTG, XTG and ATG, so anything I miss on the first pass gets picked up on subsequent passes.

If you are trying to do it in 1 pass and must go over an area again then a relather would be your best bet to try and avoid razor burn. I think your Dad had it right.

Bob

When that happens to me, I just use a finger to pick up a bit of lather from
another place on my face and apply it to the missed spot. As long as that spot
hasn't dried out completely, that seems to work just fine.

However, if you don't get after the missed spot "right away", I'd re-lather.

Ah, yeah, I wasn't totally clear. I guess I meant I start with a single stroke (WTG pass). When I come back, though, I sort of make these overlapping "raking" motions. So, for the XTG pass, I might stretch my face, move the razor 1" or so, readjust my hand, go back about 1/3 of an inch, and then continue, repeating across my cheek or jaw.

Mostly what I'm wondering about is if anyone else does this sort of scything/raking motion, and if so, do you only put the blade where the lather is, or do you try for a bit of overlap?

Depending on the cream/soap you might not need to unless it feels dry. I do the multiple scythe motion on and just under my chin

I shave with 2 passes and a little cleanup. On each pass, I may, like jwir3, cover the same ground twice in quick succession. I certainly don't relather in this case. There is still residual water and lubrication on my skin at that point. However, if I have moved on and later discover a miss, I leave that for the next pass or cleanup. Cleanup is always water only, and usually just my right jawline. I go for CCS; sometimes achieving DFS. If there is any blood or irritation, well that's just a shave with hopefully something learned... BBS seems like too much work for any personal benefit, although I do admire a shaver's dedication and resolve if BBS is their pursuit.

I think you are describing what I call a "buffing stroke". I learned by doing two or three normal passes then any clean up if needed .Before you know it you will be doing a three pass shave with one good shave brush full of lather. My point being that your shave will be smoother if your lather stays hydrated throughout your pass ,and the more efficient your technique the less chance of your lather drying on your face. Stopping to lather during my first pass seems counterproductive and would throw off my mojo.

I'll go back over areas after the final pass. If my face is still slick then I don't relather. If I feel the blade sticking, then I do relather. So whether I relather the area or not depends on the soap that I use.