Thread: better way of shaving XTG for me

I've been shaving across-the-grain (XTG) as recommended by Lynn in the dvd. However, I've found that method to be more of an angle cut (NE to SW, for ex.). I found I could get a perfect xtg pass by using "opposites". I shave the left side of my face from ear to nose/mouth with my right hand...and the right side of my face from ear to nose/mouth with my left hand. The result, at least for me, is a perfect xtg pass that is 90 degrees, or perpendicular to the hair growth.
If anyone is having trouble getting a close xtg pass, give this a try.
Works for me

Originally Posted by Ron A

I've been shaving across-the-grain (XTG) as recommended by Lynn in the dvd. However, I've found that method to be more of an angle cut (NE to SW, for ex.). I found I could get a perfect xtg pass by using "opposites". I shave the left side of my face from ear to nose/mouth with my right hand...and the right side of my face from ear to nose/mouth with my left hand. The result, at least for me, is a perfect xtg pass that 90 degrees, or perpendicular to the hair growth.
If anyone is having trouble getting a close xtg pass, give this a try.
Works for me

Exactly what I discovered early and still do. After finishing WTG all over, I relather and do the first 1-2 inches in front of my ear lightly, going from my ear forward. Then, placing my same side thumb just in front of my ear on my jaw, thumb down with my fingers behind my head, I stretch the skin from there to my chin for nice long, smooth strokes as you describe. My beard is lighter on the cheeks and heavier as I near the chin and lower jaw line. So I keep a slightly steeper blade-to-skin angle across the light-bearded cheeks and flatten it out as I approach my chin where the beard is heavier and grows more against the direction I'm going. This has become one of the most satisfying parts of the shave -- smoooth, comfortable, and close. Another fine tuning is to skew the razor slightly, leading with the tip, for more comfortably and effectively slicing the heavier jaw whiskers.

- Dale

In the book the Science and Practice of Barbering they show you very much the same method and where to go up or down based on the grain. There's a copy online. Look at page 94.

http://www.openlibrary.org/details/p...cien00thorrich

Thanks bth88. I ended up reading the entire shaving section. What a trip.
I especially enjoyed the last instruction to the barber: "release the customer".
Ron

Originally Posted by Ron A

Thanks bth88. I ended up reading the entire shaving section. What a trip.
I especially enjoyed the last instruction to the barber: "release the customer".
Ron

We have a few Chinese massage parlors out here that do the same but they call it a "happy ending".










...