Thread: Yet one more new guy... my bread is made of tree trunks and grows in spirals.

I too have a beard made of spirals and I laugh at the concept of a WTG or ATG shave because every shave I have is a combination of W, A, & XTG.

If you're jumping from cartridge to straight, don't give up. It's adjusting. Trust me, you'll get a shave from the straight that, in the end, will make you wonder why you ever had the M3. Cartridges didn't shave me at all, but left me with more manageable stubble. If this is you as well, stay with it and you'll know what clean shaven looks like (maybe not feels like).

Lather makes a difference. Using a brush and bowl is a leap up from aerosols, but better soap can make a difference. I started with Burma Shave and eventually shifted to Col. Conk, thinking that this would be my go-to soap forever. Then I tried Colleen's Soap and, whoa, better still at a still worthwhile price. Like learning to use a straight, you'll have to learn to use the brush. Trial and error reign, but you'll get it right.

The lather is supposed to lubricate and soften. If you're not doing so, you may want to lather first, then shave, to allow the lather time to work. You'll want almost no pressure at all when you shave. Are you stretching your skin with your free hand when you shave? That helps smoothen the process (and the face).


Also, while I love my heftier 7/8 razors, my best shavers are both 5/8.