Thread: ATG: Better not to hesitate?

Hi there, I have been using a straight for a few weeks now, mainly on weekends, and have found, I guess like all newbies, that going ATG was a "problem". At first I had the feeling that it was not happening, as blade seemed to be "stucked" (sharpness should not be an issue, it happens with a Solingen honed by Martin from Rasurpur, who has a great reputation, and also with a Friodur), but just recently I have noticed that even if I find some resistance I just need to continue, having some faith and....voilá!! It does scare a little, and sometimes is not enough, as the angle simply does not work, guess is just a matter of self-confidence combined with better technique....

Am I alone on this?

Regards

Carlos

i am finding some trouble with ATG i also have a dovo, honed by an expert. it might be angle, technique, stropping, maybe a combination. hopefully it'll get better over time.

From what little experience I have (6 months) I find that ATG on my neck and cheeks is no problem. I try to keep the blade angle pretty shallow, maybe half of my WTG angle. I am also finding that with all strokes one key is the landing of the blade on the face. By this I mean when that blade first touches the skin that is the beginning of a successful stroke, or not. Smooth landings are key. Now ATG on the chin is a whole nother story. I continue to work on that area. I have found that some improvement can be had with a very short stroke ATG never raising the blade from the skin. This Stroke was taught to me as a DE stroke and I can't remember the name of it, but you place the blade on the skin ever so gently and move back and forth in minute spaces ever working forward. Maybe someone remembers the name of the stroke? Anyway keep tryin, I am sure that we will all get it down eventually.

Mark

it is most likely your angle. it's easy to lose track of the angle as you are following a curve... remember, the angle must remain constant, relative to your skin.

follow the first link in my sig for a demo video. i had trouble with it too, at first, because i wasn't maintaining a constant angle.

keep after it!

Actually, for the cheeks, you'll find that going across the grain or XTG at first is an easier way to go. You can always go against the grain as you gain confidence with the razor and your abilities. I find that for the chin area, which is super thick beard, all I ever need is one with the grain WTG stroke. Could do a XTG, but really not needed. The only true area to start ATG is under the chin or neck area and the problem here is that the hair usually grows all over the place and you end up developing an XTG stroke for this area as well. As with all shaving strokes, I find short strokes followed by longer clean up strokes to be the most effective.

Lynn

Thanks guys, thing is I can do it most of the times, but usually found a resistance I do not feel when going WTG, and at first I took this as a "no-no" sign, but now I have learned that if I insist it will go through, although not as smooth (and also making a quite "scary" sound!)

Make sure you try to flatten out your angle a little too and see if that also helps.

Lynn

Originally Posted by Mandrake

(and also making a quite "scary" sound!)

if it sounds like you are buttering toast with a rust knife, then that's normal. you'll hear that sound a lot on my videos.

If your razor is sharp and you are using the proper angle, resistance may be an indication that your lather is too dry.

Al raz.

There's so much good advice there, but i wanted to add that you are right about confident strokes. Hesitance can get you nicked, as the edge digs in a little. Confidence is good, but don't just plough (plow) through it. If there is resistance, i think it should be minimal & maybe you haven't got things as close as you need to with WTG & XTG.