WTG pass seems like the only one i can do..

[shorynot]

Been at it for a bout a month with my straightblade that was sharpened by hl bud. I am getting pretty decent results going wtg...but I just cant seem to get any other pass down at all. Ive read all the artciles on the wiki and peoples description of different techniques. But XTG and ATG doesnt seem to agree with my face.

Is it possible that i can achieve a very close shave with multiple WTG passes? I know its not my blade because its very sharp. Basically i only shave a small spot on my cheeks and then my chin and lips. I just do 2 or 3 wtg passes and get a pretty close shave. My cheeks dont have hardly any grown, and my chin hair grows in the typical direction. I love shaving like this, but by the end of the day the close shave feeling is long gone.

[ENUF2]

Play with the razor angle to the face XTG, ATG a little made a BIG difference for me. No pressure with the stroke and is your lather giving you enough lube? Don't give up it takes time. One other thing how are you doing skin streching?

[59caddy]

are you stretching the skin and also are doing a good prep with hot towel and or taking shower prior to shaving. i had some problems at first and found that just after a hot shower works best. i am sure you have heard before, it takes time and sometimes seems like a long process. do not give up. hopefully other members can help more..good luck

[shorynot]

Yeah, like i said above my cheeks have very little growth so they are easy to shave. As far as skin stretching goes i normally make a weird face to do my chin. And for the corners of my chin and just below ill actually grab my lip and pull it up to get a decent angle.

My prep is pretty good i think because my hair is pretty soft by time i get around to shaving. I normally either soak with a hot towel or shave after my shower. Both ways i put conditioner on my face to soften up my hair.

Im using Truefitt & Hill shaving cream, and i only lather the spot im working on. If my face ever does seem to feel dry i throw more hot water on it and then apply the lather again. I stopped lathering my whole face and just hit the spots im working on because its still taking me a while and the lather will dry up.

[Kenrup]

To me it sounds as if you do not have enough water in your lather. Water is you friend. I would recommend you lay your razor as flat as you can, then lift the spine until you realize it is cutting. Your razor should not pull. Supporting your skin by "stretching" will help considerably.

[Alraz]

Ken brings up a very important point, make sure that you have the peak of the cream and hydrate the lather a bit past that point, but only a couple of drops or so. I used the that method of lathering only on the section where I was going to shave next for awhile and I soon discovered that some of the irritation problems that I was having had to do with dry lather. Truefitt & Hill makes excellent creams, if your lather is right, it would take awhile before it dries on your skin, "regardless" of how slow you are. No doubt that multiple passes would increase the closeness of your shave, especially if you hit the whiskers from all directions. However, there is a compromise between closeness and comfort, I would suggest that you aim for the latter as closeness would come as your technique improves. Also remember that different passes require changes in angle. Perhaps the best advice I can give you is to be patient with your progress and to go as far as your confidence takes you, it will build with success rather than failure.

Al raz.

[Pabster]

Shorynot,

I think you can get a very good shave WTG in two passes with a very sharp edge and a good prep. XTG - if you have not tried this already, just vary the stroke a little different from what you do WTG and see how that works for you and see if you can build upon it.

I hope this helps.

Pabster

[shorynot]

Thanks for the advice, so far i been doing multiple wtg passes but im having wuite the time figuring out my xtg passes. I tried atg earlier today and it seemed to get a pretty close shave right under my chin...so i think im going to slowly work around my face practicing wtg then atg. Most people say that is how they achieve their closest shaves

[Kenrup]

Thanks for the advice, so far i been doing multiple wtg passes but im having wuite the time figuring out my xtg passes. I tried atg earlier today and it seemed to get a pretty close shave right under my chin...so i think im going to slowly work around my face practicing wtg then atg. Most people say that is how they achieve their closest shaves

You are correct. Reduce the beard by shaving WTG and then a second pass XTG.

[Utopian]

I get a perfectly adequate shave with a single WTG pass. The only time I do ATG is when I'm testing razors, because my skin is fairly sensitive and I do just fine with the WTG. Since you've only been at this a month, I'll suggest patience.
That is, stick with the WTG passes most of the time and occasionally, when you have extra time and you're in the mood, try the other strokes and see if you have any better luck. Even though you may feel that you are already perfectly adept at handling your razor after a month, I guarantee that you will be better at it in 6 months. Over the years (yup, years) it will all become much more instinctual and it will be much easier for you to get a better shave.