Learning XTG?

So I've been doing this straight razor thing for nigh on two months now. I have WTG down pat: I could shave WTG in the dark, in my sleep, under fire. I could shave WTG dry - I have, several times, due to improper lathering.

However, one thing I can't do is get any closer to my face than a certain you-can-definitely-still-feel-it length, and this is because I haven't yet mastered XTG shaving, much less ATG. Whenever I try the latter, especially on the areas of my face south of the neckline, it leads to pulling, unevenness, and plenty of shallow nicks (that, thankfully, usually clean up to a presentable level). That being the case, I've decided to try working XTG instead, hoping to reduce my beard still further before that final ATG pass.

Problem is, exactly where do I put the razor when I go across, especially below the jaw and on the neck? It seems that if I try to put the razor flush with my skin on one portion, I seriously risk slicing open the other. So, e.g. if I try to shave just underneath my chin, I could slit my throat open (okay, not really, but considering the blade angle it looks that way).

Ultimately, I know it comes down to more practice. In another month of religiously cleaning up by XTG I'll wonder how I ever had this problem. In the mean time, though, does anyone have any advice on passes to use, especially in those difficult parts like on either side of the windpipe?

So I just went to the mirror and found a new way to hold my razor that hopefully eliminates the problem. I'll find out tomorrow.

Still, advice is more than welcome.

I know exactly what you are talking about. I have the same problem and was having some serious stroke angle issues just today, in fact. You have that area on either side of your trachea that dip inwards and then you have muscle towards the outside of the neck so it would shave or cut on both sides of the dip but it wouldn't touch anything between. But then to turn the razor vertical to fit in that dip prevents you from going XTG and you have to go WTG or ATG. I'll be watching this thread to see what some of our more experienced members say.

Try approaching the XTG concept in a more diagonal direction versus a hard-set left / right motion. Each person’s face is different so any advice given is just that… advice. And you what they say about that. People talk about WTG, XTG, and ATG but you’ll find many who use all three motions. In almost 20 yrs. I've used the so-called ATG only a few times myself.

You know your face better then anyone.

Of course your beard is different than mine so ATG for me position wise may be WTG for you. You just have to figure out where you want to start and do it. It's really that simple. I used to do across on my chin and I would just lay the blade down on one side of my chin and go straight across to the middle and then start from the other side and go across to the middle.

Its all a matter of deciding where you need the stroke and do you want to do one big stroke or break it up into several smaller ones.

2 things to consider when shaving ATG. It is easier with an optimally honed razor & if you are nicking yourself try dropping the spine lower to your face.

one question i have is, are you stretching the skin properly? this is very important WTG, ATG. i found that once you learn to stretch the skin it works a lot better, most of all it will come in time and with more shaves completed. i have been at it for going on a year and still am learning more...good luck

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Originally Posted by Jovus

So I've been doing this straight razor thing for nigh on two months now. I have WTG down pat: I could shave WTG in the dark, in my sleep, under fire. I could shave WTG dry - I have, several times, due to improper lathering.

However, one thing I can't do is get any closer to my face than a certain you-can-definitely-still-feel-it length, and this is because I haven't yet mastered XTG shaving, much less ATG. Whenever I try the latter, especially on the areas of my face south of the neckline, it leads to pulling, unevenness, and plenty of shallow nicks (that, thankfully, usually clean up to a presentable level). That being the case, I've decided to try working XTG instead, hoping to reduce my beard still further before that final ATG pass.

Problem is, exactly where do I put the razor when I go across, especially below the jaw and on the neck? It seems that if I try to put the razor flush with my skin on one portion, I seriously risk slicing open the other. So, e.g. if I try to shave just underneath my chin, I could slit my throat open (okay, not really, but considering the blade angle it looks that way).

Ultimately, I know it comes down to more practice. In another month of religiously cleaning up by XTG I'll wonder how I ever had this problem. In the mean time, though, does anyone have any advice on passes to use, especially in those difficult parts like on either side of the windpipe?

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Jovus...may I suggest the tutorial that is found in the Wiki under shaving videos, the Jockeys video on shaving, take a look a it and see if it helps...I have a lot of issues shaving around my lips, I watched this video, and it helped me shave those problem areas.

For my neck, the tricks that together got me to BBS shaves included...

• Stretching of skin. I actually pull the skin in several different directions, during passes from varying directions.
• Scooping, diagonal, scything passes. It took some passes involving a motion that combined a scooping motion, moving in a diagonal direction, with a slice or scything movement of the blade.
• Final cold shave pass. When my skin is properly wet, warm and moist, shaving off beard hair is easiest. Unfortunately for me, my skin expands slightly when warm exposing less of the beard for shaving. So, when I am done shaving, I have stubble where I didn't while shaving. The final "trick" that moved my neck shave to something acceptable was taking a final cold, wet shave pass. I splash cool water over my neck for a moment, and lather with my brush with cool water mixed with soap. And, take one final pass.

A few others on SRP said they have also found the same - skin expands over hair follicle when hot - and if true for you, even if you don't change anything else about your technique, a final wet, cold pass might be enough to noticeably improve your shave. (Of course, this assumes your beard on your neck is not too tough; mine isn't.)

I hope this helps! Good luck.

here is what worked for me:

1-do it SATURDAY Morning (you dont wanna try this monday morning, get a nick, and go to work looking like a freshly made Frankenstein)
2-make sure you razor is in perfect/good shape, using whatever method you like (yes, the "good shape" do the trick for me...I acctually "measure" the sharpness of my razors based on the XTG performance)
3-prepare you skin :soapbox:
4-start with your regular WTG , stretching the skin and gradually increase the angle (5 degrees each stroke) until you reach the XTG stroke
*very important, the skin stretch in my case if different based on the type of stroke. I.e. when I go WTG I bring my skin up (toward the sky [haha]). for the XTG i go sidewise. ATG...well..I still need to master this one.

take care and enjoy your BBS (at least for a couple of hours)

i find stretching the skin makes it much easier for going ATG & no drag/pull on the blade

Thanks to everyone who replied.

I figured out the main problem: my razor's not sharp enough!

I've had it for a few months now, and, as usual, I probably messed it up in the beginning. I recently purchased a second razor and finally shaved with it yesterday, which is what tipped me off to the problem (and my sloppy technique - yowch).