Thread: Ready for ATG but stuck

It's been a couple of months since I started straight shaving, and I can now go WTG and XTG easily. I've been getting great shaves, and I haven't even reached for my styptic pencil in a long long time.

I figure now is an opportune time to revisit my ATG pass in an attempt to conquer it. I can go ATG easily with my DE, but my straight is a whole different story.

I get lots of tugging, and my razor just refuses to move. I have barely any hair on my face after my XTG pass, so I can't imagine why it would be this difficult. Here's the sad part: even if I manage to get my razor to move, it doesn't even cut any hair.

When I started straight razor shaving, I got pulling WTG, and it was a technique problem. I would like to blame the razor, but I'm sure it's it's a technique problem here.

I'm just stuck. For my cheeks I don't know how to stretch the skin. If I stretch the skin up, then my skin just clumps together when I'm moving the razor. If I stretch the skin down, the skin doesn't move, but the hairs are tougher to cut. I've tried less of an angle, and less pressure, but nothing works.

So, for those of you who have managed to read this far, should I send my razor out to be honed again, or should I just keep trying? Which way should I be stretching my skin, and what other tips do you have?

i think the lower the angle the better i put the blade on my face flat then just lift it enough so the edge just touches the skin i normally shave my neck first then stretch my face from below has worked well for me been shaving for a year now and am getting bbs 99% of the time just take it very slow

For the longest time I would preach Honing and Technique, but after going to some of the Meet Ups I have learned that some people just can't shave ATG...
So my advice is keep working at getting your angles and honing better and better until finally everything clicks and ATG happens, or you finally realize that you don't shave ATG

oh and +1 with what Joe said lower angle is better for ATG and I strech from the bottom too...

Everyone's face is different, but works for me is to focus only on very small sections at a time. Going WTG down the side of my face I can just tug up from the sideburn area and then go most the way down my cheek.

However, for ATG I only try to shave about 1 inch or so at a time before readjusting. I usually start at the bottom and work my way up. Using the freshly shaved area as the next get to grab onto and stretch (since it no longer has any slippery lather on it).

Also, with ATG I do only short little back and forth strokes rather than trying to drag the razor long distances. I find this leads to a closer shave and less irritation on ATG. Especially with ATG there is a temptation to apply more pressure since the hairs provide more resistance in that directly, but resist that temptation or you'll end up with some nasty razor burn. I just focus on short little strokes and let the angle and blade do the work.

Just my two cents worth.

Originally Posted by gull

It's been a couple of months since I started straight shaving, and I can now go WTG and XTG easily. I've been getting great shaves, and I haven't even reached for my styptic pencil in a long long time.

I figure now is an opportune time to revisit my ATG pass in an attempt to conquer it. I can go ATG easily with my DE, but my straight is a whole different story.

I get lots of tugging, and my razor just refuses to move. I have barely any hair on my face after my XTG pass, so I can't imagine why it would be this difficult. Here's the sad part: even if I manage to get my razor to move, it doesn't even cut any hair.

When I started straight razor shaving, I got pulling WTG, and it was a technique problem. I would like to blame the razor, but I'm sure it's it's a technique problem here.

I'm just stuck. For my cheeks I don't know how to stretch the skin. If I stretch the skin up, then my skin just clumps together when I'm moving the razor. If I stretch the skin down, the skin doesn't move, but the hairs are tougher to cut. I've tried less of an angle, and less pressure, but nothing works.

So, for those of you who have managed to read this far, should I send my razor out to be honed again, or should I just keep trying? Which way should I be stretching my skin, and what other tips do you have?

Remember that any proper 'stretching' will be making the skin tighter, a much better surface for shaving than lose skin which can get bunched up in front of the blade.
The direction won't matter much if you're getting the skin surface tighter.

Thanks for the advice guys! I can't wait to try some of your tips out tomorrow.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

For the longest time I would preach Honing and Technique, but after going to some of the Meet Ups I have learned that some people just can't shave ATG...
So my advice is keep working at getting your angles and honing better and better until finally everything clicks and ATG happens, or you finally realize that you don't shave ATG

oh and +1 with what Joe said lower angle is better for ATG and I strech from the bottom too...

This is the answer. I cannot go directly against the grain but on an angle. you need to learn the best angle for you.

Good Luck!!

Lowering the angle, super stretching the skin, and a nice guillotine stroke helped me.

Well here's an update guys.

The razor didn't get stuck as much, and I managed to actually cut some hair this time!

The bad is that I got massive razor burn on one cheek, a few weepers on the other cheek, and I missed some hair.

Oddly enough, my chin and upper lip--the hardest spots--are fine If I can replicate those results for the rest of my face, I'll be golden. The important part is that I know I can do this; I just need more practice.

I'm going to let my face rest for a day...or two, then try again. Wish me luck!

If you are getting that close to having it, then try stropping 20 laps on leather right before you try the ATG pass