Shaving ATG = Much to Difficult

Greetings my Brother's of the Blade!

I have grown quite discouraged as of late. I probably have about 10 shaves under my belt with my Solingen Hollow Ground Straight razor from the art of shaving. I think i've grown quite proficient at shaving WTG. I don't shave XTG, but when it comes to my second pass ATG my experience straight shaving sours quite quickly, especially in my beard/mustache area. I shave right after I'm out of the shower, I use pre-shave oil, I apply my lather but when it comes time to put my blade to my face and go ATG on my mustache area, the whiskers feel to thick for the blade to pass through them smoothly. My blade comes to a straight stop when it comes against them. The blade will either skip and hop or I have to somewhat forcefully maneuver the blade through and I can only make tiny tiny passes before it will come to a dead stop again. I've seen multiple shaving videos on youtube and I don't see anyone else having this problem. My whiskers can't be the only ones that create this issue. I do all of my shaving with my right hand, I wonder if its an angle issue? But no matter what degree I come in at, i still get the tug/pull feel.

Granted I'm still learning the process but from start to finish its taking me 30-40 minutes to shave my whole face only doing WTG and ATG. I feel that that is far to long :/.

I've also purchased a strop from nun2sharp and gotten my blade sharped by Lynn. I can't imagine my blade not being shave ready after being honed/sharpened by Lynn. I strop before and after my shave.

As of right now, I can comfortably do a WTG pass but then I switch over to cartridge blade to do ATG. Its just so much easier and less frusteration. Sigh, Any advice?

I thought I'd seen this post before but it was one similar ;) http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...st-not-me.html

Your not having an unusual experience. Read the posts in the link & maybe try the XTG pass it can help prepare for the ATG pass by further reducing stubble.

Snowdorf, please don't get discouraged. It's worth it in the long run, really.

First things first, why do you want to shave ATG? It's not like it's mandatory, you know :) For a lot of people it's 'over rated'. I didn't start shaving ATG for months, and I still only do it occasionally. I guess some people with a heavy, thick, fast growing beard really need to, but it's not necessarily 'needed'.

Secondly, do you think you should give just shaving WTG a decent go before you tackle what really is a hard element of a hard skill? Get the easier elements 'down pat' first and then go for the harder stuff.

Thirdly, little tiny ATG passes are, for me, the norm. Yes, the blade does need to be really sharp. If it's been honed by Lyn it was sharp. is it STILL sharp? Does it feel the same? It is possible to dull a razor with poor stropping. Though with only 10 shaves that's unlikely unless you really stuffed the stropping up.

Fourthly, try holding the razor in a really loose grip when going ATG. REALLY loose. Just using your finger and thumb. This way if it does 'come up' against a stubborn hair, it's less likely to dig in and more likely to give way and pivot. Practice the easier bits first (cheeks), then under the nose and chin much later. Like SIX months later. Seriously. A little at a time

Fifthly (is that a word?) try stopping after WTG and before ATG, maybe 20/30. I do 30/70 before shaving and often 20/30 before ATG. I also re-apply the pre-shave cream I use (Proraso) for ATG, and make the ATG lather a little more watery. Be careful that the lather hasn't thickened whilst doing the WTG. I often find it's a little dry by then (and I get a first pass done pretty quickly these days; when I started it too was about 40 minutes; you DO get better and quicker).

Sixthly (surely that's not a word) no shame in using a DE to do a little ATG after a straight razor WTG, in fact, it gives you a chance to buy a cool piece of equipment and use it. DE's are cool. Plastic thingies are NOT cool.

Seventhly (OK, that's NOT a word) relax, have fun, keep at it. It's a really cool thing you're doing, but it's also a HARD thing. It takes time to get it right.

Carl

Anything that requires time and patience to learn the skill set required to complete the task has got to be worth the trouble. Relax, take it easy and take your time. Ten shaves does not equate to much at all (not being offensive, just to the point).


Mick

10 shaves is nothing. Try doing a ear-to-nose pass after your wtg.

I use a chin to ear instead of a true ATG. It seems to be the way my whiskers grow.
Learn your beard, soon enough you'll have a really fine shave. As everyone has stated, it takes time.

I switched to a DE and traditional wetshaving over a year ago. After 3 months decided to give a straight a try. The first 5 times I put the straight to my face for WTG I couldn't get it to budge so I quit, picked up the DE and went to town. Finally got that first WTG pass and quickly progressed to adding XTG. Then the first several times I put the blade to my neck to go ATG I couldn't get the blade to budge so I stopped, picked up the DE and finished my shave. Finally got it right and now I do WTG, XTG, and ATG with the straight. I still have to do some touchup, especially on the neck with the DE but one day I'll finally figure that out.

Keep at it, be patient, and remember the ultimate goal is a good irritation free shave, how you get there doesn't much matter.

Charlie

I agree 10 shaves is nothing.

At that stage I wouldn't even be dreaming of ATG strokes. You don't yet have enough facility with the razor to do that maneuver and that is why you are having problems. You are trying to rush learning a skill and that's not a good thing to do.

Just slow down and it will come in time.

maybe the very reason you are not able to shave ATG is not reducing the beard enough. try doing XTG in both directions (2 passes). this always gets me close enough.