Thread: Baffled by needing many passes

What great replies! Thank you to everyone! Based on the comments, I'd say about the only additional piece of info I can offer is that I encounter very strong resistance when I get to a part where my beard is thick, say, for example on either side of my chin. It feels like I would actually have to really shove the blade when going ATG. From everything I've read, that isn't good. Thoughts?

Originally Posted by medicineball

What great replies! Thank you to everyone! Based on the comments, I'd say about the only additional piece of info I can offer is that I encounter very strong resistance when I get to a part where my beard is thick, say, for example on either side of my chin. It feels like I would actually have to really shove the blade when going ATG. From everything I've read, that isn't good. Thoughts?

Do like you parents told you and don't shove anyone, including your razor. Pull the skin tight away from the direction the blade is moving and angle the edge so that the spine is laying flatter against your skin. But if you're finding that it it wont budge, again, you may need a sharper edge. But if you're new to the experience, don't go ATG until you've got some of those other issues corrected and you're more comfortable using your razor. Save the ATG for later or rely on your DE (or whatever razor you used prior) for that final ATG pass.

Reasons why the ATG pass may be experiencing resistance:
1. Razor is not truely shave ready, it is hard for noobs to know because noobs must learn how to strop the edge while they are learning how to use the razor correctly and the edge must be stropped before each use or it will not stay shave ready.

2. Pre-shave prep did not soften the beard adequately, or the beard is beginning to dry and harden before the ATG pass. Try rehydration by wetting your brush tips and rebrushing your face or relather before ATG passes. Try a shower/shampoo/conditioner immediately before shaving and do not let the lather or beard dry before finishing all your passes.

3. ATG should be tried only after major beard reduction. Trying ATG against normal beard growth before major reduction by WTG/XTG can be expected to show resistance. ATG is for final finishing and should be used only after successful WTG/XTG passes. You should be able to 1st get a reasonable shave using WTG/XTG only. It takes a while to develop proficiency with the straight because you will need to find out what works for you while paying attention to blade direction, blade angle, blade feel, blade sound, skin stretching, and hair growth direction.