Shaving --it's a multi-pass thing.

There are things you can read that don't strike a chord until you have a few shaves under your belt. To veterans it's obvious but to a rookie like myself, the concept of not trying to remove all stubble with one pass and being content to move on to the next pass is one of those pivotal "ah hah" moments. My shaves are much better with little razor burn (not hacking on one spot helps) and it's less stressful to know "I'll get that on the next pass". So, from one one greenhorn to the next, "shaving --it's a multi-pass thing."

P.S. I realize some of the more experienced shavers can get good results with one pass, but that's another story.

I've started realizing the same thing too. In addition to the multi-pass, someone also helped me realize I don't have to press the razor into my face that hard... I have been trying to get everything on the first pass. I'm finding it's much easier on my sensitive skin to barely press the blade against the part I'm shaving and just let it do it's thing, not try to force it. I come out with much more fluid in my veins that way. :D

Yeah, not to mention you get the enjoyment of another lathering. mmmmm :y

X

Yep, mike-s, even when I knew I was going to do 2-3 passes, I would try to get it all (all that's visible) with the first pass. What were passes 2 and 3 for? --oh I don't know, it's just what they told me to do. That's how you think when your ears are still a little wet, but now, it's obvious, it's a divide and conquer thing --- not an all-or-nothing scorched earth policy. One pass-two passes-three passes -give it a light touch and you got one nice shave.

During all of my years of using a Gillette Atra razor and Edge or Barbasol shaving cream, I never thought of making multiple passes. I lathered up and shaved with a downward stroke. That was it. When I discovered "proper" wetshaving and started using a brush and quality shaving cream or soap, I read about using multiple passes. Joe Lerch taught me the most. Now, whether I use a straight razor or DE, I make at least two passes.

RT

I shave baby close with one pass...I know its hard to believe but true...How you may ask? an extremely sharp razor...patience in preping the skin...lather tech...stretching the skin...stroping the razor properly...most importantly being aware of the direction my beard grows on different parts of my face and thru experimentation finding the stroke that shaves off the beard...TAKES TIME

I always do two passes. One with and one against. I like the effect..:)

I do four on the face and two on the neck. I LOVE the effect of that. No hairs whatsoever after that treatment I can tell you.

I'm one of those guys that has a shadow, and I used to do the multiple-pass thing back when I really worried about BBS. Now I just do a once-over shave like the barber texts describe, which gets me BBS above the jawline and nearly BBS below it, which is good enough for me. I'll only do the multipass thing if there's a party that day or something that will need me still clean-shaven that evening.

That is a lot of shaving!

I just can't get a good shave with a single pass - I even did against and across the grain passes with cartridge razors.

I can get a decent shave with a N-S and S-N pass (I find using compass directions better than "with/against the grain" as grain direction differs between shavers and particular areas of the face.

Over the past week or so, I've been experimenting with an W-E pass on the left and E-W pass on the right along the jowl/jawline and that's made a huge difference. I'm going to experiment with the same sort of thing on the neck - I think that will make a big difference.

So my order is N-S, W-E/E-W and S-N - which translates into a 2.5 pass shave.

I'm typically two passes, with and against. Now, if I have time and I feel in the mood it may be as many as four passes. And who says you have to use the same razor each time? Using a really light touch gives amazing results.

A lot of what a man can accomplish has to do with how his beard grows, thick or thin, dense or sparse, straight out or flat down. As I see it there's no point in being lazy about it. Not doing the extra pass that I need to or not giving myself the proper level of prep before them. That will only cause issues and likely take longer anyhow.

X

X makes a good point. In straight razor shaving, "shortcuts" will make things take longer.

Straight razor shaving is progressive. Each step works only as well as the steps leading up to it.

Josh

I tend to do a four pass shave (with, across, back across, against) with touch up (against where needed) if I need BBS for the whole day, but then I won't shave the next day or I'll get irritation.

A two passer is good enough for most days, with and across.

I can get BBS in one pass if I do "buffing like" quick short strokes with the grain, but I won't enjoy it. It exfoliates to closely.

I'm with mparker - for me, a single pass is fine for my everyday shave. If something special is coming up I'll do an additional against the grain pass.

James.

When I started this thread, it was a "from one new guy to the next" type of thing. For the newbie, it might be best to tackle it in a multi-pass kind of way instead of trying to get it all in one shot. The more experienced shavers can get it in one pass, and this is something the greenhorns maybe can accomplish one day, but from what I've learned over the last four week, until you get the angle and the touch right, a multi-pass method can reduce razor burn and give a good shave ---and it gives you more experience with your razor. Thanks for the replies.