Pulling skin tight? ATG

I put this here because I now in straight razor shaving you guys have to pull this skin taught, I believe you guys would know more about this pulling skin question. Have been shaving for a little under 2 years with both of the Above the Tie 7 piece system closed bar and open comb recently gifted the slant combo set and The Mongoose razor recently acquired.

I am not able to shave against the grain. I can get DFS just not BBS and I have one sensitive trouble swirly area bottom left of my Adams apple.

In the hot shower with a mirror, "AFTER" WTG and XTG, the first attempt at ATG using speeds slow medium or quick short strokes and errrrrr dead stop! Then pores begin to bleed my head drops with defeat....not giving up though, obviously in need of help!

Any help would be great I do have a tough beard and have shaved with my hart 7/8 once WTG only...."EVENTUALLY" would love the the ATG with a straight. I thought if I could achieve this with a DE then I could confidently move on to the straight right or not right?

I now it's me not the equipment! Can pulling the skin too tight make the beard hairs harder to cut? How about speed?

Thanks guys,
Eric

I'm a little confused by you post. Are you trying to achieve a BBS with your DE or straight razor. After re-reading your post I'm guessing DE.

Which brand of blades are you using in your ATT razor. Which ATT plate are you using during your ATG shaving pass.

I would also suggest shaving in front of a mirror and not in the shower. The hot water and steam may be exacerbating your bleeding an irritation problems.

I would try my three pass shave in front of a mirror and rinsing with cold water after each pass.

I have used feather, astra, treet carbon, wilkinson sword gillette, just name a few. I have tried ATG with each plate.

I'm confused by your post also :shrug: Shouldn't this be in the saftey razor forum?
Mentioning a straight razor seems irrelevant.

You have been DE shaving for 2 years and have difficulty with what exactly? You are bleeding from WTG, XTG and ATG passes?

Watch some DE videos, it shouldn't be hard with 2 years experience. Your post is confusing as hell to read.

Use a light touch at all times. Think flattening the skin and keeping it taught more so than stretching the skin. You don't really need to stretch too much with DE, just around trouble spots.

ANd I would leave the straight razor well alone for now if you're having this much trouble with a DE.

Several possibilities arise:
1. Equipment - an open comb is more aggressive than the closed bar - start with the closed bar.
Do not even think about ATG with the slant until you have the other heads down pat for a while.
Also, although this may contribute very little to this problem, I find some blade brands more scratchy/nicky than others.
Would not hurt (and is always fun) to try a different blade brand.
2. Prep - you did not mention your pre-shave and soap. Sometimes the extra lubrication of a pre-shave product helps.
Putting Creamo under your lather for a troublesome ATG can help a bit.
3. Technique - if you are bleeding, you must be pushing. You can get away with a little pressure WTG (but you still shouldn't) -
but it will bite you ATG.
Any pressure is too much pressure ATG.

The same applies to ATG with a straight, but even more so. Prep, technique, and edge must be as good as possible.
When you can do a ATG with a DE with no irritation or blood and your WTG is good with a straight - you are ready to try ATG with a straight.

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Originally Posted by feltspanky

I'm a little confused by you post. Are you trying to achieve a BBS with your DE or straight razor. After re-reading your post I'm guessing DE.

Which brand of blades are you using in your ATT razor. Which ATT plate are you using during your ATG shaving pass.

I would also suggest shaving in front of a mirror and not in the shower. The hot water and steam may be exacerbating your bleeding an irritation problems.

I would try my three pass shave in front of a mirror and rinsing with cold water after each pass.

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I have a mirror in the shower, thanks I will stop the shower shave then and try cold water between shave passes.
I have used feather, astra, treet carbon, wilkinson sword gillette, just name a few. I have tried ATG with each plate.
in the end I would like to shave complete 3 passes with both DE and Straight.
Thank you

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Originally Posted by dshaves

I have used feather, astra, treet carbon, wilkinson sword gillette, just name a few. I have tried ATG with each plate.

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My memory may be off but I believe there's six possible options for base plates with the ATT shaving system. When you purchase the seven piece set you get to pick three. Which three are you using to shave, open comb, closed comb or a combination. For example, H2, H1' R2, R1' etc.

Successfully shaving ATG with a S.R. requires a sharp blade and experience. Shaving ATG under the jaw line takes lots of practice. You need many successful WTG and XTG shaves under your belt before worrying about ATG with your S.R.

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Originally Posted by IndependenceRazor1

Several possibilities arise:
1. Equipment - an open comb is more aggressive than the closed bar - start with the closed bar.
Do not even think about ATG with the slant until you have the other heads down pat for a while.
Also, although this may contribute very little to this problem, I find some blade brands more scratchy/nicky than others.
Would not hurt (and is always fun) to try a different blade brand.
2. Prep - you did not mention your pre-shave and soap. Sometimes the extra lubrication of a pre-shave product helps.
Putting Creamo under your lather for a troublesome ATG can help a bit.
3. Technique - if you are bleeding, you must be pushing. You can get away with a little pressure WTG (but you still shouldn't) -
but it will bite you ATG.
Any pressure is too much pressure ATG.

The same applies to ATG with a straight, but even more so. Prep, technique, and edge must be as good as possible.
When you can do a ATG with a DE with no irritation or blood and your WTG is good with a straight - you are ready to try ATG with a straight.

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Currently using AOS ocean kelp cream, AOS lavender soap in wood bowl and proraso green cream. I tried pre shave oil felt tacky while shaving. Thank you, Super helpful info here!

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Originally Posted by feltspanky

My memory may be off but I believe there's six possible options for base plates with the ATT shaving system. When you purchase the seven piece set you get to pick three. Which three are you using to shave, open comb, closed comb or a combination. For example, H2, H1' R2, R1' etc.

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I have every base plate they make. H1 R1 M1 H2 R2 M2 Slant closed bar and slant open comb.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RedGladiator

I'm confused by your post also :shrug: Shouldn't this be in the saftey razor forum?
Mentioning a straight razor seems irrelevant.

You have been DE shaving for 2 years and have difficulty with what exactly? You are bleeding from WTG, XTG and ATG passes?

Watch some DE videos, it shouldn't be hard with 2 years experience. Your post is confusing as hell to read.

Use a light touch at all times. Think flattening the skin and keeping it taught more so than stretching the skin. You don't really need to stretch too much with DE, just around trouble spots.

ANd I would leave the straight razor well alone for now if you're having this much trouble with a DE.

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I receive great shaves just not BBS. My goal is to move on to straights since I have less irritation with them I thought I should try to master my DE's ATG first then move to the ATG with the straight. If I am wrong please let me know what you think? thank you

"You Sir Are Well Prepared". I also have the seven piece ATT shaving system. I have. The H2, H1' and R1. I prefer doing my three pass shave with the R1 plate. I get very good BBS shaves without irritation. I use a light application of Noxzema cleansing cream as a pre-shave prep and lather directly over-top. I apply the Noxzema before each razor pass. I rinse with cold water.

I have several brands of DE blades not mentioned in your list. I can send you a few different ones to try. My blade of choice these days is Rapira Platinum Lux.

Here's my $0.02:

Choose your most comfortable razor (I wouldn't recommend the slant or a straight during this time) and stick with that for at least a month.

Shave daily and don't use a blade more than 3 times during this process.

First work on getting a pretty close shave on the WTG and XTG passes. Less likely to catch resistance on your ATG pass.

Use your slickest shaving soap/cream and make sure you have plenty of water in it to keep it moist during that third ATG pass.

On your ATG keep the angle of the blade low and try to use a light touch.

Then practice.

See how that goes and let us all know how it works for you.

... Oh, and YES pulling the skin helps every time. :tu

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Originally Posted by feltspanky

"You Sir Are Well Prepared". I also have the seven piece ATT shaving system. I have. The H2, H1' and R1. I prefer doing my three pass shave with the R1 plate. I get very good BBS shaves without irritation. I use a light application of Noxzema cleansing cream as a pre-shave prep and lather directly over-top. I apply the Noxzema before each razor pass. I rinse with cold water.

I have several brands of DE blades not mentioned in your list. I can send you a few different ones to try. My blade of choice these day is Rapira Platinum Lux.

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Thank you! I have only tried pre shave oil, it felt pretty tacky didn't like it so I didn't try anything else (pretty dumb). I will try your recommended steps. I would really appreciate trying some different blades thank you!

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Originally Posted by KindestCutOfAll

Here's my $0.02:

Choose your most comfortable razor (I wouldn't recommend the slant or a straight during this time) and stick with that for at least a month.

Shave daily and don't use a blade more than 3 times during this process.

First work on getting a pretty close shave on the WTG and XTG passes. Less likely to catch resistance on your ATG pass.

Use your slickest shaving soap/cream and make sure you have plenty of water in it to keep it moist during that third ATG pass.

On your ATG keep the angle of the blade low and try to use a light touch.

Then practice.

See how that goes and let us all know how it works for you.

... Oh, and YES pulling the skin helps every time. :tu

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Thank you for your 2 cents great instructions. I will try this system too along with feltspanky's to narrow what I am doing wrong! Will update too when there is victory

I've found that on my neck, lots of the hair emerges from the skin at a very shallow angle, darn near parallel to the skin surface. Here, stretching makes it lay against the skin even more rigidly. In these spots, I leave the skin slack to allow these hairs to stand up more. Zero pressure, and it works for my beard.

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Originally Posted by Bentlink

I've found that on my neck, lots of the hair emerges from the skin at a very shallow angle, darn near parallel to the skin surface. Here, stretching makes it lay against the skin even more rigidly. In these spots, I leave the skin slack to allow these hairs to stand up more. Zero pressure, and it works for my beard.

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My beard grows exactly the same way. Your description makes a lot of sense when pulling the skin too tight! I will try slack and zero pressure thank you

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bentlink

I've found that on my neck, lots of the hair emerges from the skin at a very shallow angle, darn near parallel to the skin surface. Here, stretching makes it lay against the skin even more rigidly. In these spots, I leave the skin slack to allow these hairs to stand up more. Zero pressure, and it works for my beard.

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Yes, and remember it makes a difference which direction you stretch. For example, if the hair lays down toward the south, then you have to put your stretching finger to the north to make the hairs stand up.

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Originally Posted by deepweeds

Yes, and remember it makes a difference which direction you stretch. For example, if the hair lays down toward the south, then you have to put your stretching finger to the north to make the hairs stand up.

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Wow Thank you! Great idea didn't think of that!

Great success report, slack skin, ATG, worked so well!!! Can't believe it but it did!
2 passes WTG/ATG
ATT R1 Fresh Astra blade
Noxzema cream pre shave between each pass
Prospector Co. shaving cream
Aveeno after shave
Comfortable comfortable comfortable!!!
Thank you everyone for the advice
After mastering this technique then on to straights

I'm going to go slightly against the tide here and state that:

1) In general, pretty much any razor with a decent blade should give you a CCS (close, comfortable shave). If you can't get a good shave, it's most likely incorrect technique that's the problem.

2) Focusing on BBS is a waste of time. One of the best statements I've seen on these forums was: "BBS is the reward for a good shave, not the target." (or something like that, but you get the idea).

3) You should choose a setup (razor head/blade combo) and then work on your prep and technique until you get a great shave. Pretty much any DE razor should get you there, though some razors are more efficient than others. Switching setups is counter-productive.

I still have pretty tight skin on the neck, but find severe facial contortions help with my shave in stretching and flattening surfaces and shaving problem areas. Besides, I lock the washroom door. No one can see! :D

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

I still have pretty tight skin on the neck, but find severe facial contortions help with my shave in stretching and flattening surfaces and shaving problem areas. Besides, I lock the washroom door. No one can see! :D

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Tried this last night and had to stop shaving because my cat was watching and I still felt embarrassed LOL

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Originally Posted by dshaves

Tried this last night and had to stop shaving because my cat was watching and I still felt embarrassed LOL

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Yes, I can relate!:D

Attachment 189792

Update! So for the last couple of weeks I have been using Noxzema cream as pre shave in between each lather and 4 drops of pure glycerin added to the lather to my shaves. Aftershave is pure aloe vera from Safeway grocery store on my neck and any other aftershave type on my face (face skin is not sensitive just the neck). I have to thank everyone here who helped me with their suggestions because I can get a complete 3 pass shave just shy of BBS without irritation or frustration!!!yeah!!! I am going through the sample pack of blades that feltspanky had sent me which is awesome of him to do that and exciting for me to go through them!!! Again thank you guys

I'm glad you were able to work out the issues with your shave. I hope they continue to improve.

Good luck!

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Originally Posted by yohannrjm

I'm glad you were able to work out the issues with your shave. I hope they continue to improve.

Good luck!

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Thank you for the encouragement!

For me ATG I pull the skin slightly (nowhere near as much as with a straight) And I tend to use different soaps mainly Palmolive shave stick and I know my 2 best blade options with my Brit TV superspeed or 59' Fatboy.
I have tried ATT razor I didnt like it I struggled to BBS even a DFS was a struggle,

It sounds like things are moving in the right direction. I almost never give any recommendations on shaving technique and maybe I should stop here. Most barbers do not recommend ATG passes, OK so now you’ve been warned. All good info re: prep with Creamo, Noxzema or whatever slick stuff you have found.

If you decide to try and use a Str8 ATG to obtain a 48hr shave it is best to make your 3rd pass using small chipping or “buffing” motions. As your confidence builds, when shaving your neck or Adams apple area go ahead and stretch the skin tight. When you think the skin is as tight as you can stretch it, tilt your head back and look up at the ceiling. This will stretch the skin even tighter.

To reduce the chance for cuts, you can also hold the Str8 blade flat by pressing the spine into the skin to get the whiskers to roll up and over the blade (same effect as keeping the skin slack). Your razor blade has to be tip top for this. With practice you will not need to look in the mirror to make these passes. Hope this makes some sense and good luck sir.
Mike
I don’t care too much if my cat wants to stare at me while shaving but I don’t want him rubbing up against my leg when you least expect it!:gl:

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Originally Posted by MODINE

I don’t care too much if my cat wants to stare at me while shaving but I don’t want him rubbing up against my leg when you least expect it!:gl:

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Gawd! Nothing creeps me like that! Pull the cat drinking from the toilet (Yes.:p), throw it out without getting scratched, and lock the British Tabby out. It happens on occasion...............:roflmao

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Originally Posted by MODINE

It sounds like things are moving in the right direction. I almost never give any recommendations on shaving technique and maybe I should stop here. Most barbers do not recommend ATG passes, OK so now you’ve been warned. All good info re: prep with Creamo, Noxzema or whatever slick stuff you have found.

If you decide to try and use a Str8 ATG to obtain a 48hr shave it is best to make your 3rd pass using small chipping or “buffing” motions. As your confidence builds, when shaving your neck or Adams apple area go ahead and stretch the skin tight. When you think the skin is as tight as you can stretch it, tilt your head back and look up at the ceiling. This will stretch the skin even tighter.

To reduce the chance for cuts, you can also hold the Str8 blade flat by pressing the spine into the skin to get the whiskers to roll up and over the blade (same effect as keeping the skin slack). Your razor blade has to be tip top for this. With practice you will not need to look in the mirror to make these passes. Hope this makes some sense and good luck sir.
Mike
I don’t care too much if my cat wants to stare at me while shaving but I don’t want him rubbing up against my leg when you least expect it!:gl:

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This is information is perfectly timed as I am soon to receive my razor back from shooter74743 who has set me straight with my straight! I am excited because just in the short time I have been on the forum my shaves have dramatically improved! I am so looking to be proficient in using straights and will lower my expectations as it takes time to learn an art form like this...thank you

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Gawd! Nothing creeps me like that! Pull the cat drinking from the toilet (Yes.:p), throw it out without getting scratched, and lock the British Tabby out. It happens on occasion...............:roflmao

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Imagine how the Cat must feel. Heyyyy!
http://i.imgur.com/4EPswT0.jpg