Thread: Which is the most dangerous pass?

After a couple of months of shaving with a straight edge I am trying to work out which pass is the most dangerous.

I find that I cut myself on XTG if anything.

The pics in the Cut of the day thread seems to support my theory.

For me personally I am very aware of what I am doing when shaving ATG, and am very careful, but in XTG I am too relaxed some days.

for those "wiser fools" out there which is the most dangerous pass?

I am not a wise fool! But a fellow newbie. I tend to find I cut myself in "problem areas" rather than in a particular pass. For instance, I have an area where the grain changes from one direction to another, and I am trying to shave left handed down the gutter of my neck...

Also, I sometime cut myself on "easy areas" just by trying too damn hand and pressing to hard to try to get a baby cheek!

In theory, there's the Fool's pass (ATG under the nose) that is pretty dangerous. But because everyone knows it's dangerous, I guess they take it easy on that pass. Indeed, letting your guard down while holding a razor to your skin is a fine way of acquiring red stripes on your face.

Personally, left of my chin is a spot where sometimes my razor gets stuck ATG and if I'm not careful, well... Same spot on the right side of my chin never has issues.

Per an older longtime straight shaver: passing a razor in front of your face/neck while reaching to the opposite side is an avoidable dangerous move. Avoid before-the-face passes by learning to shave with the non-dominant hand. I have no experience to justify this but the idea of accidentally slicing through my nose, chin or lip on a thoughtless pass did get my attention and got me in the habit of using my non-dominant right hand to shave the right side of my face.

the pass where the edge is not sharp

I think the fools pass is the safest because it's the pass I will never make.

I find the most dangerous pass while shaving is a loaded semi on an up hill double line. I guess I should stop shaving and driving

Seriously though. The fools pass is tricky, if you are not concentrating, it can get you.

In my experience, this is based on the direction one's beard grows as opposed to how close of a shave desired. A "work shave" is far different from a "date shave."

Personally, the right side of my throat is the worst. My beard grows from left to right, and I find that the only way to get a close shave is to make short arc-shaped passes.

In my experience, the most dangerous pass is any pass that you are not fully paying attention to the task at hand, that and changing hands while staring at my ugly mug in the mirror, I've managed to cut my fingers a few times.

Originally Posted by ReardenSteel

In my experience, the most dangerous pass is any pass that you are not fully paying attention to the task at hand, that and changing hands while staring at my ugly mug in the mirror, I've managed to cut my fingers a few times.

+1 to this!
ANYTIME you are not paying FULL attention or are in a HURRY you are GOING TO CUT YOURSELF!