Third Pass

Ineresting, I just read something on one of the post that made me wonder how many.

How many of us do a third pass. I do two, with very good results, but wouldn't be opposed to doing three if there was any beard left.

I rarely use a double edge, once a month or so (it's a Mekur Futur with a feather blade) and I'l do three or four passes.

But I just wondered, How many of us do 3 passes?

Only those of us whose technique with the straight razor still sucks? :)

I din't mean it like that. I guess I meant at what point do you stop to save your face and wait til the next time you shave.

I typically do three passes but I'm starting to find 2 passes gives a very close shave and I think for just regular work days, it would be good enough. Maybe save the 3rd pass for meetings or special occasions.

I've practiced doing three to get my chops down -but I think 2 passes (wtg,xtg) is fine for most occassions. If I'm playing a round of golf with the President or have a night out with Elle Macpherson, I'll go for the three pass, BBS, "good enough for Zeus" thing.


Justin

I've never tried any more than two passes - WTG and ATG - adaptive to the direction of the grain, of course. If I feel like a really smooth shave I'll do two passes. Most days for work purposes I'll only do one pass WTG. I'm not sure my face could handle three passes...

I shave my head too (every second day, lately). Early on I tried additional ATG passes. Tricky, particularly at the back where you can't see the blade directly - you need some extreme holds and flexible shoulders and wrists for that one... Anyhoo, I found that there's not much to be gained doing that (except an unintentional scalping!) in terms of smoothness, and I felt there was little return for the added effort, given you just need to do it again in a couple of days.

Anyway, I guess my point (there's a point??) is that I feel if you're cleanly shaved, and people aren't going to be stroking your face (or head) throughout the day, a single or max 2 pass shave is OK. (I *do* get people wanting to stroke my head throughout the day, or is that smack it...? - but maybe that's just me ...:D )

James.

A third water only pass will give you a better shave but doesn't really add to the experience so I rarely do it.

I do a third water pass as well, just to get the spots that I missed.

If my cheeks aren't smooth by the end of the second pass then something is really wrong!

I do two full passes (one wtg and one atg) with lather, and then a final cold water pass, but just to those tiny spots that may need a little touch up (usually chin, under the nose and along the jaw line near the ears). However, when I'm on that third pass, I'm using a 5x magnifying mirror to actually target individual whiskers and I'm using the lightest pressure possible so as not to cause razor burn. 9 out of 10 shaves are BBS, bloodless and with no razor burn. I shave every day with maybe 3 or 4 days off a month. It has taken me about 6 months to get to that skill level. I truly admire guys who have mastered the straight shave within a relatively short period of time. For me, however, the learning process has taken quite a bit longer.

I realize we all love to shave and can't wait to put that brush and razor to our faces but remember that the longer the razor stays in contact with you face the more of a chance for razor burn no matter how sharp the razor is.

I used to do 3 passes long ago but now 2 passes does the job. Also, in actuallity even if you have a tad of stubble here and there does it really make a difference most days? I don't think so.

2 passes for me (WTG/XTG)...I haven't yet attempted ATG - I think that would cause me too much irritation so I have not yet tried to...2 seems to make things nice and smooth with little to absolutely no irritation...if I try a 3rd pass it would be only for the experience/practice, not b/c 2 passes doesn't do the job.

Sometimes the third pass just isn't worth it when you weigh the smoothness of the result against the potential irritation. I know for myself that I can only do a 2 pass shave occasionally. Most times I can be just happy with one pass from a really really sharp blade.

While two and sometimes one pass is sufficient, i generally do three passes. of course it seems that if i'm goinfg to nick myself it seems to be on the third pass. some days though it is best to set the razor down and hope you don't have to leave the house.

Four passes and i'm beyond BBS and into facegasm.

I do two passes, and then a little bit of touch up here and there with water. I have never done three full pases. Just like Big Spender said though, you greatly increase your chances of razor burn. Better to just accept the shave after two, and know that as your technique gets better, so will the closeness of your shaves.

Matt

The short answer is, 2 including a full against the grain pass.

I skip most of the first pass and some of the second. My beard is light enough that most of it gets an across the grain pass to start and only some of it gets a with the grain start. The whole thing gets the against the grain pass as it needs it because too many of those hairs just lie so flat against my face that the only way to get a close shave is to come underneath them.

X

I do like 2 3/4 passes. Well kind of. I do a full WTG pass. Then I do XTG on my cheeks/under the nose, followed by ATG on my neck/chin. I then do little touch ups here, and there. Then I use a DE to get my trouble areas on my neck. There are some places I just can not get BBS with a straight. I will continue to keep trying as I am sure there is a grip/technique out there that will work. I gave myself razor burn once trying to get my troublesome neck spots, and I learned my lesson. Finishing up with a DE is not the end of the world to me. I just have to have that all over BBS shave. If it works, and is comfortable....keep doing it.

3 kinda. First pass: WTG Second pass: ATG for checks and neck XTG for under my nose and chin and my jaw (the grain points to my chin along the jaw so when I do my ATG for my neck and cheek I just roll the razor over) Third pass: ATG for jaw chin and under the nose.

I find that the XTG for under the nose and the chin really make the ATG pass go very smooth, maybe I just need a heavier razor. I do full strokes so I don't repeat strokes in the same pass, unless it is the third pass during touch ups. I also don't have to shave again for 2.5 - 3 days:(

I do two Passes, one WTG, One ATG, I have to shave every day, I don't take a break, I take the shave as it goes that day and be glad I don't have a Five o clock shadow at three, like I did with that Mach what ever.

Two passes on the cheeks, one WTG, one at 45 degree angle. Similar for moustache, though occasionally give a third pass. Two passes on neck, only WTG or get nasty pseudofolliculitis barbae with ingrown hairs.

Three passes at chin, WTG, perhaps 45% twice. Occasionally the third pass is XTG. Lately also giving a third pass to the distal cheek near the chin where I have a patch of particularly firm hairs. There really are different populations of hair at different places in my face.

Even with this, and with a good, smooth shave, I still have a strong shadow by about noon. Even when smooth, there is still a slightly greenish hue to my skin, as my complexion is relatively fair but my hair is dark. I'm just a hairy, swarthy guy.