Thread: 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 ... )

James.

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.