What a 60+ yr veteran barber can teach you!

Long story short my papaws best friend has been his barber my entire life. I got to talking straight razor shaving with him hoping to score some vintage gear a while back. Though that didn't happen I did get some helpful tips. This lead to my most recent AH HA moment. I was using the same "stroke" for all three passes wtg,xtg,atg. I was getting great shaves but this is different. He told me to try very short even strokes wtg. Then longer strokes with no pressure for xtg. Then back to very short even strokes for wtg. So I did the last two shaves this way an WOW what a difference. Three passes no touch up an perfect irritation free shave. So just a tip to the newer shavers that mixing it up can make a huge difference. :tu

Thanks for the 411 I'll try that next shave

Just remember the term "long" stroke xtg is very relative.

I am under the assumption that by long strokes you would go no more then about twice the length of short strokes to minimize chances of skewing your angles that being relative of course

In other words, stops before the ear or nose?

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Originally Posted by RollinCoal69

Just remember the term "long" stroke xtg is very relative.

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Originally Posted by Haroldg48

In other words, stops before the ear or nose?

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+1 [emoji106]

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Originally Posted by Razorrookie01

I am under the assumption that by long strokes you would go no more then about twice the length of short strokes to minimize chances of skewing your angles that being relative of course

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Yes. I am doing short strokes almost like cutting one hair at a time. Then double length of the stroke for the long stroke. Truly has made a big difference.

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Originally Posted by RollinCoal69

Yes. I am doing short strokes almost like cutting one hair at a time. Then double length of the stroke for the long stroke. Truly has made a big difference.

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That's exactly what I was thinking you meant[emoji106] [emoji106] [emoji106]

Thanks for the heads up RC69! I'll give it a try over the weekend, during the week, my face is too long and my morning too short. :(

so wtg then across then wtg again no atg and you get bbs?

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Originally Posted by admvalentine

so wtg then across then wtg again no atg and you get bbs?

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No sorry that was a fat finger typo. Wtg. Xtg. Atg.

I'll have to try this. I feel I've been getting a little too comfortable while shaving lately. I'm getting a couple weepers per shave for the past couple of weeks. I keep pressure under control for awhile and then I just get lost in the motion and before I know it I'm using some pressure. I also take long strokes on all passes. This sounds like it may help a lot. Thanks for sharing!

When I started with teh Straights last november, (Yea I know thats no time at all..) I was trying to do long strokes that covered from the bottome of my side burns to my jaw line in one shot, and then jawline to base of throat with another single stroke... wasnt getting good shaves. So I eventually started doing short strokes and many of them. I go about 1/2 inch at a time almost no pressure and slowly progress down my face moving my 1/2 inch stroke 1/8th inch lower each time so there is a lot of overlap. works great for me WTG, then I do longer 1 inch or so XTG strokes and again back to the short strokes ATG. clean BBS, and no irritation. this is how I always used Cartridges and it just carried over easily.

I've been doing this to some extent subconsciously for the last few years, but since I read this thread, I decided to really focus on using this technique for the WTG and XTG passes, and the shaves have been great. Closer than they used to be.

Thanks for posting this. It did help me improve my shaves.

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Originally Posted by yohannrjm

I've been doing this to some extent subconsciously for the last few years, but since I read this thread, I decided to really focus on using this technique for the WTG and XTG passes, and the shaves have been great. Closer than they used to be.

Thanks for posting this. It did help me improve my shaves.

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Awesome! Glad to hear it helped. I know it got me past my plateau. I was getting great shaves, but this brought the comfort level an finish my to a new level.