Thread: ATG passes...

Ok everyone, as usual everyone has been a great help and I'm looking for some ideas on how one holds the razor while making the ATG, up the cheek passes? Yes yes I can hear all the bad up the cheek bad puns already... Anyways I get a relatively good shave making two passes down the cheek then XTG from nose to ear back, but am a bit at odds finding a comfortable position for holding my razor and trying to make the ATG up pass.

So any thoughts, possible pictures, comments, opinions are as always appreciated.

Adam

I put the blade and the scales in a straight line then use right hand on left side and left hand on right side and go up on the neck. I do everything above the jawline on both sides with my right (dominant) hand. You've got to find what your comfortable with and what works for you.

Pete <:-}

I do all of my ATG passes with my dominant hand

I must concur that is is all about how it feels best in your hand. In general my grip changes a little with the part of my face and direction of stroke. The same as Pete I hold my razor like a fixed handle razor, scales straight back and my thumb on the spine close to the heel end of the blade, on one side of my face but the other side my hand hold is a little different but the scales are still straight back.

Practice alternating hands. I fought it at first. After I gave in and started using it actually felt pretty natural.

Just my $0.02

Yes, in the end it's what feels best and gives you the most control.You have to experiment. When I go S to N on my neck I hold the razor with the scales bent at a right angle and my fingers off the scales and on the neck of the razor. I switch hands from side to side.

When going S to N on my cheeks, I stretch _from above_ with my off hand. Stands those little stubs up nicely.

I have the scales angled 90 degrees from the spine of the razor WTG/XTG and 90 degrees from the edge of the razor when going ATG (give or take a little depending on exactly what part of the face I'm at).

I.e. I hold the razor ATG as a mirror of how I hold it WTG/XTG. I therefor rotate the scales 180 degrees when making the WTG/XTG to ATG switch.

being a predominantly left handed shaver this is how I do it.
sorry for the crappy photos.

Interesting how different techniques work for different people. When going ATG I use my right hand for my left cheek and vice versa. I hold the razor between my thumb and forefinger, on the flat sides of the shank, blade facing up, and pull the skin down with the free hand just below the jaw, so it looks like I'm trying to strangle myself.