Thread: Two Pass Shave

Have not posted much at all lately but today I did a two pass shave that was certainly better than a DFS and actually almost a BBS.

I've been shaving with a straight for a little over two years and have always been a four pass shaver. I really enjoy getting a super shave daily. Over the last six months, I found myself using a DE once or twice a week, to cut down on time when I was in a hurry and didn't really enjoy that much more than a grocery store razor shave.

Decided to go back to only the straight about a month ago. This last Monday I refreshed four razors going to the 8k prior to the 12k and really got some exceedingly nice edges especially on my 7/8 Aust Spanish tip horn. For the first time ever, a shave lasted over twelve hours with no real whisker feel at all and I could have gone to work the next day without shaving. My beard seems to grow pretty quick.

Today, I decided to go with just a two pass shave and see what happened. It exceeded a DFS and is very close to a BBS. Time saved was not that much but it was quicker. As a skuttle latherer and doing 40 laps before and after, prep and clean up took longer than shaving. May try again tomorrow with a different Aust.

So there's my somewhat rambling post for what it's worth.

I do a two pass shave every other day. CCS, every now and then a DFS. Never close to that legendary BBS. Stropping, lathering, and clean up takes almost as long as the shave... Not sure which I'd prefer to speed up.

I've been doing two passes for several years. I always get a super nice shave.

The key here is to make sure your edge is tuned in and your technique is tuned in. You learn a lot about your technique in the first five years.

I went to a two pass shave fairly early in my shaving and have never looked back. I think any more and I am just going through the motions for no apparent reason, other than to just play with my toys. For a while I tried to get it down to one multidirectional pass but that has not really worked for me. Two passes with different areas in different direction works amazingly well. I think you are on the right track.

Most of my shaves are only 2 pass. First pass WTG, second pass a mix of ATG and XTG. I always achieve DFS at least and that, for me, is good enough.

I've been in the cool/tap water temp, 2.25 pass camp for some time.
Basically a N-S (WTG), S-N (like wayne394 a mix of XTG & ATG) with the .25 being a re-lather of the left side of my neck from the jawline down to get that swirly patch with a diagonal buff.

DFS+ to BBS depending on the usual factors (razor/soap/position of Jupiter relative to the moon etc.)

And with practice you can get this all done in a short enough time to work it in to most (if not almost all) daily routines..

With DEs and Shavettes I started out doing 3 passes and after gaining experience and improving my technique I settled with the two pass shave which gave me a BBS.

Recently I've switched to straight razor shaving and do 3 passes which result in a DFS. Shave by shave my technique is improving but at the moment, I don't believe I can achieve a BBS with 2 passes. Time will show....

I never could do more than a 2 pass shave. Face is too sensitive. I dunno what it is about the third pass, but it just lights me up. Most days I try to make due with 1 pass and some minor clean up.

My beard grows really flat to my face, and in every possible direction. With a safety razor I do the normal WTG, XTG, ATG and then some cleanup. With straights or a Feather I do two WTGs and then a sort of ATG in what amounts to fifty little mini passes from every direction.

It's funny how we all have a different approach. I too have whiskers that grow flat to my skin. My approach is 1st pass is mostly against the grain and me second is mostly across the grain. Even if I have not shaved for several day and have quite the hobo look going on. I started with first pass against the grain after a woman in a barber shop took that approach and it works quite well for me. As they say different stroke for different folks.