Thread: Why go WTG at all?

My experience with cartridge razors was always that a WTG pass left me feeling completely unshaven, so when I used to use them I would only go ATG. I didn't bother going WTG first -- not only did it do no good, it always seemed the ATG pass was closer if I didn't do WTG first, as if the razor had more whisker to get underneath and grab onto. (Of course, my face always ended up a bloody burning pulp, which is why I gave up cartridge shaving years ago except to clean up around my beard.)

Now I've been shaving with straights for about 2 weeks. Again I find that the WTG pass, while nice and comfortable, doesn't do too much, and XTG is a little better but still not satisfactory over much of my face, so I have to go ATG almost every time to get a shave that is close enough for me. So my question is, if I'm going to do an ATG pass anyway, why bother with WTG and XTG? Won't I get a better shave if I skip those passes? Anyone have any experience with this?

Nope, no experience with the aggressive approach, but if it works for your face, more power to you. I do a with and an across and I'm done. An against stroke just seems too contrary for my beneficent nature

I can start out across the grain on my cheeks, but it's too rough anywhere else. I find it more comfortable to start with the grain everywhere. I usually find myself finishing my shave before I get to across the grain or against the grain passes though.

Try against the grain first and tell us what happens! Maybe it will work well for you. I've tried that with each different razor I shave with, but it just doesn't work for me

I think the WTG is going to get you where you need to be before attempting XTG/ATG.. Like anything else I've ever done prep work was 90% of the deal. If your beard and razor will let you skip the WTG, and no harm done, go ahead and have it your way. I'll stick
to the little here, a little there approach. Let us know how it goes.
If you've been using straights for two weeks its my guess that it may have more to do with beard prep,blade prep,technique.

Try it and see.

If I'm rolling on consecutive day BBS shaves, I can skip the WTG and proceed directly to XTG, as there isn't much stubble in my way. After that an ATG gives yet another BBS shave.

If it has been >24hours, I always start off with a WTG. Out of habit I suppose? I guess I also buy into the idea of "beard reduction", not trying to chop it all down at once.

Again I find that the WTG pass, while nice and comfortable, doesn't do too much

Well, one way to tell if is doing anything is to look at your razor/lather as you rinse the blade. Can you see whiskers there? I sure can, although I have the similar result as you, that my face doesn't seem all that much more well shaved with just that first WTG pass.

It seems to me that the shorter my whiskers are before attempting to go ATG, the better the whole proceedure goes.

One cut I recieved in the early going of my straight addiction was caused by the razor getting stopped in its' tracks by heavy whiskers, and the razor then turned forward motion into sideways motion, which turned into me having a jumping up and down motion as a nice slice was opened in my face...


But, give it a try and tell us how it goes for you. Perhaps your whiskers will let you get away with it?

I'm finding I do a WTG, ATG and then touch ups with water lately.

I could probably do an against the grain on my cheeks, sideburns first but it would certainly be a problem on my upper lip and neck.

I prefer being gentle to being efficient otherwise I tend to exfoliate to much and end up with razor rash after a few days.

-Bob

Oddly enough, when I use my Merkur HD DE razor, I have to do the traditional WTG pass first. With my straight (even the first shave I had with it) I went north - south on my cheeks and neck, which for ME is ATG on my neck! I had 2 or 3 days of heavy, coarse whisker growth and experienced no problems or irritation whatsoever! This convinced me that I want to continue using a straight and I'm sure it will get even better as I get a few more shaves under my belt. Good Luck!

I've responded to several of these WTG/ATG discussions, but if I may, allow me to offer one piece of advice. Don't dismiss the potential for good technique too quickly. Of course, as always, each persons face is different, and he should do what works for him. And, in my case, going against the grain is a tricky task even after with and cross grain strokes. Dull razor? No, this is not the case, because what I have concluded after much experimentation is that I can receive a shave as close as ATG by doing a single WTG pass well (Of course there are always a few touch up spots). So, I would like to offer some encouragement to some of the newbies that good prep, technique, angle, stretching, etc., etc. will go a long way, and that more time experimenting on the WTG before going against will be greatly beneficial to you and your dermis.

Thanks all for the interesting discussion. I gave ATG-only a try this morning, and the results seem positive -- one of the closest shaves I have had, with little irritation, not noticeably more than after a multi-pass shave.

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Try against the grain first and tell us what happens! Maybe it will work well for you. I've tried that with each different razor I shave with, but it just doesn't work for me

When you say "doesn't work", what do you mean? Less close? More irritating?

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I think the WTG is going to get you where you need to be before attempting XTG/ATG.. Like anything else I've ever done prep work was 90% of the deal.

(>Mad Duck also) After my first couple shaves someone suggested my WTG/XTG technique would eventually get good enough for my satisfaction, but I've really tried everything and after the first pass of each it doesn't seem to get any better no matter what the technique. Maybe I'm just too picky about my close shaves. As for prep, I wet my face at the beginning of a hot shower, lather immediately afterwards (I'm using TGQ soap), and let it sit while I strop 50x on linen and 50x on leather. If I need to do much more prep than that it will begin to be not worth it for me.

[quote=Seraphim;227907]Well, one way to tell if is doing anything is to look at your razor/lather as you rinse the blade. Can you see whiskers there? I sure can, although I have the similar result as you, that my face doesn't seem all that much more well shaved with just that first WTG pass.[\quote]

It seems to me I've seen SOME whiskers removed on that pass, but I haven't really inspected the lather so I can't say for sure. What I do know is that running my fingers ATG after shaving WTG feels almost the same as if I haven't shaved, and repeat WTG passes don't make it any better. (Running my fingers WTG feels smooth, but that's true whether I've shaved or not.) It's a bit better after XTG, but there are still large areas that are too rough for me.

I haven't tried shaving a multiple-day growth with a straight yet (except for the first shave), but my experience with cartridges is that I would get a closer shave after more growth. I've always assumed it's because there's more whisker for the blade to get under. So I guess I'm not a believer in "a little bit with each pass." Doesn't seem to work on my beard.

When I was doing my first man shave (as opposed to shaving my legs where I only go ATG), he had a couple days growth and thick coarse hair. For giggles (yes, I often giggle) I tried ATG first on one spot and almost ripped his face off... even after good prep. It was absolutely necessary to do WTG first, then I followed with XTG and touched up ATG. I am only a humble newbie, but I can see how the individual's hair makes a lot of difference. I like the process of starting WTG first to minimize any irritation. Yep, that's my 2 cents... may only be worth 1 cent though.