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!

Originally Posted by Seraphim

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.

Exactly what he said!!

I have changed the first pass to a combo WTG and XTG. I use the XTG where I can get away with it. In trouble spots I do a quick WTG, relather then go XTG

Then I do 1-2 (usually 2) ATG and re-strop between passes. It seems to have improved things. I just don't seem to get there w/o 2 ATG passes.

At one point I was doing WTG, XTG in 2 directions, and 2 ATG. I ended up with a great feeling shave, but a sore face. Cutting 5 passes to 3 has left me with a pretty darn nice shave and a less sore face.

I've been trying the ATG-only shave for awhile now, and have to say I still think it works better than doing WTG first over most of my face. I found I was chewing up my lip on one side and also having to do my chin a couple times, so now I do XTG on my lip and chin first, then ATG (and ATG only everywhere else) and I've been getting some DARN close shaves with very little irritation.