An ATG strategy for sensitive skin

I have sensitive, bumpy, pocketed sort of skin and avoid an against the grain (ATG) stroke at all costs. As you can imagine though, as most guys, I have a few spots that just cry for the need of an ATG swipe to get BBS.

I've recently discovered a nice compromise. First I have to admit that my razors are wicked sharp and dialed in perfect. Even I can get lucky sometimes, but . . .

what I've been doing is using primarily just the base of the razor (for stability) and using the curve of the face as an advantage. I shave ATG with a low angle and only a very small portion, maybe a 1/4 to 1/2 an inch of blade width touching the face. I cant the razor too, essentially taking all the possible advantages to lessen pull.

Since the rest of my face curves back away from the razor, with only 1/4 inch contact, the ATG pass is effortless and smooth. All you really have to do is focus on how to only use the 1/2 inch of the base and make no other blade/face contact. Using a low angle, say about 20 degrees and canting the blade at about a 45 degree angle with this method helps a little too.

100 % in agreement, I have the exact same problem with sensitive skin and have exactly two trouble spots on my neck that simply beg for ATG.... Either side and above the Adam's apple in the hollow of the neck just never quite get BBS unless I go ATG.... Lynn showed me a skin stretching trick at the NC meet that helped on the WTG pass and now as you say I use a highly canted ATG pass, using less than 1 inch of the blade, and voilà BBS in those 2 spots.....

Sounds interesting. I wonder what is the advantage of having only 1/4" against the face. Why does that not cause irritation?

I think its simply because you have less overall contact with the face (less pulling). I think most people do this natually in many sections. Here the idea is simply to do it on purpose and really limit the contact patch down to tiny portion of the blade.

Excellent idea Alan! I've been using the low angle when doing ATG from neck to jaw, in the center I happen to make contact with about 1/2 inch of the blade and the pass is smooth and easy. Thanks for bringing this to light!

Randy

Alan,

I get the gist of what you're saying, and I've done this myself a bit, but what do you mean by the 'base' of the razor?

The heel.

razor parts

Some people have thought I was from Mars when I've told them how I was able to finally shave ATG.

Several years ago I bought a $1+" High time bump stopper" from Walmart. I used it for several weeks while shaving with and against the grain.Since then I have had no problem. I quit using it after one jar.

Prior to using it I had a garden of majorly irritated razo bumps if I tried against the grain. I theorized that It provided ingrowns while the other side of the hair follicle /pore thingy got used to being shaved over. I'm not sure. This is just my thought. My 2c

Now I feel I haven't shaved unless I go against the grain. MikeB