Thread: Does your one pass equal one pass ?

I've started to get away from the 3 pass shave and do 2 with a touchup...

That's what I do, and I only do the one pass.

Jimmy, it sounds like I have the same pattern as you: short, overlapping strokes that tend to cover the same area more than once, except perhaps on my cheeks.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Funny you mention this Jimmy, I was thinking about it yesterday morning while I was shaving...
Maybe because of what I use a straight razor for, but I am getting away from the typical WTG, XTG, ATG, 3 pass shave.. Mine is really turning into a modified what works best on that part of the face 1 pass shave, plus a touch up pass.. What I really went to a straight for, was the straight lines, and the comfort, and this revised system works better for both on my face.. YMMV of course...

Strange, but I am falling into the same routine. I find the touch up to go very nicely with water only or a dab of olive oil in the offending spot with a few short strokes of the blade.

I'm do a three pass+ shave: WTG, XTG, ATG. But none of those are "pure" WTG, XTG, or ATG, all containing a bit of "whatever works best". My ATG includes quite a bit of "buffing". I make sure to do a toe- or heel-leading stroke everywhere. This gets pretty extreme in some ATG areas.

I also do a fourth mostly ATG on what I call my "Homer" area (Homer Simpson, that is). This includes a final WTG on the chin which I find surprisingly effective.

I have a feeling I could cut back on some of this with improved techniques or maybe going less aggressively for BBS. This has actually happened in the moustache area -- I am recently getting good results with less work in this area.

Even with sharp razors fresh from a SRP honemeister, the WTG pass doesn't shave closely. So, I've learned what is needed...

I place the blade almost flat, and shave off the top of the beard hair. Immediately after the WTG pass, I run my wet brush over the spot and take another WTG pass, again shaving closer to the skin. If another WTG pass is needed, I repeat the same procedure.

When the WTG pass results in a shave at skin level, I have largely won the war! My skin is not irritated, because of the flat blade angle. And, I can now increase the blade angle throughout the remaining WTG, XTG and ATG passes.

The key for me is getting the beard reduced basically to skin level WITHOUT irritating my skin getting to that point.

For whatever the reason, at times I end up with a patch of beard that is BBS except for a stray hair here and there. Very odd! For those situations, I run the blade very lightly over the area, with the blade at about an 80 degree angle. (I think someone else mentioned this earlier.)

I'm the same as you Jimmy - buffing strokes: longer and more sweeping on the cheeks, shorter in the other areas.

I guess what I call pass is directions - WTG pass and ATG/XTG pass

Does anyone really do single sweeping passes - is this something to aim for? Does it matter? (Long sweeping passes do look kind of graceful / cool).

Would be interesting to try a 'true' 2 pass shave and note the difference. (Although I'm generally enjoying how I currently shave - though still needing refinement for chin and corners of lips).

I have sometimes wondered whether I'm 'cheating' calling my "2 pass shave" a "2 pass shave". Thanks for raising this point.

All the best,
Michael.

I've had private conversations with some of the SRP stalwarts, some who are responding here. I don't think the "single sweeping pass" is typical based on these conversations.

I have an idea!

Since most of use buff over the same area 2-3 three times per pass....


What if I were to invent a razor that had three blades in it, and that way when you did your one pass, it would be the same as doing three!

Originally Posted by Seraphim

I have an idea! Since most of use buff over the same area 2-3 three times per pass.... What if I were to invent a razor that had three blades in it, and that way when you did your one pass, it would be the same as doing three!

Well, Seraphim. You might have ****ed off one or two of us SRPers with your comment. But, for me, I think it's ROFL funny!

Do you have any suggestions for a marketing name?