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I always say that I only do two passes because my skin becomes irritated if I do more. I was shaving this morning and thinking about the fact that when I do "one" pass it is more like two or three buffing strokes. I basically never really do one sweeping pass. Just wondering if other folks are shaving in a similar fashion ?
Hey Jimmy, No, I never do one pass, it's more like a sweeping motion for me, several passes over one spot. The only pass I have trouble with and irritate easily is my neck. I have to very careful of my angle there....
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...
Just to clarify, I do what I call 2 passes. IOW I shave my face, rinse, relather and shave it again. So in a sense it is 'two' passes but in reality, like zib said, I am going over the same spots much more than twice. I am with you on the various directions of attack according to what works for me Glen. I do the same thing.
You know Jimmy, The blade has some say too. Some blades are so keen, that one pass might do it, others, like I said, I may sweep it 2 or 3x.....Like Glen said, I have a modified routine that works for me....
P.S. Everyone's face is unique after all.....
On my WTG pass I tend to do short strokes, followed by one longer one, to catch anything I've missed. That first pass must equate to two or three in actual fact. Maybe even more with the overlapping. My XTG probably sees the blade doing less repetition though.
That sounds like my version of two passes except I don't rinse between passes. Like you guys, I don't follow the standard definitions of WTG, ATG etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyHAD
I was thinking about this recently too and tried actually making each pass an actual single pass. It look for ever and I really didn't notice any improved results. I'm sure I go over each spot 3/4 times during each pass normally. I then do a second just for touch ups and that gets me almost BBS which is about as much as I want. I too don't bother with XTG/ATG but I do increase the blade angle to something probably approaching 80 degrees for the second pass. YMMV but I find this is enough to remove remaining short hairs without causing discomfort. ATG doesn't agree with me and my razor and my face now have an understanding which keeps us all happy.
I tend to take short strokes with a little bit of overlap, trying not to shave the same spot twice on the first pass. My second pass is becoming more modified and hitting a tough spot more than once, then I eliminate the need for a third pass.
Brian
I was also wondering about this topic while I was shaving, being new to shaving with a straight razor and watching the videos made me believe that one should be able to shave without going over the same area on the same pass. Doing the exact one pass equals one stroke of the razor was taking me a lot of time and frustration because at first my face could not handle that many passes and I'd still have stubble. Over the past few weeks I've modified the one pass one stroke and now I get better shaves with fewer "passes." On my cheeks the shave will be pretty much one pass with some slight overlap like when mowing the lawn. But, when I get into the thicker, coarser areas -around my chin - I tend to go over the same area a few times on the same "pass." I think I can do this because the thick, coarse hair actually protects the skin right until I start shaving against the grain.
I've started to get away from the 3 pass shave and do 2 with a touchup... :hmmm:
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
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!: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!
:hmmm:
:gaah:
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!Quote:
Originally Posted by Seraphim
Do you have any suggestions for a marketing name?
The Mock 3 razor, of course!:DQuote:
Originally Posted by LarryAndro