I have been contemplating how awesome that would be if I could get a bbs shave without going ATG. I do get some irritation with my Merkur but even after WTG + XTG + ATG I still have to do touch ups, which leaves my face raw.
Printable View
I have been contemplating how awesome that would be if I could get a bbs shave without going ATG. I do get some irritation with my Merkur but even after WTG + XTG + ATG I still have to do touch ups, which leaves my face raw.
Sometimes we place too much empahsis on BBS. I have to do an ATG pass to get a BBS shave, but somedays I may skip that last pass and just use the very good shave I get with two passes. This may work for you, especially if a prior shave has left some irritation.
In the straight razor pamphlet that LuckyCynic posted they recommend only doing WTG passes. So I tried that and I wasn't satisfied with the results. I don't do ATG in every area because of irritation issues. I use it on the second pass where I can and use the XTG or thereabouts where ATG doesn't work well for me. I usually have to pay more attention, i.e. more strokes, on either side of my windpipe and on the knob of my chin. Those are my toughest spots.
As far as bbs, if I get it in my routine two passes that is fine but if not I don't do another because it isn't worth the irritation that I will get with a third pass.
I don't tend to do very many ATG passess. I truly enjoy the shave that I get with two seperate WTG passes (one of them is a modified XTG pass)
For me I get a bit more irritation with the ATG and save that for weekends. :)
I get a far better shave with my straight and WTG than with any other method ever.
Marc
Each face is different.Quote:
Originally Posted by BYUTexan
On parts of my face my whiskers want to grow almost horizontal.
These are areas that ATG just does not work for me.
One thing to try is an adjustment to your WTG strokes to be
a couple hours early or late of WTG (mapping a clock on your face).
For me, these "almost WTG" strokes are more effective and
lets me reduce the total number of strokes.
Strokes 90 degrees cross the grain give parts of my face mixed results.
Be systematic in what you do and you will find something that
works for you. Perhaps mutton chops, perhaps a full beard :)
and shave your head.
I have a spot on the side of my windpipe that swirls like a hurricane. I literally have to shave it from the outside in, in a circular pattern. Anything but WTG results in pain.
Yes it is possible.
I am always BBS when I rub my face in the direction I shaved. But if I shave WTG and rub ATG, I will feel stubble. If my shave is really good, I can shave WTG and feel smooth when rubbing XTG.
I think alot may depend on a guy's beard, and how it grows.
Some guys may have whiskers that sort of grow straight out. I would imagine a single WTG pass would be more effective for them than for guys (like me) who have whiskers that lay close down to the skin, and have a very low profile when going WTG.
Hello, everyone:
The day I find the fountain of youth is the day I will achieve a perfect BBS. In the meantime, I do the best I can with a confused whisker pattern that must have been designed by a drunken swami.
Regards,
Obie
I don't think you can can a BBS with just WTG passes. Maybe, just maybe with a XTG, but an ATG shave is where you really get all the stubble.
Hi,
I used to be obsessive about getting BBS everytime I shaved.
When I used a DE razor, my face always glowed in the dark afterwards :(
I needed six (6) passes (including the blade buffing touch ups).
To describe the aftershave as 'bracing' was an understatement !!
I then let common sense take over, and went for a comfortable shave, that wasn't 100% BBS, but was generally a DFS.
I now use straights exlusively, but still will always take the comfortable shave over the obsessive BBS sore faced shave.
Best of luck :gl:
Have fun !
best regards
Russ
Here's my take on the ATG pass, yes for a BBS shave you need it. The idea though is to cut the hairs not take off layers of skin cells. Use a light touch:deadhorse: . This is true for both straight razors and safety razors. I believe the habit of using too much pressure is left over from our cartridge razor days. A well sharpened straight razor or a merkur, especially with a feather blade, will shave well with very light pressure on the skin. The discovery of the light touch cured all razor burn for me YMMV. I use one pass north to south then one pass south to north. This leaves a few patches where stubble hangs out, so as I rinse my face I take note of where these patches are and the direction of the hair growth. Now it's just a matter of stretching the skin to get the hairs on a flatter surface and selecting the proper stroke to get a good ATG pass or as close to an ATG pass as is practical for the left over patches. This method along with a light touch gives me if not a BBS then at least a DFS every time. Try the light touch once or twice even if you think you won't get a close shave and see how much less razor burn you get, my guess is you'll be surprised at how close the shave is. There's my 2 cents worth
I've never been able to get BBS without ATG. :(
I don't believe BBS is possible with only WTG shaves (could be wrong), but I'm certain that I can't get BBS without going ATG... I normally do go for BBS because I rarely have irritation issues. I wouldn't go for it if I did.
:gl:
A lot of good things coming from you guys; a light touch (and patience) is key if you don't want irritation, but the BBS shave is sometimes just not worth your face feeling like hamburger especially if your skin is sensitive or you haven't mastered just the right amount of pressure when you could just get a decent shave and leave it at that. It really depends a whole lot upon the thickness of your hair and how it grows; mine unfortunately is very thick (and destroys all other razors otherwise I probably wouldn't have ended up here), lays close to the skin, and grows in different directions. I myself have never even with ATG passes been able to get a BBS shave and have come to the conclusion that for a guy with facial hair like mine it is almost impossible without having hamburger face afterwards. Then again I'm only about 3-4 months into my str8 journey so who knows maybe I'll get to know my face/neck well enough some day that I can achieve those results.
I shaved WTG only two days ago.
It was BBS in WTG direction only.
I felt dirty.
Last night I went full 3 pass shave. BBS in all directions for at least 12 hours, and even now, 18 hours later I have less stubble than I did immediately after my WTG only shave.
I'd rather shave only once every 48 hours (maybe 36, if I really need that sharp steel fix...) and get a long lasting, smooth faced shave, than shave every day WTG only, and to feel like I was missing something in my life.
But that's just me...;)
Yes it is possible. you have to try right technique guys.(stretching ,schything motion , good preparation etc.)
ATG is wrong and not advisable.
i have to scream from bottom of my lungs that may help people.
I need to come up to your place to see this in person :beer1:Quote:
Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl
My beard grows in every which way possible,that being stated. I only recently i have been able to get a bbs shave without ATG passes. I noticed that if i stretch the skin tightly i can achieve a bbs with WTG strokes as well as using a XTG technique in areas that the hair grows sideways. And keeping a good lather in the areas im shaving prevents any irritation. I guess this is the reason why it is called wet shaving LOL :)
I also have to go ATG to get a BBS shave.
Yes generally you need to shave ATG to get a BBS shave, but there are techniques like cold water which allows BBS shaves WTG. That said, ATG doesn't neccesarily cause irritation.
With all the varibles of sharpness, face prep & pressure there may still be hope for you and I wish you good luck.
NO way can I do the neck without ATG but I can get BBS on the sides in 2 passes......Now XTG is tricky for me ...IF I do my job of preparing my face- i often fail doing so.
Today was an epic one all the way around the face...even the chin which I have been quite the coward at for 2 months relying on my Mach 3 to touch up... all because I took the time to prep my face-
Too much can not be said about the lite touch on the razor-
I hold it like I would a small bird= no nicks or snicks-
This was on over 48 hr growth and I was SO looking forward to this shave-
Can't wait till Thursday.........surely this is part of the RAD infection
forget the vaccine
I think its time for this argument to be declared moot.
Sham will scream from the top (bottom) of his lungs about ATG being wrong. The pamphlet from wheverthehell says you're only allowed to go WTG. Other guys will say that ATG is the only way to eliminate the feel of any stubble while moving your hand over your skin in any direction.
If I can get shaves like that on a regular basis without irritation and without destroying my edges, who is anybody (that I should be listening to) who tells me that I'm wrong?
The fact is, some guys have baby faces, other guys have lumberjack faces, still more guys have cow-licked faces (me).
For one guy, who only shaves one face day in an day out, to tell another guy with a completely different face that he's doing something wrong makes absolutely no sense on any planet.
I rest my case.
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by Oglethorpe
Time to rest....
So what type of case do you have?
Whoops that would be another thread....
Agreed. I actually have sensitive skin and I have to go against the grain (doing so every shave without irritation FWIW)... :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Oglethorpe
I have a similar experience to yours Craig. Except, it was only with DE's that I had good enough technique to do what you're describing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Seraphim
I let my beard grow for at least 2 days, usually 3-4 now between shaves. The shaves are just a lot better for me and I can get very close to BBS in a lot of areas with no irritation. I'm trying to work my way up to the same with straights.
But it varies as people have pointed out. I had a friend who got BBS WTG with disposable crapy razors. He had a relatively thick beard (very curly), don't know how he did it. For me, I can't ever get a true BBS I don't think. If I stretch my skin a bit, I'll always feel a small amount of short stubble that razors I've tried just won't cut. So I can't get full, 100% BBS even with ATG, but I can get close.
You lost me. But I like the +1 :DQuote:
Originally Posted by niftyshaving
+1 I have to go ATG to get BBS and the secret is a light touch and flat angle.Quote:
Originally Posted by richmondesi