Is BBS possible without an ATG pass?

[BYUTexan]

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.

[alabamalawyer]

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.

[JimmyHAD]

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.

[jrjunky]

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

[niftyshaving]

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.

Each face is different.
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.

[bigbassman83]

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.

[fccexpert]

Yes it is possible.

[holli4pirating]

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.

[Seraphim]

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.

[Obie]

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