Thread: Back to the Basics

Group,

So I am at the point now where I can get a BBS shave at will with the process I use, which is 1 WTG, 2 XTG (once in either direction), 1 ATG, then a polishing pass with my Edwin Jagger DE.

But last week I decided to go back to the basics and concentrate on each pass and stopping the shave after it. I want to see what each pass is contributing to the overall shave. Plus, I want to understand the economy of each stroke I am taking and if I can improve it. I am looking at the closeness of the stroke, how safely I am making the stroke, the angle of the blade and what all of the above mean to the direction of beard growth.

I also want see how long the shave lasts and where the beard is growing the quickest. I am now on my 2nd XTG pass in my analysis.

In addition, I am concentrating on my stropping technique as well.

I think, no matter how good it is going, there is value in taking the time to go back to the basics to try and improve the overall product.

Does anyone else do this periodically?

Cheers,

David

Hi Alembic
Curiously I am doing something similar to you.I also can get BBS shaves (almost at will)-but i don't concentrate on this as much as getting the strokes and angles right.My shaves are always very close.
I think the secret is that after 100+ shaves you get to know your face and what is needed to remove the beard most effectively.
I currently do x1 WTG,x1 XTG and x1 ATG passes-studying how I do the ATG carefully as this seems to be key in getting rid of the last stubborn hairs.
Like you I always pay alot of attention to my stropping -as it is also key to getting the blade right for shaving.
I think there is a slow tendency to improve naturally as each shave puts a little more experience into the tank.
So far am still enjoying the shaves -and after all this is what it's all about.
Kind regards
Noggs

I think that is a great idea David. Just this morning right as I was starting to shave my wife asked if I wanted to go to my nephews baseball game which would require us leaving in about 20 minutes. I abbreviated my normal routine to one careful WTG pass and one careful ATG pass. The results were about 90% of what I get with two more passes. Who knew?

Although I never do more than two passes, there have been a
few weeks where I've gone back to a basic WTG to see how
decent a shave I could get. I think it's a good idea to keep your
technique in check.

- Scott

Great post David,

I've noticed that different blades give different results, even if they were equally sharp. That must be then that the blade shape, or is it a bevel angle that counts, as well as how familiar i am with any particular razor.
I never do more than 2 passes, WTG and XTG. Some give me BBS easier than others and there are some that just can't reach BBS with those two passes i make. Then there are blades like Swedes that almost give BBS with single WTG pass only.
I've just accepted the situation as is. Nowadays i maybe just enjoy shaving and do not try to reach BBS with some razors. Getting closer to BBS is a small sign of learning something of that particular razor.

Mastering a straight is in a way like taking higher math. You start with the basics like algebra and as you advance you build on what you learn. If you never got basic algebra down you'll probably never master calculus.

So yes improve your basic skills and get the max from those techniques and you'll probably find the advanced ones improve as well.

My dear Alembic:

I agree with you all the way for going back to the basics and re-examining the nuances of your craft. I commend you, sir. What you display are exceptional traits of a humble person. You have my vote.

I undertake similar re-examinations by frequently going back to the basics. For me, as in any art and craft I pursue, straight razor shaving demands periodic evaluation and self-examination, because it continues to evolve within the scope of my skill and technique. So you have company.

Regards,
Obie

The first with-the-grain-pass is the foundation of a multiple pass shave or a complete shave on its own. Under no circumstances should it be neglected.

There, I said it.

Simper Circa,
LG Roy

Originally Posted by Library Guy

The first with-the-grain-pass is the foundation of a multiple pass shave or a complete shave on its own. Under no circumstances should it be neglected.

There, I said it.

Simper Circa,
LG Roy

I have always considered the WTG pass as just one of the beard reduction passes like the XTG and ATG.

Could you please elaborate on the importance and why it is so foundational?

Thanks.

David

I so pompously stated the first WTG pass is a foundation for what follows is because the closer I can get on the first pass, the easier the strokes of the XTG become. And if neither WTG or XTG has been done properly, the ATG pass is going to be painful.

I often read here of new guys talking about trouble they have with their second and third passes. They seem to think these passes are intrinsically harder than the WTG. True, they can be, but I often wonder that if they had better executed the first pass that the subsequent passes would be easier or even unnecessary. And no, I'm not saying you should be BBS after one pass but you should be at least presentable. I doubt many of our fore fathers did more.

Subsequent passes are a continuation of the shave- not a correction of a botched previous pass.

Since the thread is about getting back to basics, I wanted to stress the importance of the basic WTG shave- something lost amid the talk of more difficult strokes and expensive equipment.

A writing teacher of mine once said that if the end of the story doesn't feel right the problem is probably with the way you crafted the beginning of the story. The same applies with shaving.

...or maybe I'm just one of those people on the internet who likes to listen to their own voice.

semper circa,

LG Roy