Curious? How many passes?

Interesting is over the past few years of lurkng around the boards, I've seen posts about ATG and WTG, up, down, across and any which way to get a great shave. Should there be two passes? Three? I used to make two or more passes to get the BBS every one talks about. But, when the rubber meets the road, what does it take to get an acceptable shave? My experience is that if you do a good prep and use a good shave ready blade, one pass gets you the kind of shave that will pass in any office. A little witch hazel and bay rum is the perfect finish.

What is your experience? What is the gold standard?

just finish the shave of the day. Due winter, in past week I'm trying something new to compensate the fast dry lather, to divide my face per part and shave accordingly, I could say, I spent 2 passes on sideburn, chin, mustache area, but I spend quite 3 passes in jawline and 1 more light(I mean light, really2 light, no lather just water) guillotine pass ATG in throat and the area under my jaw to cut several area that can't be cut in previous cut(very few)...I dunno how many passes in total :D but I pressume 3-4 passes for BBS.

edit* proraso before and after :) no nicks no cut no iritation, I guess I'll stick to this method for a while.

I just do two passes. If I want quick and presentable I'll go WTG both times. If I can spend a little more time and want a shave to last two days, I'll do WTG and then XTG.

I can't go against the grain, and typically if I try a third pass in any direction my face will feel a bit raw afterward.

I generally do two passes the night before an interview or something like that and have BBS that lasts through the next day and is still passable for another day. This is the "ideal" for me, but also takes a while.

If I just feel itchy and/or need to look like something other than a bum, I can do one pass and I'll have a DFS that looks a lot smoother than it feels. It takes about half the time.

I myself ALWAYS go for BBS. I deserve it. Usually three passes, then just cold water, no lather, ATG for those remaining touch up spots.

day to day shave is 1 1/2 1 pass wtg and a atg pass on my neck. for that sunday shave 2 1/2 with a full atg and a touch up on my jaw line and chin

I do WTG in a scything motion, then XTG AND ATG, followed by Cold water rinse and as many touch ups while using more lather for all the trouble spots. I do a complete shave prep, with lots 'O hot water, very hot micro fiber face towels for 3 to 4 minutes, and mostly I use Proraso Pre/Post shave cream, sometimes I use generic brand Noxema to substitute for the Proraso to be economecal. Finish with another very cold water rinse and use of an Alum block, another rinse, and the post shave cream to condition the skin. I do this many pass's because even with a freshly and profesionaly honed Str8 or even a brand new blade in a shavette my beard won't cut cleanly with just a couple of pass's.
Thanks for letting me share this with you blouks!!

Have a great shave every day!!

Your friend, J.Doc'Kaufman

I always go for BBS. I have to have 5 passes and a spot touch-up.

1. N-S pass very light, just knocking down the big boys.
2. N-S pass using scything motion and that includes the chin really good.
3. XTG from center to ear using scything along the jaw line.
4. XTG from ear to center and slow scything along and under the jaw line, no neck shaving.
5. ATG using pretty tight stretching. This includes the chin and upper lip.

The reason that I do two N-S passes is that my beard is so course that if I don't, and try scything, I will find a "stumpy" hair that will stop and deflect my razor ever so slightly downward so that I cut myself. For me, the N-S is the bedrock of a good shave. If it is lacking then the rest will come out ok, but not stellar.


Take Care,
Richard

1st- WTG
2ND- ATG
3RD- WTG to finish up.

This is when I have some time on my hands after about 1 1/2 days.

On average I go WTG twice.

I can not do atg for the most part... I couple spots I do but if I do a third atg pass on some areas I break out really bad. wtf and xtg is all I need for a 2 day.

I usually do 3. 2 WTG/XTG hybrid passes and a ATG pass. As my technique has improved, I can get a DFS with just the 2 WTG/XTG passes. I usually still do three, b/c it's more practice and it's fun. Even when I do 3 I have only very mild irritation. Enough to feel a sting when applying AS but not enough to really burn like it did when I first started. That's improvement.

Firebox,

I usually do three (3) passes - WTG, XTG ear to nose, ATG.

I have rid myself of the obsession to get a 100 % BBS every shave.

Three (3) passes gives me a 80 - 90 % BB finish, with only slight traces of ATG rougness on problem areas of my neck.

For work days, I think a DFS is all thats needed for me.

My shaves are now more relaxed, and my face appreciates it as well :)

Have fun !

regards

Russ

I do two passes working days, wtg and atg adn that gets me close to BBF - even thought my problem areas needs more to be really BBF. during weekends I usually go for three passes: wtg, atg and xtg and then some tuch ups. That usually gives a nice BBF :).

Cheers
Mikael

I never do ATG as it wrecks my skin, so I stick with WTG, XTG and scything strokes to get a BBS shave.

I usually do two XTG passes on my cheeks (one each way), WTG and XTG on my chin and WTG and scythes on my neck. I'll then have a feel around for any spots that I've missed and tackle those. That gets me a BBS shave, and I do this every day. I just like BBS shaves..! :D

For me:
WTG + XTG + ATG + WP(on spots as needed) = BBS

YMMV.

I do 3 passes.
First I do a WTG, then i do the following two passes at 120 degrees and 240 degrees off of my first direction. These two passes will, I suppose, then be what you could call a XTG/ATG combo
Works like a charm, gives me a really close shave.

Two here most of the time. 1 pass of downward strokes followed by 1 pass of upward strokes. The crazy grain of my beard means it is impossible to just shave either wtg, atg or xtg. Depending on the razor, the shave will be good or great. :tu

last year i have almost shave 2 passes .wtg ,xtg.
Very rare if i test the blade and need to find out what edge i have i will do agt.
gl

Gentlemen:

I usually shave in three passes: with the grain, across the grain and against the grain, followed by some touch-up. My shave is quite good everywhere except on the neck, where the stubble grows in too many different directions and where no amount of creative stretching is 100 percent proof.

Regards,
Obie

Work day: Two passes and I'm mighty smooth all day.
Weekends: One pass and I'm presentable. Five o'clock shadow might show up at 3PM
Special events: Three passes and I won't see a whisker until the next evening.

Semper circa
LG Roy

Two passes to get an almost BBS: WTG - XTG

Sometimes to get a real BBS: WTG - XTG - ATG or WTG - XTG - (other direction) XTG

I think you probably end up shaving according to your beard strength.In my case my beard is not too coarse but is quite thick especially around the chin area.
I do 1 x WTG,1 x XTG and finish with ATG-this usually gives a very good to BBS shave.
I don't chase BBS any more and shave every 48 hours.
Problem areas are chin and neck-usually handled by scything on the neck ATG and XTG on the chin area with a little ATG to perfect.
Regards

Noggs

One pass about 80 % ATG and touch ups ATG with only water. Mustache area XTG on both sides and Coup de maître.

I may, brush on a little lather on the touch up spots if using a soap that leaves the skin dry and sticky behind the blade and I think the blade might grab even with water.

McKie

I don't worry about BBS; and tend to somewhat ignore grain direction; especially on my neck where "WTG" varies a lot.

I use one pass, plus a splash of water and touch-up cut on any area missed. It's surprisingly close to BBS.

Just finished my 2nd newbie shave with my 7/8 AJ Jordan Sheffield str8..much better mostly in part as my confidence jumped in the middle of it!..obviousely my DE/SE handles as of now do better but in time I may end up passing them along to my kids!

pcdad

90% of the time it is a two pass shave for me... Never more than 3 (and the third "pass" ends up being merely a touch-up.) I enjoy the basic 2 pass shave but can get presentable in one WTG shave.

Once is enough if you do it right.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JohnnyCakeDC

I myself ALWAYS go for BBS. I deserve it. Usually three passes, then just cold water, no lather, ATG for those remaining touch up spots.

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Love the finish pass after the cold splash, it really seems to leave this old puss smoother.

I am going on my 3rd shave and go down 2 passes to minimize the hair then upwards..xtg..not there yet but im getting creative when I try

I do a "2-1/2" pass shave: WTG all over, XTG all over (but twice, or in opposite directions for the chin area only) and ATG in selected areas, most prominately from my Adam's apple to my chin. I consider my ATG half pass as my touchup as well, as I will usually do some blade buffing as opposed to regular short strokes

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Firebox

Interesting is over the past few years of lurkng around the boards, I've seen posts about ATG and WTG, up, down, across and any which way to get a great shave. Should there be two passes? Three? I used to make two or more passes to get the BBS every one talks about. But, when the rubber meets the road, what does it take to get an acceptable shave? My experience is that if you do a good prep and use a good shave ready blade, one pass gets you the kind of shave that will pass in any office. A little witch hazel and bay rum is the perfect finish.

What is your experience? What is the gold standard?

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depends a lot on the razor, two is ideal for BBS but sometimes thats not enough

I just started on my str8 razor a week or so ago..turns out 2xdown 2xupward..slight touchup with my DE/Se blades...close BBS

Most days, if I have time, I like three passes, WTG, XTG, ATG, lathering for each pass--my VDH soap stays very nicely lathered for that. Right now it takes me about 15 minutes. Days when I have less time, I leave out the ATG pass.

Hi,

Been viewing the forums for a while but decided it was time to start getting involved!

I usually only do one pass WTG followed by a touchup in troublesome areas.

When I do a XTG pass my face is fine straight after the shave but by the end of the day can feel quite irritated. Thats why I do the one pass!

Whisp
:beer2:

Wow..1 pass...and BBS?...well my face like scratching wood for 2 days then turns into whiskers after 3 days of growth..then I use my motorized str8 facial weedwacker n get as much as I can!... :roflmao

It's interesting how often this how-many-passes thing seems to come up along with how does one sterilize a razor, and how much pre-shave oil should be used before slathering on the uberlather, and, by the way, how do you make the lather uber?

Apparently there is as much craft in shaving as there is in actually making the razor, or maybe the preparation for shaving is the truly artful aspect of all of the pixels in the picture.

I feel deprived now as I only strop, shower, shave and splash. Oh, I brush my teeth too, but that along with combing hair wasn't sufficiently sibbilant to be included with the otherssss.

:beer2:

Because of circumstances beyond my control, it is anatomically impossible for me to stretch my skin as I shave so it's usually 5 passes and sometimes more. Thanks to great honesters and 30 years of practice I achieve BBS about 8 of 10 times. I can live with that.

Usually 2 passes: WTG and ATG, and some touch ups if needed

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pcdad

Wow..1 pass...and BBS?...well my face like scratching wood for 2 days then turns into whiskers after 3 days of growth..then I use my motorized str8 facial weedwacker n get as much as I can!... :roflmao

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Nah not BBS. For me BBS means cutting the hair below the skin meaning it has to try and grow back out of the skin again, thus causing a rash so I try and get it as close as possible!

BBS is for those special occasions!

Whisp

Two passes - WTG, and a combination of XTG/ATG. That keeps me BBS for more than 12 hours.