Thread: 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 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.