2 x WTG - Really?

In my head, I always thought that whatever I got from a pass direction upon completing it was all I was going to get.

In my continued experimentations, this morning I decided to do 2 passes WTG. I was amazed at how much additional whisker the second WTG pass took off. I could not believe it.

I then did 1 ATG pass and some minor clean up. I am sitting here with one of the best BBS shaves I have gotten, and my Alum block told me so!

So, I learned something new today. There are a number of ways to get a BBS. Experimentation is the key to finding the one that works best for you.

Cheers!
David

Whatever gets the job done!

So true! I cant do ATG at all so I do a mix of XTG on my cheeks (one pass each way) and two WTG's on my neck. I also do some scything to get any last remaining stragglers.

Going ATG once gets the same closeness, but with WAAAY more irritation for me, so I just avoid that pass entirely.

And the key thing is to try something, but if it doesnt work try something else. Dont just keep doing what isnt working! And if you try something and it works, stick with it even if its not an orthodox method.

Thanks for sharing David!

I am very surprised that you can get bbs with wtg. I think it's great, don't get me wrong, I just can't get bbs without atg...but all of us are different. Shave on brother...

Gentlemen:

Of late I, too, experiment with eliminating the against-the-grain pass almost completely. I finally have had to admit to myself that against-the-grain irritates my skin and promotes in-grown hairs. The neck is a problem, of course, especially since the grains under the jaw head straight for the ears.

Stretching and coming in almost horizontally from ear to chin has helped some, but at the same time presented me with in-grown hairs. So this move will go as of tomorrow — today I am resting my Hollywood face. This means coming down on the neck north-south and really going nuts with creative stretching.

On the left side of the face, the hairs grow toward the mouth, which means I must shave against the grain from mouth to ear. That move must be replaced with one that comes in at an angle and adds more creative stretching.

Ah, the things we do just for a good shave with a straight razor. But then it's worth it.

Regards,
Obie

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Originally Posted by Obie

Ah, the things we do just for a good shave with a straight razor. But then it's worth it.

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You said it, my friend! The awkward angles and ways we move our precious razor throughout the face to attack the whiskers in the best possible way..

But then it's worth it...Amen brother!

I agree with all of the positions here.

My great awakening was that multiple passes in the SAME direction improved the shave, and, that pass happens to be the easiest to make.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alembic

In my head, I always thought that whatever I got from a pass direction upon completing it was all I was going to get.

In my continued experimentations, this morning I decided to do 2 passes WTG. I was amazed at how much additional whisker the second WTG pass took off. I could not believe it.

I then did 1 ATG pass and some minor clean up. I am sitting here with one of the best BBS shaves I have gotten, and my Alum block told me so!

So, I learned something new today. There are a number of ways to get a BBS. Experimentation is the key to finding the one that works best for you.

Cheers!
David

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I have been using two WTG passes for well over a year. Although the second WTG pass uses a slightly different angle from the first and more a scything stroke.

Followed by a XTG pass this combination produces a very nice, comfortable shave, but not BBS. If I shaved in the morning rather than evening this combination might be where I stopped. But as I do shave in the evening I find an ATG pass on neck and cheek to be necessary in order to last the entire next day.

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Originally Posted by Hawkeye5

Although the second WTG pass uses a slightly different angle from the first and more a scything stroke.

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There will be a new experiment tomorrow:D

As a follow-up, the shave did not last as long. Typically, a good BBS shave done at 5:00am will last till about 6:00pm. Today, I could feel stubble at 3:00pm. But that was all I really need anyhow. So what the heck!

thanks for providing us with a new insight.
WTG goes very smooth for me on my 7th shave and going for WTG twice will allow me to get a smoother shave without aggrevating my (still sensitive noob) skin with it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Obie

Of late I, too, experiment with eliminating the against-the-grain pass almost completely. I finally have had to admit to myself that against-the-grain irritates my skin and promotes in-grown hairs. The neck is a problem, of course, especially since the grains under the jaw head straight for the ears.

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Ah yes, the admittal of failure ;) ..... Just kidding, mate.

Joking aside, I believe one of the best things you can do in this sport is to be honest with yourself. No sense in putting up with irritation and ingrowns for the pride of having a BBS shave.

I've found that the knowledge that I can achieve a BBS shave is enough for me. BBS in most areas and a DFS everywhere else is satisfying for my sensitive Canadian Prairie face.

I have been using 2 x WTG for the year of so that I have been using a straight. At first I just figured that the second pass was just giving me twice the practice and picking up any spots I might have missed on the first pass, but i have noticed that the second pass actually does give me a closer shave without having to mess around with XTG. I have been quite happy with the results and for now don't see a need for changing my routine.

Unless, I'm testing a razor, I rarely do a second pass. One WTG is good enough usually. Because I have very sensitive skin any second pass done is also WTG. It produces a better finished shave without any risk of irritation. The only time I ever do ATG is when testing razors.

Now, if one WTG pass is good and a second is better, just imagine how great it would be if someone could figure out a way to mount two blades close together. The first blade would cut and the following second one would cut even closer. Maybe you could mount together 4 or 5 blades? Wouldn't that be great?
:rant:

Hmm.... I'm going to cancel my normal WTG + XTG shave this morning and see what 2x WTG does for me.

^^ That's a lot of jargon. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with it.

I go over most areas of my face multiple times, I still consider it a single pass since I do not relather, but most places do see multiple strokes all in the same direction. As I have described before, some areas are WTG, some ATG, and some XTG, depending on what is natural for me.