Thread: Is a perfect shave possible wtg

Hey guys newbie here, I have been doing my research through all you guys and I'am baffled on how much information is here. Understanding it all is a pretty daunting task. I just wanted to know if it is possible to get a baby butt smooth shave only going wtg? I get a pretty decent shave and haven't cut myself yet ( knock on wood... many times ) but it is only slightly better than my gilette throw aways. I was thinking im getting average shaves because I ONLY shave wtg. I understand common mistakes made by newbies are, blade ins't sharp, razor is junk, or techniques blows. I,m hoping the problem is my technique of only going wtg. What do you think?

I can get nice and smooth using with- and across-the-grain passes. More importantly, the shaves are free of irritation and that should be your focus.

Definitely get your WTG passes down with your beard growth mapped so that it's acceptable and then start trying across and against and see how your skin responds.

Much of it depends on the kind of beard you have. If you have a thick heavy beard that grows straight out or you have peach fuzz you probably can easily get a BBS shave with minimal maneuvering. If you have the kind with different growth patterns and swirls and all that you will have to use differing strokes to handle the problem areas.

Of course this all assumes you razor and skills are up to the job and your prep is top notch.

A perfect, BBS shave going WTG only? I don't think so, unless (as thebigspendur pointed out) you have a peachfuzz beard. That's not to say that you couldn't get a serviceable shave going WTG only.

That being said if you're getting better shaves WTG than you were with a Bic disposable you're doing fairly well. A dull razor and poor technique doesn`t sound like it`s a problem here. Try XTG and see how you like it.

I have a thin wiry beard and am prone to ingrown hair, so I only shave WTG and XTG. This leaves me very smooth with no irritation and no ingrown hairs. I would rather have very smooth and no irritation vs. BBS and ingrown hairs, as I like to shave everyday!

One pass BBS... not yet
But my one pass shave is much better then my three pass was six months ago

WTG is usually good for the first or even a second pass, but to get to BBS you really need to add at least XTG if not ATG. For my beard it takes WTG then ATG to get the best shave.

Try XTG first.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Of course this all assumes you razor and skills are up to the job and your prep is top notch.

Big +1 on the razor and skills. For me personally I have to say yes and no. Sometimes I have been able to get it. OTOH, one pass for me isn't one stroke of the razor. It is a stroke immediately followed by a second stroke on the same turf. Maybe a third. The 1905 booklet said never go against the grain.

It says only do one pass for a DFS and if you want bbs do another pass but WTG. So I tried that and sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't. There are days where I've gotten it with one pass as described above but more often than not it is one pass and call it good for a DFS or do the second pass.

As TBS said, if your whiskers are coming out swirly and in different directions that is another issue. The whiskers on either side of the hollows of my windpipe and the knob of the chin usually require a touch up after the one pass even when Im doing the one pass and call it good type of shave. Varied stretching techniques on that area too. It ain't easy.

Thanks guys, I think ill dabble with xtg for a few days on the side burns and cheeks to see if its any better. I agree that comfort should be the main concern but i just thought i would get better results by practicing without having to go xtg or atg but i guess not. My beard is kinda heavy, so from what some of u said it sounds like xtg might be a good idea to start with.

I only do three passes always. And usually it's different than most.
People have their methods, mine works perfect for me.
After I get out of the shower I don't dry off my face. I always have my soap (or cream-depending on whatever I want to use-cream is faster to lather, but my soap gives a more soft feeling after the shave all day) ready and my brush and after shave as well.
I usually but not always use pre-shave oil, I have some AOS pre-shave oil but I make my own and use that everyday or when I use oil at all. It's pretty much just castor and extra virgin olive oil.
I lather up on my face and then I put on my socks and stuff lol
Then I start to shave. The first time I go across the grain (xtg), then against the grain (atg), and finally with the grain (wtg).
Everyone has their methods but like I said, this works perfectly for me. BBS shave and no nicks or scratches. I used to have a pretty thick mustache but the way I shave, it looks like hair never grew on my lip :P the reason I shave with the grain last (again everyone is entitled to their own opinions), is to prevent ingrown hairs from when I shave across the grain. In return, a perfect BBS shave with no irritation, razor burn, or ingrown hairs.