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To answer all of the prerequisite questions...yes I"m using a shave ready razor and yes my lather's good.....but my ATG shaving sux at best.
I stretch the skin as tight as I can and can't seem to get the razor moving ATG....this is after a 2x WTG and 1 XTG passes. The angle is either too high to move or so low it glides over the cream without cutting anything.
Is it possible that my razor is not sharp enough?
could very well be a reason but it could also be not the right angle of approach or some other factor.Quote:
Originally Posted by volleykinginnc
I would try an angle slightly higher than the "glide" range (maybe 1/2 to 1 spine width on a 6/8) with absolutely ZERO pressure, you just super-lightly buff the razor over the surface....
To answer your questions Yes it is possible your blade is not sharp enough?
There is couples but's.
1. Doesn't matter how sharp your blade will be when you start to use ATG YOUR face will get irritated. Face needs time to get used to it.
2. angle is very important.
3. what type facial hair you have.
Some people has course one(myself) . A lot people will shave with exact blade i shave 95% of them will say this blade is shave ready but i will say it is not shave ready.
In Reality you should never use ATG shave to get close shave.
you should learn to get BBS shave just making wtg and xtg shave.
It is possible to get that shave. takes time and properly honed blade. you or me or anyone else can get that shave.
hope this helps.
gl
Having a well-honed razor is key. I was having these same issues. I've tried to hone my own blades and even with some practice, it just isn't the same as having it done professionally. Also, the stropping before use is very important. It can make the difference in the final finishing of the edge. Frankly, I still have this issue sometimes but that's my experience :)
Will DO Sir.....Quote:
Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl
I have also been having issues with my ATG shaves. The blade seems to skip or pull the hair no matter what I do.
Only smooth shave I have gotten with ATG is with a disposable used at a 90 degree angle from the face, this does help with irritation believe it or not.
I have been getting some smooth shaves with only doing WTG and XTG, but like most I am always looking to get the skin smooth to the touch no matter what direction you touch it at. I will admit I have not been at this very long but will never give up the search. Besides I like using my Straight for every shave too much.
Now if I can only get that Damn lather :soapbox:
Turns from looking dry to bubbly really fast, thinking I have too many chemicals in my water :(
You can get BBS using only WTG and XTG? Really? I didn't think that was possible.Quote:
Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl
It is not just You Not so many people believe so. Just try and see.Quote:
Originally Posted by volleykinginnc
if you go back and read some posts about bbs shave you will find very helpful threads.
This topic has been discussed before many times.
i am not sure in which subfolder they were but i remember they are out there.
If you ever get one of Sham's edges you'll see why its possible for him.Quote:
Originally Posted by volleykinginnc
Along with the other suggestions, perhaps you're stretching your skin too much. Try lightening off on it a little. It may work.
While at work at the fire house I use the WTG AND XTG. to get a good shave. I have to do that for time sake. It's a good shave but not true baby soft. When at home, I do the ATG after the WTG and XTG. however the last couple of times I have done XTG I get these little skin flappy things at the folical. They don't go red or hurt or even feel like razor burn. That is until I put some after shave balm on and then they go on fire. The blade cuts great and passes every HHT I throw at it except for super fine hair. I guess my question is it a honing issue or angle or micro chipps. Any advice would be great
Thanks.
GOT IT!!! I shaved on Friday and had the same ATG issues sooo I decided just to do touch ups. So without lathering I was doing a couple of problem areas ATG with no issue. MMM.....light goes off. My lather was to thick so it was causing the blade at a low angle to either stick or jump. So Sat/Sund I put on lather but not quite as thick and BINGO...worked like a charm. Did 2 ATG passes today and I'm finally as smooth as the DE....I feel awesome! Another thing I found is that I couldn't be tentative with the strokes if that makes sense. So what I found was lighter lather, speed up the stroke and confidence worked like a charm.Quote:
Originally Posted by Firedug
Another noob here (90+ days), having all the normal issues when starting. 'Also a fairly course lawn to mow. I was able to do atg in the first few days (one of very few things that came easily), but I think Hi_Bud is saying something pretty important here & it has become a goal for me. When I argued that heavier blades were better, I got strong correction (thank you to each one who did) that it was technique. I think getting BBS smooth without atg is another important thing to shoot for in technique. I'm not there yet, but that's definitely the target. Under chin & jawline, the grass grows at an angle, so south to north pass isn't actually ATG. I have to factor this in during 2nd pass. Like most, there are always sections that defy smoothness, but I want to learn to get them w/out ATG. Hi_Bud does us Noobs a serious favor here, but it may not be easy or quickly learned. I think our faces will thank us w/ less irritation and nicks if we learn it.Quote:
Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl
Lie you my beard grows in many directions. I have found that by using all three of the strokes it takes care of 98% of the hair. This leaves little for me to touch up. I've had some days off to let my face grow and heal up. I then watched a video on SRP on different ways to make Lather. I have been melting my soap in a small bowl. I did that for convience, time, and less to carry to work. I then tried the lathering techniques found on that video an kept the lather warm using a small insulated coffe mug. Then I found out that I have been making lather completely wrong for years. I got a great shave. Oh and also I adjusted my angle from about 5 degrees to about 10 on my ATG. I came to a hypothesis (with my what little knowledge I have) that I was letting my thick bread cool and dry by the time I got to my ATG passes. Also, as all the all dogs of straights will say "it's your ANGLE". So yet again me trying to cut corners on my lather for convience sake cost me a great shave. However, if any others have some advice as to why the ATG skin flappy things came about. Please let me know. I only had one shave since I let the face normalize. So it could happen in the future.
Hey,
Sounds as though your grip on the razor and angle of the blade is off. When saving ATG the blade angle should be small, 10-20 degrees, your blade should be rigid (limited movement within your hand and in unwanted motions/directions), and your motion decisive, but their should be virtually no pressure against your skin.
These techniques will prevent excessive popping of the blade and allow for ATG passes. You get a feel for it as you shave, its wierd cause you want to securly grip the razor and prevent its movement by locking your wrist but also allow for blade movement when nessecary to prevent cuts. The sharper the razor the less pressure needed to cut. my fully hollow razors tend to pop when my technique is off b/c they are thin and don't have alot of inertia when cutting but thier sharpness accounts for that, when they dull more passes are needed to accomplish the same task along with slightly more pressure. hope this helps
Pressure is an interesting thing.....I found that I have to apply some pressure to get the ATG moving or the blade will skip and jump like a 12 year old school girl. On the opposite side I started to use negative pressure on the strop if that makes sense....I pull it up ever so slightly and that seems to have made a difference as well. Of course I say that but took a gash out of my jawline this morning on the ATG pass...I think that I didn't change my angle when coming up from the neck.Quote:
Originally Posted by james2
Yeah sounds like your technique, every now and then the blade does the same to me but its usually because my stroke pressure (force to move the blade ATG) is insufficient for my beard. Also instead of trying to make one swift pass make short synthing motions to help control the stroke. This will help you understand the right angles, hand positons, and pressures to apply when shaving ATG for your beard. Under the jawline is problably the hardest part to shave to me, I generally focus on my neck portion first and shave to just under the jawline, then I pull my skin on my jawline upward and shave it with and more control and ease. Other than that didn't understand the negative pressure comment and as a side note don't let the poping intimidate you. If the blade is cutting the hair it's sharp enough but in order to cut ATG:w confidence and proper technique is the key.