Thread: Why should X/ATG be more comfortable on the second pass than the first?

For a WTG pass, any razor resistance will pull the hair out from the skin. Obviously, this is fairly comfortable, or Schick would have gone bankrupt years ago.

With X/ATG passes, razor resistance will either bend the hair (unlikely given a previous pass), or push it back in towards the skin. Resistance from a properly honed and stropped razor is trivial, so this shouldn't affect closeness much. However, it is reasonable to suspect that these small inward movements of the hairs while shaving could cause the blade to be forced in towards the skin, potentially causing irritation and/or razor burn.

That's my two cents.

Nobody seems to be dealing with the question asked in the original post, so I'll give it a shot. Why would the second ATG pass be more comfortable than the first? I'm also going to get a little heretical here and say that I don't believe it's the fact that the lather has been on the face longer. I've been using absolutely minimal prep for months now (after trying full, long preparation for a month and seeing no difference) and getting good shaves just lathering up quickly without even splashing water on my face. I'm not recommending anyone else do this and am not campaigning for it, but it can be done.

So, I don't think time with lather makes any difference. I'm going to put this out there: It might be that the second pass, with less actual work to be done, is a lighter, more careful pass, probably used for taking care of difficult areas and because these areas are difficult less pressure is used.

Originally Posted by ace

Nobody seems to be dealing with the question asked in the original post, so I'll give it a shot. Why would the second ATG pass be more comfortable than the first? I'm also going to get a little heretical here and say that I don't believe it's the fact that the lather has been on the face longer. I've been using absolutely minimal prep for months now (after trying full, long preparation for a month and seeing no difference) and getting good shaves just lathering up quickly without even splashing water on my face. I'm not recommending anyone else do this and am not campaigning for it, but it can be done.

So, I don't think time with lather makes any difference. I'm going to put this out there: It might be that the second pass, with less actual work to be done, is a lighter, more careful pass, probably used for taking care of difficult areas and because these areas are difficult less pressure is used.

Ace, you have been str8 razor shaving a long time haven't you? Your face is probably well conditioned and acclimated to straight razor shaving therefore your skin doesn't need as much moisture as it probably did when you first started straight razor shaving. Moreover, your technique is probably well developed as well.

As for shaving comfort, I think the first pass reduced the beard as a result of pre-shave prep, lathering, and razor handling setting up a good condition for the succeeding passes.

Just my take and thoughts on this.