Short Stroke vs. Long Stroke Technique

This is a testament to constantly trying new and different things.

I always shaved with a long stroke technique. I would start the stroke and not lift the blade until I ran out of face in that stroke path. I think I did it mostly because I felt that my control over the razor and following the contours of my face was good enough that I stuck with it.

Several weeks ago mattluthier was over my house and we were discussing techniques and using the short stroke technique - especially a rapid short stroke technique for extra-hollow ground blades. This is the short rapid overlapping stroke technique. I became intrigued by it and started a plan to try it.

So I decided to try it and here are the results for me:
1. My shaves are even closer than with the long stroke technique
2. My shaves are much more consistent from shave to shave
3. It was easier for me to use lighter pressure because I am not trying to maintain the contact of the razor to the skin over all of the changing facial contours.
3. Amazingly, my shaves are much more consistent from razor to razor. This really floored me until I thought about it. It has to be a pretty special razor to have a long stroke give you a very close and consistent whisker removal from the start to the end of the stroke over all of the contours. Only my Filarmonicas did this. However, my razors that give a good but not great shave are delivering the same very close and consistent shave as my Filarmonicas - not just some of them, but all of them. This is because the short stroke lets me overlap the strokes with light pressure and I only have to hold to small contours at a time.

So, I can't say everybody's experience will be like mine - and I'm sure many of the veterans probably already know what I found out. But what is important is to keep an open mind and experiment - even if you think it can't get any better because it just might.

In my limited, perfectionist experience, I find the long stroke works well for reducing the longer growth. But to get into the contours and pick out each whisker that may still be above the skin, I use repeated short strokes. First with a shallow angle then increasing the angle in subsequent strokes until I feel/hear no more whiskers.

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Originally Posted by Alembic

This is a testament to constantly trying new and different things.

But what is important is to keep an open mind and experiment - even if you think it can't get any better because it just might.

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+1 Not only true about shaving, but equally applicable to our experience of life. Well said, my friend!!:rock:

Congratulations. You have learned how to shave!
:)

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Originally Posted by Utopian

Congratulations. You have learned how to shave!
:)

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:rofl2: I was wondering when that was going to happen, seeing as how it only took 2 years and about $5,000!

I usually use the long stroke where it will work (jawline from ear to chin) and short strokes for the more contoured areas, but if I want the closest shave, short strokes are better. But I have to admit I like the efficiency of a long stroke, it demands skill, control of the blade and knowledge of the contours of your face.

Basically, it's "really cool" to be able to take those long strokes, but the reality is that the shorter ones are more effective.

I think I like that I can do both. As I was saying, it takes a lot of control and knowledge of your face to do those long strokes.

I should have mentioned this, but I have dropped the WTG pass altogether unless I have 3+ days of growth. I just do an XTG and an ATG pass.

I seem to still use both techniques. I use long strokes for the first pass, then use short strokes for the rest. I find I do the same thing with my DE razors, I think it's called blade buffing.

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Originally Posted by Utopian

Basically, it's "really cool" to be able to take those long strokes, but the reality is that the shorter ones are more effective.

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Yes, I am "really cool", I know that but I thank you Ron just the same for letting everyone else know. LOL

I like to make long strokes all the way from the sideburn down through the neck. I haven't seen any difference in closeness, and it speeds up the shave. On ATG passes I can go all the way from the neck through the cheek with great results. But that's just me.

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Originally Posted by Alembic

I think I like that I can do both. As I was saying, it takes a lot of control and knowledge of your face to do those long strokes.

I should have mentioned this, but I have dropped the WTG pass altogether unless I have 3+ days of growth. I just do an XTG and an ATG pass.

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I am learning to skip the WTG pass as well!

Thanks...this has given me something to think about. I use the long stroke too for the sides, but I will try the short strokes for a change to see the difference. I use an extra hollow grind because I like the feedback the blade gives me and it tends to help me determine pressure needed on the contours. I think the short strokes would help a lot with my heavier blades.

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Originally Posted by Alembic

I think I like that I can do both. As I was saying, it takes a lot of control and knowledge of your face to do those long strokes.

I should have mentioned this, but I have dropped the WTG pass altogether unless I have 3+ days of growth. I just do an XTG and an ATG pass.

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I've been tempted to skip the WTG pass myself, but it's been a part of my routine since I started straight razor shaving. I have been tempted to just shave WTG the sideburn area and XTG and ATG under my jawline which is the area that gives me the biggest challenge in beard reduction. The biggest challenge I have is getting the right angle under the jawline because my beard grain angles back towards my collarbone. In that area, I feel I am going partly XTG and ATG, that's probably where I am going to need to use the scything (sp?) technique which I do not feel I am quite ready for at this time.

What I find works best, at least for me, are short strokes for my initial WTG pass, followed by long strokes for my second (XTG) pass on the broad parts of my face. I will then switch to short strokes again for my chin and ATG touch ups, usually incorporating some blade buffing as well. Seems to work a charm :tu

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

What I find works best, at least for me, are short strokes for my initial WTG pass, followed by long strokes for my second (XTG) pass on the broad parts of my face. I will then switch to short strokes again for my chin and ATG touch ups, usually incorporating some blade buffing as well. Seems to work a charm :tu

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+1 Now why didn't someone tell me that last year? Well said!!! Each must learn and earn their own path to bbs. ;)

I like to look for the multi directional 2 pass shave, the first pass is a little more WTG but still some ATG thrown in with a mix of long / short strokes. But it really is what you feel gives you the best blade control and the best results.
Sam

Since I have plenty of facial hair, I hardly have any room for making long strokes. Just in my neck, reall, but the contours there kinda forbid that. Short strokes there work much better (for me), with long strokes I miss patches and consequently have to make more strokes/passes, increasing the chance of irritation and cuts.

In the late '70 my grandfather showed me how to shave with a straight and he used lots of short strokes WTG is some places and ATG in others. He always ended up with a smooth face but then he had been doing it for almost 80 years at that point.

I use the short stroke method he taught me and find it works best.

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Originally Posted by Jacketch

In the late '70 my grandfather showed me how to shave with a straight and he used lots of short strokes WTG is some places and ATG in others. He always ended up with a smooth face but then he had been doing it for almost 80 years at that point.

I use the short stroke method he taught me and find it works best.

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That's great reading about your grandfather showing you how to shave with a straight. He taught you well!

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Originally Posted by pmburk

That's great reading about your grandfather showing you how to shave with a straight. He taught you well!

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He didn't have running water so he would get some hot water from the reservoir in the wood stove and pour it into a washbowl. He would wet his face and started working up a lather in a cup using a boar brush. He then lathered his face with a somewhat wet brush. He worked on the lather in the cup some more and then re-lathered. Using short strokes, he would shave his sideburns on both sides, then his cheeks both sides, his jawline both sides, each side of his neck, his upper lip, lower lip, chin and adam's apple (pulling the skin as needed). As he worked he would wipe the razor on a thin towel he had draped over his shoulder or if he needed a little lather, he would slide the razor between his thumb and fore finger (spine toward palm) and wipe the lather where needed. When done he would splash some water from the washbowl over his face and then using the clean end of the towel, he'd wipe his face dry. A quick swish of the brush in the bowl and a quick shake dry and he was done.

He was a wonderful man and the main reason I got into straights. I only hope I can be more like him.

ETA He was born in 1883 and died in 1983. I still have his razor, an inexpensive but priceless to me item.

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Originally Posted by Jacketch

He didn't have running water so he would get some hot water from the reservoir in the wood stove and pour it into a washbowl. He would wet his face and started working up a lather in a cup using a boar brush. He then lathered his face with a somewhat wet brush. He worked on the lather in the cup some more and then re-lathered. Using short strokes, he would shave his sideburns on both sides, then his cheeks both sides, his jawline both sides, each side of his neck, his upper lip, lower lip, chin and adam's apple. As he worked he would wipe the razor on a thin towel he had draped over his shoulder or if he needed a little lather, he would slide the razor between his thumb and fore finger (spine toward palm) and wipe the lather where needed. When done he would splash some water from the washbowl over his face and then using the clean end of the towel, he'd wipe his face dry. A quick swish of the brush in the bowl and a quick shake dry and he was done.

He was a wonderful man and the main reason I got into straights. I only hope I can be more like him.

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WOW, that's awesome man!

Did your grandfather use a 2" strop or a 3" ? If he used a 2", did he say why ?
I have a theory that strops were 2" wide for a reason - back when leather was more plentiful / cheaper than it is now. I just don't know what the reason was...

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Originally Posted by JohnG10

Did your grandfather use a 2" strop or a 3" ? If he used a 2", did he say why ?
I have a theory that strops were 2" wide for a reason - back when leather was more plentiful / cheaper than it is now. I just don't know what the reason was...

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He did use a 2" strop but I never asked him why.

I use shorter strokes when I want greater control