Thread: Disheartened ATG Avoidance :(

I'd like some help tracking down where or whats going wrong in my ATG pass. In fact i've completely stopped using it. I've gone though the necessary steps to ensure my razor is sharp enough, tried lightening my stroke, holding it lightly, and lessening the angle but my razor grabs and kinda skips. If i force it to get the job done i end up taking a layer of skin off! I find using cold water helps, but it's still a stoke i avoid using, which has left me disheartened and still stubble.

Does anybody have an idea? or is ATG just not for everyone?

You didn't mention skin stretching. This is crucial in ATG passes. also what hand position are you using.

Another question is, is the razor is sharp enough?

I'm sorry to hear that!
The only things I can think of are the usual suspects really.
Very good prep, proper lather, a truly sharp razor, good stretching, low angles and possibly applying the correct strokes, such as scything or a guillotine motion. Use that with extreme caution though, Using those ATG requires really good technique and experience

I hope you figure it out!

Dramatically increase, and work on improving, your stropping. Lower the shaving angle of your stroke. ATG strokes are less about skin stretching and more about skin securing (from below).

I would prefer beginners not attempt any scything strokes against the grain.

Originally Posted by 111Nathaniel

I'd like some help tracking down where or whats going wrong in my ATG pass. In fact i've completely stopped using it. I've gone though the necessary steps to ensure my razor is sharp enough, tried lightening my stroke, holding it lightly, and lessening the angle but my razor grabs and kinda skips. If i force it to get the job done i end up taking a layer of skin off! I find using cold water helps, but it's still a stoke i avoid using, which has left me disheartened and still stubble.

Does anybody have an idea? or is ATG just not for everyone?

I am with you man. Those ATG strokes I can only do on my cheeks yet. What should be an WTG stroke on my neck is really already ATG as the direction the hair grows is kind of upward. I get razor burn there every time. It's getting to the point I only try and do ATG on my left neck specifically, which is really WTG at that location. It's a tough go sometimes, but I"m not giving up, so don't you either!!

I keep hearing about pressure, angle, prep, stropping and technique. Sadly I'm still figuring out all of the above!!! LOL..

Good luck mate!!! Keep at it..

M

I can't do ATG at all, it just wrecks my face.

A master barber at Trumpers told me never to shave ATG as it's not good for your skin.

Some folks can do it though, just I'm not one of 'em!

When I started with atg a had the same problem, found that stretching makes a big difference, still have problems sometimes going atg on my right side using my left hand, keep at it, it take some practice.

-dan-

Hello Nathaniel

As it's been mentioned ATG is not for everyone. But maybe you can get away with it on some areas of your face and just not others, and accept that. That comes down to your beard growth direction, skin type etc, but in a similar manner to novice advice in begin with straight shaving side burns/cheeck and finish up with your DE, apply this to your ATG pass, only do it where you are comfortable, getting fair results and finish the remainder ATG pass with a DE (if you want to) That way you can refine your ATG technique, blade angle, stretch etc. and not be disheartened.
As Sinnfein has rightly mentioned it comes with practice.

All the Best
Sam.

I've had great success with ATG the last 7-8 shaves, in the beginning I was really scared and the blade kinda skipped and I stopped, but I watched a few videos and made sure I had a sharp and smooth endge and went at it again, and I found that I needed to do fast , short strokes with a confident steady hand, and a fairly low angle. Now I get less irritation on my neck going ATG than I was able to do with a DE, I'm pretty blown away with that.