Thread: Drop the WTG=better shave

Originally Posted by volleykinginnc

I've been staight shaving about a year now and been doing basically the same routine the entire time. Based on some posts here I thought I would drop from my usual 3 pass routine and try 2.

So I dropped the initial WTG pass and oddly enough the ease and smoothness of the first XTG pass was markedly improved and same with the ATG. The result was also noticably closer, smoother, with less redness.

I've done it 5 times now with a noticeable improvement in my shaves. I totally understand the reduction in redness but why would it be closer and smoother? At first I thought maybe I just mapped my face wrong and was actually going WTG when I thought I was going XTG but checked it again and I seem to have my directions correct.

Any ideas on why this is?

I wonder if the edge is degrading by the 3rd pass so with 2 passes you have a better edge for ATG, giving you a closer more comfortable shave.
Try it 2 days in a row without stropping & see if your results are the same.

I've noticed this recently myself. When I tried my GEM razor for the first time I felt the stiffer blade did a fantastic job slicing through a first pass XTG, much better than my other DE's. I've now been doing the same with my straights...

When I shave every day as opposed to every few days I find coming out the gate with ATG followed by touch ups allows me a closer shave in less time with less risk of irritation because of the fewer passes needed. I find the WTG pass to be worth it if I haven't shave in a bit though.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Maybe three passes was too much for your skin, as opposed to the WTG directional aspect being the problem.

I'm with you on the reasoning. Three passes was too much for my skin and I dropped the WTG (really a North to South pass). The result was that my skin could tolerate the two passes that really gave me a close shave better and it significantly improved the shave quality and shave experience.

I tried this once and there was a lot more pulling and tugging. I may try this again based on the comments I'm reading here.

What chaps my face are the problem areas, like the neck and chin. I keep trying to get them shaved, and that is when the pulling and tugging sets in. Those areas are overworked. In my case, I think it is the fact that I'm not yet nimble enough with my razor to put it where it needs to be to cut the problem areas rather than inadequate sharpness of the blade. I think I can hone pretty well.

Originally Posted by volleykinginnc

I've been staight shaving about a year now and been doing basically the same routine the entire time. Based on some posts here I thought I would drop from my usual 3 pass routine and try 2.

So I dropped the initial WTG pass and oddly enough the ease and smoothness of the first XTG pass was markedly improved and same with the ATG. The result was also noticably closer, smoother, with less redness.

I've done it 5 times now with a noticeable improvement in my shaves. I totally understand the reduction in redness but why would it be closer and smoother? At first I thought maybe I just mapped my face wrong and was actually going WTG when I thought I was going XTG but checked it again and I seem to have my directions correct.

Any ideas on why this is?

I wanted to find this post first thing this morning and report that I tried dropping the WTG today and did experience improvement as you described.

I've tried dropping my WTG pass a couple of times. Every time I've tried it, I swore I wouldn't do it again.

I normally do 2 passes - WTG (actually N-S) followed by ATG (actually S-N). This gives me a great shave every time without any irritation. I tried dropping the WTG pass again a few days ago after reading this thread, and the result was a lousy shave that left my face feeling like I had tried to shave with a cheese grater.

I'm glad a lot of you can get away with it. Maybe if I was doing an XTG pass I could do it, but that would put me right back where I am now (a 2-pass shave) which I doubt would be any better than my current routine.

Originally Posted by fyrfyter43

I've tried dropping my WTG pass a couple of times. Every time I've tried it, I swore I wouldn't do it again.

I normally do 2 passes - WTG (actually N-S) followed by ATG (actually S-N). This gives me a great shave every time without any irritation. I tried dropping the WTG pass again a few days ago after reading this thread, and the result was a lousy shave that left my face feeling like I had tried to shave with a cheese grater.

I'm glad a lot of you can get away with it. Maybe if I was doing an XTG pass I could do it, but that would put me right back where I am now (a 2-pass shave) which I doubt would be any better than my current routine.

two days ago I tried to do a 2 pass.....WTG then ATG and it wasn't very close or very smooth. I think I'll stick with my new found WTG and ATG and see how it works long term.

I never thought about leaving the WTG out but I used a XTG in both directions and a ATG today and I got a good shave, there are indeed many roads that lead to Rome.