Thread: ATG is a closer, smoother and more comfortable shave

Hello all -

I am fairly new to straight razor shaving, few months, and i started with a Parker Shavette, I now have a starter razor from Whipped Dog and a beauty Pre Dovo Bismark with scales made by Mastershake and honed by him to shave ready condition. For the past few months I have been reading up and watching videos on the best and most proper way to shave. After trial and error with WTG, XTG and ATG, here is what I have come up with as the best and most comfortable, razor burn free, shave...

1 pass ATG.

I almost feel embarrassed to say it because I know how against the grain (pun intended) that school of thought is. But i was experimenting one day, being dissatisfied, and possibly impatient, with my low quality shaves with my straight, and i said screw it, im going against the grain starting at my neck and traveling up. It was amazing. Yes I could feel the razor catching the hairs, but i could also feel the razor slicing through every one easily leaving a BBS face with no razor burn. The jury is still out on ingrown hairs as i shaved this way last night, and i am still struggling with the chin and mustache areas (especially against the grain, i take my time as I like my nose where it is)

Is there anyone else out there who agrees with this? Or is this heresy?

Thanks

James

This has come up many times before, so rest assured there are other members who will agree with you. As long as YOU can get away with it without irritation and cuts, have at it. I've tried it once or twice, doesn't work that well at all for my beard type. It would make for a quicker shave if I could get away with it though

I don't think there is such a thing as heresy when it comes to discovering “your” technique. No one’s going to question a guy with an unorthodox swing if he’s getting holes in ones consistently.

It’s been my experience that razor burn is a function of either a poorly honed blade and/or poor technique. I recall almost giving up on straight razors initially because I got burn so bad (as in I had to use my kids baby butt paste once to calm it down lol). Today those war wounds are but mere memories. It takes a bit of time but maybe you do across the grain the best and hence no burn – or it could be just doing one pass that makes it comfortable?

I personally can’t even fathom how a man could get a one pass BBS shave (note I am not questioning your statements). My whiskers grow in so many different directions it would be impossible for me. I commend you on thinking outside the box and doing what’s right for you though. If your whiskers grow in a uniform north/south or whatever, maybe you can get away with it. I can only wish : ).

Continued good luck with your shaves!

I have cactus whiskers..if I don't go ATG..they stay and drive me nuts!

Totally agree with you. It works well for me because my skin doesn't tolerate 3 pass shaves well. It is also a great way to test an edge. If there is any defect with the blade it will show up immediately. If you hone a few razors at a time you can easily test shave a dozen or more. Like most things associated with wet shaving Mileage Varies greatly. Very cool how you have taken the initiative early on you journey.

It just keeps getting better.

Originally Posted by smalltank

I have cactus whiskers..if I don't go ATG..they stay and drive me nuts!

Same here, smalltank. And what's worse, ATG for me is east-west (same for most guys, I imagine), and it's really difficult to orient a straight razor to make those passes below the jawline. I do it with a combo of 1) tilting my head sideways to be able to make a more north-south stroke; and 2) using guillotine and scything strokes.

I can't get a BBS shave without an ATG pass.

Thanks guys, good to know im not the only one. At this point, do you think it would be a good idea to try and perfect my ATG technique, which is my most successful so far, or should i continue to try and get a good/comfortable shave out of WTG/XTG passes as well? If its a technique thing, I would like to eventually get efficient at all styles -- half the reason im enjoying straight razor shaving is the challenge and the eventually mastering of a new, unique skill.

I guess the beauty of it is that my whiskers will always grow back and I can continue to practice and experiment with different passes and hopefully one day ill be able to get a comfortable shave WTG, XTG and ATG.

Thanks for the help.

You will grow to regret you have but one face to shave.

My beard is way to thick and coarse to start with ATG. I have to go at least once WTG before I even try the others, or it will catch and well... But if your beard is soft enough to do it, go for it. I wish I could too!

Originally Posted by jaswarb

You will grow to regret you have but one face to shave.

This couldn't be truer lol. While getting a BBS is a great feeling...for me it just means less stubble to shave the following morning And if you don't get that BBS and people know you shave with a straight, they assume it's not as close a shave as their cartridge.


Edit: I say practice all types of shaving techniques, that's (for me at least), the best part of wet shaving with a straight! Enjoy