Thread: ATG: Balancing Pressure & Force

Gentlemen,

Thank you in advance for all your tips and suggestions! I'm still new here and I'm always overwhelmed by the volume of helpful, informative replies.

I've been working on ATG passes and just can't seem to get them. The razor always seems to skip, or nick me - which is really frustrating because I've finally gotten the WTG/XTG passes down nick-free. I admit that I am prone to skipping the XTG pass when time is pressing; I assume that makes the ATG pass harder...

Anyways, after reading some old threads I have decided the ATG is a balancing act: you need to hold the razor firmly and make decisive strokes while using little to no pressure. I'm still relatively new to traditional shaving and just got the pressure-free WTG/XTG down pat; however, the crazy grip I need to use for the ATG makes it awkward.

So, any tips on walking the no pressure-yet-decisive tightrope?

Thanks,
Dave

I've only been at this ten months now, so I'm definitely no expert. I personally try to glide the blade over my face with no pressure at all. I try to think of gliding the blade without it actually touching my skin, though it obviously does. I just feel like the mental image helps me get it right.

One other thing I've noticed is grip strength. I began to notice that the tighter I held the razor, without thinking about it or realizing it even, the more pressure I was using. Unintentionally.

So now I make a conscious effort to keep my grip loose and it's much easier to actually use - no- pressure.

Originally Posted by maddafinga

I personally try to glide the blade over my face with no pressure at all. I try to think of gliding the blade without it actually touching my skin,

That is what I do too. Glide over the skin slicing the whiskers as if I were drawing a knife across a tomato. As opposed to hitting head on as if I were plowing a field.

I have come to the conclusion that skin stretching is critical along with angle of attack and stroke. Different areas requiring different strategies. I can't say for sure but I would think 'skipping' would indicate inadequate stretching and/or your razor isn't sharp enough.

Thanks for the tips. I'll admit, I am a bit lazy when it comes to skin stretching.... I tend to stretch my skin only to get the jawline. Poor form?

Yeah, you gotta stretch for ATG b/c the weight of the blade isn't pulling down through the whisker, and your skin can retract and bunch up. I find my angle on my neck, stretch, then short stroke up, glide the blade on my skin backwards then back up...like vacuuming I guess, but the blade stays in contact with my neck so I don't have to constantly try to reset my spine angles. Just lightly gliding the blade like a stropping motion back over your skin won't cut you unless you bare down that is.

That helps. I'm always just hyper-sensitive when doing the ATG pass and therefore lack the confidence necessary for a "sure"/deliberate stroke. I think that comes from being able to feel the razor cut catching the hair on this pass, versus the gliding sensation I get from the WTG/XTG passes.

Because you’re going against the grain, the blade is going to meet a little more resistance. By stretching the skin, or even simply anchoring it, you’re keeping it from bunching up behind the blade which will lead to a cut. I assume this may be one reason why the razor is skipping and nicking. Its probably stretching the skin behind the blade and snapping back some after the edge loses its hold on the stubble. At the very least, anchor the skin. Also, you’ll find that if you flatten the blade some against your face, you’ll be less likely to dig in with the razor and pull the skin with the blade. One reason I had a problem with anchoring and stretching the skin was the way that I was attacking my shave. My WTG pass begins with the razor at my side burn moving down. That feels natural. On my ATG pass, I’m going from jawline up. But if you haven’t cleared the neck area, anchoring and stretching the skin is tough because its full of soap. So your tendency is to cheat and not hold it down. So begin that pass by clearing a 1 inch section at the base of your neck. Use that area to hold the skin in place and shave upward (if that is ATG for you) on the neck to clear the area before you move on. Once you clear the neck, now you have a clean area to grip the skin and tackle cheeks. That was half of my problem, just figuring out what areas needed to be cleared first in order to stretch the skin for the next area. The sequence of events matters.

Try using literaly flat angle when going ATG, once the razor shaves follow through with one nice smooth stroke keeping razor flat as pos, just try it may be more comfortable ...

I use a firm, jerking motion going AGT, the results are unique

You really need your razor to be as sharp as can be to shave ATG comfortably. 75% of ATG issues are likely caused by a razor that isn't optimally sharp. Keep it mind that a razor can still be sharp enough to shave very comfortably WTG and XTG, but for a lot of us a good indicator of a well honed blade is ease of ATG.

That being said, I have whiskers under my neck that grow flat to the skin, which gives grief to even the sharpest straight razor. That's where the other 25% comes in: technique