Thread: Tips On Closer Shave ATG

I disagree with the argument that your fingers should be behind the razor at all times when stretching. IMO stretching has a two-fold purpose - to provide a taut surface upon which to pass the razor over; and to make the whiskers stand up. My ATG pass is characterised by moving the edge toward my stretching fingers.

Making the whiskers stand up is the trick when going ATG to get a closer shave in my book. And while I agree that perhaps it is not something you want to start doing when you are a beginner, you should at least know what you are aiming for in time. The trick is to make sure your fingers and the edge of the razor do not occupy the same space at the same time.

Good luck.

James.

Originally Posted by adamf85

I feel like a total n00b right now lol.

it's because you ARE, and honestly, thats a beautiful thing. I've been shaving with a stright for over a year now and I still consider myself a noob.

For your own good, take your time. It only takes one mistake to severely hurt yourself and possibly make something you love now into something you'll be scared to attempt again.

Its remarkable that after 6 shaves you are feeling that confident, take advantage of that and gain wisdom as you progress. Don't rush it, no matter how confident you are.

Enjoy the process. and welcome to the brotherhood!

Originally Posted by adamf85

What are your personal tips on getting a real close shave on against the grain?

I have about 6-7 shaved under my belt now.. Still a complete novice but I am a lot more Confident with it now and getting it down quickly.

With the grain I am getting it very smooth but with against the grain I can still feel a slight stubble..
I try stretching the skin but having difficult with the placement of it all.. it feels awkward for me and kind of nervous I will cut my fingers.

So do you gentleman have any suggestions / tips?

Ok, so you're properly in your place as a noob. But let me offer some of the information you came looking for. When you decide to go ATG, first make sure you know what ATG is. Your beard makes all sorts of directional changes across your face. Know what those are for the best results. Second, remove the stubble with a couple of passes first so that your almost home when you start teh ATG pass. On the sides of your face, you'll find the ATG pass fairly easy to accomplish. At least I do. The skin is not as loose, for me, the direction is up and down, and the area is relatively flat and easy to see. Start there first. Third, know what grip you want to hold the razor with in order to go ATG. My neck was a challenge. Finding the right grip took some time. Think about this before you begin so you're not fumbling with the blade under your chin while you're trying to shave. Fourth, on the neck, shave with the blade spine close to your skin. Having it up too high will cause the blade to dig in as it encounters resistance to the ATG stubble. And by all means hold the skin taught during the phase. If the skin bunches up behind the blade, you'll most likely cut yourself. Lastly, be sure your soap is freshly applied. Drying soap/cream will not be as slick and will most likely deliver a rough shave. Reapply if need be. Go slow and tackle small sections at a time. Then during the day think about how best to go after the next section.

All good advice above.

I'd add:

- Don't expect the same smoothness all over. I still can't get my neck as smooth as my cheeks, and I'm not sure I ever will - the skin there is slacker, there are difficult hollows, and the direction of growth makes it hard to angle the razor for a proper ATG.

- If you aren't already, and once you've got the basics down, start using your non-dominant hand. I resisted this advice for quite a while, because my left hand is nowhere near as co-ordinated as my right, but there were some areas which were very difficult for my right, but fairly easy with my left. (Baby steps here, though - maybe just start with the easiest strokes on the cheek when starting to use the non-dominant hand.)