Thread: How often should I do a 3 pass straight shave?

Originally Posted by Foxhill

I do a 3-pass every day. But that's MY face, not YOURS. We're all different.

Exactly what I think too. I do a daily 3 pass shave but that is me. You also might find as your technique improves the irritation level might subside too. I would just do as my face tells me to do.

Bob

You only have 40 shaves done yet, it's too soon to know if you will eventually be able to do a 3-pass shave. I have about a dozen shaves done and I can only do 2 passes, plus some touch ups here and there that don't qualify as a third pass.

However, I have shaved 3-passes 6 days a week with a DE for 3 years prior to recently starting to shave with a straight. I remember though it honestly took me a few months of daily shaving with the DE before my whole prep, technique, post-shave regiment, and skin could easily accommodate a 3-pass shave on a daily basis.

I expect I should also be able to eventually do 3 passes with the straight, although 2 passes with the straight already feel almost like 3 passes with a DE so with better straight razor technique perhaps a 3rd pass won't be necessary...

In any case, don't try to rush things and follow what's your skin telling you, everyone 's different on this.

I found that a certain way of doing an XTG pass is almost like doing a ATG pass in effect, but a lot forgiving on the skin. It works for me.

It is important though that you should be able to do the slicing motion. It takes time to get it and do it easily no matter the direction. Plus you have to map your face - how the beard grows.

So what I do is that on the second pass I do an XTG together with slicing against the grain. You can do the slicing in two directions: pushing the blade or pulling it. And you can go XTG also in two directions. So find the growth pattern, go XTG and slice against the grain.

On my mustache and chin area this works very well indeed. I can get BBS without going truly ATG.

Does this make sense?

Cheers

I found that two pass was sufficient for me.

I do 2 passes (WTG and XTG) and touch-up with straights and 1 pass with touch-up with DE's (just because that's all I need).

Whenever my face feels sensitive (for whatever reason) I back off even more.

Makes perfect sense. Thank you greatly!

Originally Posted by szarvi

I found that a certain way of doing an XTG pass is almost like doing a ATG pass in effect, but a lot forgiving on the skin. It works for me.

It is important though that you should be able to do the slicing motion. It takes time to get it and do it easily no matter the direction. Plus you have to map your face - how the beard grows.

So what I do is that on the second pass I do an XTG together with slicing against the grain. You can do the slicing in two directions: pushing the blade or pulling it. And you can go XTG also in two directions. So find the growth pattern, go XTG and slice against the grain.

On my mustache and chin area this works very well indeed. I can get BBS without going truly ATG.

Does this make sense?

Cheers

GOOD POST.

I go for perfect results every time I shave, and just view the burning spots as the signs of a defect of technique, something to work on or approach in a different way. Mostly it's coming along well.

I go WTG and ATG every day. For me, the XTG pass has been unnecessary.

Thanks a lot guys for all the input!