I've experimented with ATG and XTG passes. To be honest, they give me a very slightly closer shave, with a much higher likelihood of irritation than a simple 2 pass WTG shave. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I can always get a close and comfortable shave with 2 WTG passes, and this has become my routine. Anybody else have this good fortune.
2 passes with the grain
- Thread starter Snidely
- Start date
John,
It would be helpful to know roughly how old you are, and how tough are your whiskers? The older we get the tougher our beards. Therefore whether you are 25 or 65 is relevant to evaluating your suggestion.
When I was 20 years old I got a fairly good shave with one WTG pass; today at age 76 I need 4 passes, a Feather blade, and an aggressive razor.
There are few absolutes in life, I have learned.
It would be helpful to know roughly how old you are, and how tough are your whiskers? The older we get the tougher our beards. Therefore whether you are 25 or 65 is relevant to evaluating your suggestion.
When I was 20 years old I got a fairly good shave with one WTG pass; today at age 76 I need 4 passes, a Feather blade, and an aggressive razor.
There are few absolutes in life, I have learned.
I never go atg. I get fine shaves going wtg with occasional touch ups. I'm in my mid thirties.
- Thread starter
- #4
Snidely here.
I'm 67. Face lather after my shower. Use a Merkur 38C barber pole with Astra SP blades, and get a very close, very comfortable shave with 2 WTG passes. Maybe just lucky. Beard grows fast, but isn't particularly coarse.
I'm 67. Face lather after my shower. Use a Merkur 38C barber pole with Astra SP blades, and get a very close, very comfortable shave with 2 WTG passes. Maybe just lucky. Beard grows fast, but isn't particularly coarse.
Mid-30's, coarse beard, 2 passes WTG + 1 pass XTG with a Mergress + Astras does the trick.
I start with 2xWTG also but I need it chop down before moving to the next passes. Missing either of those up front leads to me going pulled apart.
I just started a thread talking about my ATG pain. WTG passes are super comfortable but do not give me a close shave. But every time I have tried ATG, I have ended with red bumps and a painful face! Shave would then be close but no fun at all.
I am glad it is working fine for you.
I am glad it is working fine for you.
Age 64, EJ 89, Feather. I get a pretty decent shave with one WTG, one XTG, and some buffing under the nose. XTG has always caused neck irritation...until last week. I changed the angle and no irritation, but not a particularly better shave, either. Still experimenting.
Slash McCoy
I freehand dog rockets
Normal shave for me is ONE WTG pass with a very very sharp straight. Important day shave is two WTG passes. SuperShave is two WTG and one ATG, mostly when I know I won't be able to shave the next day but must still look presentable, such as when traveling. Beard is average, and mostly white so shadow doesn't show up bad.
The second WTG, at least with a straight, cleans up a face pretty good. And nearly anyone can tolerate 2WTG day after day. Many of us can't tolerate ATG several days in a row.
The second WTG, at least with a straight, cleans up a face pretty good. And nearly anyone can tolerate 2WTG day after day. Many of us can't tolerate ATG several days in a row.
When I started DE shaving I did 3 pass shaves - but eventually developed a system of 2 passes - WTG and XTG. That seemed to get close enough. The only parts on my face that are always rough are under my chin on the left and right side. Too much tampering always leads to blood.
I've recently moved to WTG + XTG as I find it gets me a bit closer than two WTG but is still comfortable. ATG is a no-go for me.
This is basically what I do, and I wind up with a pretty smooth face except for those areas that you mention. So I add a very light ATG to get those remaining areas. I don't have much problem with irritation, but I might try another XTG on that final touch-up pass instead to see if that does the trick as well.
I get away with avoiding an ATG pass on my face, but my neck benefits from it quite a bit. I get noticeable irritation only very rarely and only when I'm careless, although the alcohol in the aftershave lets me know I've shaved closely on the neck.
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