Attempt 3

[teh tardnoggle]

So I made attempt number three with my DE last night and I was excited for a while. First pass with the grain went smoothly with out a nick. Pass two across the grain went smoothly as well. Where I get sliced and diced is on the against the grain, that is just plain hard. I think for the next few weeks or so until the burn is finally healed I'm going to stick with with and across grain shaves until my face is used to being shaved again. I've given some thought to running across the grain with a slight upward angle to get closer until I can master the against the grain but we'll see how it plays out. I need to spend some more time watching the videos to see what I'm doing wrong. Once more I will state that a coarse beard with a sensitive face is a pain.

 

[mkevenson]

Sounds like you are making progress. WTG & XTG are going well. I agree that a variation of ATG might be a good thing at this point. Try 1/2 ATG like you said. Good luck. This all will get better and easier with time.

 

[Blondie]

I would recommend adding another XTG pass. You can read a tutorial here on the four pass shave. Helped me alot when I was just beginning.

 

[Geordon]

Where I get sliced and diced is on the against the grain, that is just plain hard.

Seriously, skip on the ATG for now. Work on getting your technique down first, so that you get a comfortable shave with no bloodshed. That should be the first goal of anybody starting out.

Keep in mind, though, that not everybody does ATG. I don't, because of the irritation that I get. Every few weeks, I git it a shot, and generally don't like the results. WTG, XTG, opposite XTG, touchup. That's my series, and I get a very passable shave. Some days, I even get close to a BBS, but that's not my goal.

Getting your technique down is the best thing that you can do in order to improve your experience, and ATG is rough on more than not, from what I read here.

Good on you for keeping at it, though!

 

[Pumpkin]

Seriously, skip on the ATG for now. Work on getting your technique down first, so that you get a comfortable shave with no bloodshed. That should be the first goal of anybody starting out.
Good on you for keeping at it, though!

+1

There's nothing wrong with a CCS or DFS....BBS can seem a bit like the Holy Grail (especially for Newbies).

 

[teh tardnoggle]

I suppose that's my problem, I keep trying to hit that BBS. My downfall is I want the optimal end result without the practice of the technique. Curse my stubbornness for pushing too hard too fast. Heheh, I'll learn one day to slow it down. Thanks again for all the input.

 

[Geordon]

I suppose that's my problem, I keep trying to hit that BBS. My downfall is I want the optimal end result without the practice of the technique. Curse my stubbornness for pushing too hard too fast. Heheh, I'll learn one day to slow it down. Thanks again for all the input.

As a side note, I discovered that, when I take it easy and slow down some, I can actually tell when I am just at the point where any more shaving will give me razor burn. That was quite an interesting thing to learn! Haven't had burn since! (Of course, I can also tell when I cut myself based on the feel of the razor, rather than my lip... I always get my upper lip when I slip)

 

[RBE17]

You might want to actually hold off on shaving for a few days and map the grain of your beard. I had some of the same problems you are having when I started. Once I mapped the grain I realized my first pass was not a true WTG, but 45 degrees from it. Since then, I've been fine. I start w/ WTG, turn 45 degrees across the grain for the second pass, third pass is 45 degrees again that is now E-W. If I'm using a new blade I will go against the grain for a final pass. I've stopped going ATG if I've not shaved for a couple of days and will only do it if it's a new blade and I've shaved the day before.

HTH.

 

[82R100]

Remember, ATG is the one direction where you can assume that the angle of the whiskers is actually forcing the blade against the skin. Sure, no pressure means no pressure but ATG no pressure really means no pressure.

- Chris

 

[BroJohn]

Always seek a comfortable shave. The BBS shaves are not something you should seek --rather, they are the outcome and byproduct of a shave using excellent technique.

Don't go ATG for awhile --concentrate on blade angle and pressure using WTG/XTG passes for now. All will come together in due time.

-- John Gehman

 

[DerFly]

I too have a very sensitive face and have settled pm the following routine. One full WTG pass followed by XTG along the jawline and cheeks above (ear to chin direction). Neck and below the jawline is a single ATG. My top lip being the most sensitive, only gets the one pass.

 

[Patriot45]

As a newbie to DEs myself, I find myself doing a WTG, 2 XTGs, and finishing up with a ATG. The ATG is a bit difficult because of my growth patterns on my neck, but as long as I am careful, I generally don't end up with much worse than a "weeper". I have found it is extremely important to relather between passes. Don't try to touch up an area without lather...big pain, big pain!!!

 

[castlecraver]

+1 on nixing the ATG for now. What works for me, and what I still do even after wetshaving with a DE for 3.5 years (holy moly) is an XTG grain in the other direction with just a teensy, tiny hint of ATG angle. We're talking 10 degrees, tops. That's my last pass. And it clears the field like a combine.