I have a higher risk than average when it comes to ingrown hairs because I'm African American. However, unlike most African American men I know, I can shave ATG in most areas without getting ingrown hairs. I wouldn't dare try an ATG pass with a double or multi-blade razor. I tried it with my DE and I only got ingrowns around my mustache/goatee area. Most of the hairs in that area looked and felt trapped for a while but they didn't turn into bumps. I used canned shaving gel for that shave, though. I was wondering if the quality of traditional lather would affect the quality of an ATG pass and my risk of getting ingrown hairs?
Does Lather Affect ATG Passes?
- Thread starter The Carpenter
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Damn. No responses?
I find that lather quality greatly affects my ATG pass. As a matter of fact, with crappy lather I can do WTG and XTG without much of a problem. It's only when I reach ATG that things get dicy with thin lather.
Actually lather will affect your entire shave. A good slick lather will help the razor and blade glide across your face without skipping. I shave ATG all the time with little or no problems. Even Williams when lathered right will work for the ATG pass.
Throw away the canned goo. Try Tabac shaving soap or Proraso tube cream or TOBS. You'll see the difference. Of course always use a sharp blade.
+1. Trad products are better lather IMO. Plus, you make it yourself to suit your face, not get something pre-made from a can that is supposed to suit everyone.
But if you're prone to ingrowns the lather may have nothing to do with it. Worth finding out though.
Lather will affect any pass, whether it's WTG, XTG or ATG. If you want to improve or maintain the quality of your shave, make sure your lather is good.
I also recommend milking the brush for your last pass. By this I mean squeezing up that really good lather hiding in the core of the brush and putting it on your face. This really helped my ATG passes go much much smoother as the quality of the lather was great coming from the core of the brush. Try it next time.
Good to know, and I will give it a try next time.
Yes, the best lather is in the breach of the brush. I like the use of the term "milking" for extracting this lather.
Carpenter --
A great lather plays a part in a great shave. The lather does three things; 1. retains water, 2. lubricates skin, and 3. it softens the whiskers. Building an excellent shaving lather is one of the things you need to learn to master the proper wet shave. Goo is not the answer. Goo is -never- the answer.
In addition to lather, additional elements of a great shave and going ATG are sharp blades, (lack of) pressure on the razor, blade angle, stroke direction and order, among other things.
There are How-to's and Tutorials in the 'stickied' thread at the top of the Shave Clinic & Newbie Check-In forum. You'll find a lot of useful information there.
There are a number of rather enthusiastic A-A wetshavers here at B&B. I expect some will stop in this thread and they can address shaving issues unique to A-A guys.
But in answer to you original question, yes, a traditional soap/cream shave lather will afford a comfortable and close shave.
-- John Gehman
A great lather plays a part in a great shave. The lather does three things; 1. retains water, 2. lubricates skin, and 3. it softens the whiskers. Building an excellent shaving lather is one of the things you need to learn to master the proper wet shave. Goo is not the answer. Goo is -never- the answer.
In addition to lather, additional elements of a great shave and going ATG are sharp blades, (lack of) pressure on the razor, blade angle, stroke direction and order, among other things.
There are How-to's and Tutorials in the 'stickied' thread at the top of the Shave Clinic & Newbie Check-In forum. You'll find a lot of useful information there.
There are a number of rather enthusiastic A-A wetshavers here at B&B. I expect some will stop in this thread and they can address shaving issues unique to A-A guys.
But in answer to you original question, yes, a traditional soap/cream shave lather will afford a comfortable and close shave.
-- John Gehman
Lather is key to any shaving, as mentioned above, but you probably won't get it right the first try. It took 3 to 4 weeks for me to get it consistently right, and even now I have trouble sometimes. The difference between a great and less than great lather are drastic. I can't even go for a second pass on my next unless it is just perfect.
Best of luck and welcome to B&B.
Best of luck and welcome to B&B.
- Thread starter
- #13
I really want to suck it up and try an ATG pass again with a good lather. I just can't get a close shave doing a WTG pass. I hate shaving my mustache and still seeing clearly visible hair on it.
I too am African-American. I'm about 6 mos in to DE shaving. I only go ATG on my cheeks. Everywhere else is a danger zone for me. So, the only advice I can offer is that you don't try and stretch out an extra shave with a blade. Once you get a couple good shaves out of one, dump it and load a new one.
B
buyandhold2018
+1, Quality of lather is very important.
If you still have trouble going ATG, just find the sharpest blade you can (such as a Feather), change it often and just go WTG and XTG.
Yes, the quality of your lather will greatly affect your shave. Dump the canned goo and go for some good quality shave soap. It will make a difference.
Yes on both the quality of the lather and the sharpness of the blade. If you have not already, try some sampler packs of blades from some of the fine vendors on B&B. I know that bullgoose Shaving and West Coast Shaving sell them as do others.
Enjoy your shaves,
Doug
Enjoy your shaves,
Doug
+1 on the sampler pack. Blades aren't created equal. Make sure the sampler pack includes Red Personna, Astra, and Feathers. Blades make a huge difference.
+1 Lather will affect any pass.
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