So far so good but....

[Chaucer498]

I have been loving the shave with my straight razor so much that I haven't picked up any other razor since this straight came home. I have become more confident with the razor and have been able to shave my entire face (with a few small nicks here and there mainly by the chin area).

I do have a question about something. I have been mainly keeping my shave to 2 passed WTG. Last week I decided to try an ATG pass and was met with much resistance. I continued at it to my hearts contempt and wasn't all too thrilled with the results but a decent shave nonetheless. Last night I decided to give it a shot again and once again met with much resistance. It felt like I was trying to cut sand paper. My WTG pass was okay, but the ATG not so much. Is this a result of my technique or a blade that is not sharp enough?

I have a Filly strop from Ruprazor that I strop with before my shaves. The underside of the strop is pasted. Should I strop on that a bit? If so, how many times?

Believe it or not, I somehow find it easier to go ATG on my neck then on my cheeks. The cheeks are really proposing an obstacle for me.

Is this a matter of practice or something else?

 

[PaulX608]

Angle and stretching should help. ATG usually requires a shallower angle. The shallower angle will require a taught surface to maintain that angle. You seem to be on the right path. The rest should come with further experience.

 

[leighton]

If you have exhausted all blade angles relative to your skin, ie, start with spine against skin & increase angle until it cuts good or starts getting worse, then its the sharpness of the razor.

That said, most likely technique. Technique can compensate for a dull blade. Technique is king. And that said, if you want me to take a look at it to make sure its super sharp, I am more than willing to help you out with that.

 

[gurana]

Just putting this out there because I don't have any experience w/ straights, but have you tried an XTG pass? Or is that just something us DE guys do?

 

[Hughies_online]

You can use whatever pass you want. Just depends on what works for you.

 

[cityjim]

I have been loving the shave with my straight razor so much that I haven't picked up any other razor since this straight came home. I have become more confident with the razor and have been able to shave my entire face (with a few small nicks here and there mainly by the chin area).

I do have a question about something. I have been mainly keeping my shave to 2 passed WTG. Last week I decided to try an ATG pass and was met with much resistance. I continued at it to my hearts contempt and wasn't all too thrilled with the results but a decent shave nonetheless. Last night I decided to give it a shot again and once again met with much resistance. It felt like I was trying to cut sand paper. My WTG pass was okay, but the ATG not so much. Is this a result of my technique or a blade that is not sharp enough?

I have a Filly strop from Ruprazor that I strop with before my shaves. The underside of the strop is pasted. Should I strop on that a bit? If so, how many times?

Believe it or not, I somehow find it easier to go ATG on my neck then on my cheeks. The cheeks are really proposing an obstacle for me.

Is this a matter of practice or something else?

Could be possible poor shave prep on your nicks . Try the old tried and true barbers shave prep method . Wet face with hot water . Lather up heavily with a good soap . Apply hot azz semi-damp towel to the face . Let sit for 1-3 minutes . Rinse lightly with hot water . Then lather as normal and shave . Your skin will be red from the heat or mine does anyway . Use the hottest water you can stand .

Or could be a poor cream or soap choice . Try some DR. Williams , Tabac , Mitchell's Wool Fat or even Proaso soaps . The first three I mentioned are stellar performers . Notice I mentioned soaps and not creams . I've had the best luck with English tripple milled soaps .

Our chins are not flat so you have to watch your razor angle like a hawk . And watch the razor pressure for sure . Keep it light .

I do one pass ATG and get a true BBS shave . I figured that you normally start out with a WTG pass then XTG then maybe ATG . That is a lot of shaving and skin removal . Which leads to razor burn . I get none of that on my single pass . My shaves are clean , close and comfortable .


cityjim

 

[O.G.]

Also since shaving with a straight is about reduction and not removal in one totally pass you may have to go xtg to reduce the hairs further so that the lower blade angle required for ATG will not have much resistance.

 

[Chaucer498]

Update: I haven't put my straight razor down since I got the thing. I don't know what it is about the razor but I love shaving with it.

I have been doing WTG and ATG passes so far. I also do an ATG on the lower half of my neck which turns out to be not too bad but I only go so far until I feel resistance on the blade.

I'm using Tabac soap for the most part but have also throw in Nomad soap and CO bigelow.

I can get a real close shave with a WTG pass and a XTG pass but I feel as if I would get razor burn if I went for a bbs and did an ATG pass.