I remember my dad using a twin blade Gillette cartridge in the 80's (hey, I'm not so old) and he would always go again in the evening if he had something special on. He was a builder, so maybe the quick one-pass was enough for him for that.
The History of Multiple Pass Shaving
- Thread starter GBinOZ
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Absolutely agree about the obsession. But if Lobachevsky was obsessed in 1812 (thanks to Ouch for the history) then we are upholding a fine tradition. With regard to to feel good BBS, I've always loved Polarbeard's former signature "When I leave the bathroom, it's BBS or mortal wounds".
Cheers, George
He may have been one of the first to study it from a mathematical prospective, however ancient manuscripts describe multiple shave strokes to obtain a smooth shave. I can't provide specific references, however I have read the comments regarding ancient grooming, especially in religious websites, where it was discussed.
I have no idea but when I do 2 passes WTG/XTG and feel my face with the grain it feels BBS. This is probably all that might be necessary. You could even do one pass WTG w/touchups and you still feel that BBS with the grain. When you obsess to feel BBS downward, sideward, and upward you can get in trouble more easily with irritation, bumps, weepers, etc. Just my opinion of course. I give the three pass shave a try once in awhile though and seem to do ok with it.
William Nickerson, former director of the Gillette corporation, advocated a two-pass shave: one pass with the grain and one against. This was back when the New Improved was released. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/363158-quot-Three-Reasons-quot-
My grandfather used a straight and he was a two pass shaver. My father used a DE and he was a two pass shaver. When I first started out 50+ years ago I was a two pass shaver. All of us did a WTG pass and ATG pass. My grandfather had a very tough beard and skin to match. I don't think I ever saw a nick or weeper when he shaved. My father, on the other hand, would emerge from the bathroom on most mornings with toilet paper on his face to stop the bleeding. When I first started out I had some weepers but not too bad. Years later I added another pass and then later still another XTG pass and then another XTG before my ATG pass.
The 1905 publication "Shaving Made Easy" talks about two pass shaving with a straight.
And in true measure of the YMMV adage, goes on in the last chapter to say about possible causes of irritation;
As multiple pass shaving had been an established practice with a straight razor before the advent of the safety razor, I see no logical reason why men would not have continued multiple pass shaves, and passed that on to their progeny once safety razors became more popular.
And in true measure of the YMMV adage, goes on in the last chapter to say about possible causes of irritation;
As multiple pass shaving had been an established practice with a straight razor before the advent of the safety razor, I see no logical reason why men would not have continued multiple pass shaves, and passed that on to their progeny once safety razors became more popular.
Anyone ever do one pass only, but entirely ATG? I used to do this with carts and suffered no ill effects.
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There's a wealth of historical perspective emerging, which is what I had hoped for. Thanks to all participants, and keep it coming Guys.
Cheers, George
Cheers, George
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Absolutely agree, but is there any evidence as to when the transfer from 2 to 3 passes took place?
Cheers, George
Raised on electrics, my first DE razor was a Gillette Tech in the U. S. Army in 1960. Self taught, I did a hybrid 1 pass shave (from sideburn down and forward towards center) and passed inspection. I guess ignorance is bliss and there was a lot of talk about "5 O'clock Shadow" in those years.
Joined B&B and saw this stuff about WTG, XTG and ATG??? and "beard reduction"!!! Thus enlightened, I no longer have a "5 O'clock Shadow"; I have now settled on a 2 pass WTG & ATG shave.
Joined B&B and saw this stuff about WTG, XTG and ATG??? and "beard reduction"!!! Thus enlightened, I no longer have a "5 O'clock Shadow"; I have now settled on a 2 pass WTG & ATG shave.
I'm a believer in human nature, and don't think that obsessive behavior with shaving is limited to the folks here at B&B!
If you combine that with the fact that there is, and always has been people who think that if one aspirin is good, two must be better, I think that triple or quadruple passes in shaving is not unusual.
I personally believe, though I have no evidence to support it, that what probably contributed to mainstreaming it was better quality blade availability, and the option of conducting several passes with less irritation due to blade sharpness.
I'm pretty sure that was supposed to be a joke - hyperbolic geometry for face mapping?!
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I'm a believer in human nature, and don't think that obsessive behavior with shaving is limited to the folks here at B&B!
Not "limited to" but I would think that we may have a little more than our fair share.??
interesting reading.
after a few months of this i still get some irritation if i go for a full third pass.
i usually just stick with 2 if i can.
after a few months of this i still get some irritation if i go for a full third pass.
i usually just stick with 2 if i can.
I too shaved entirely against the grain when I used a Mach 3. It worked just fine for my normal routine. Two or three passes with as cart gives much better results, though.
I think I tried it once with a DE and had bad irritation. However, I don't shave every day. With only a one-day growth, it might be all right.
Seems to me that wet shaving for most these days is a kind of hobby and pastime. I feel modern wet shavers tend to have multiple soaps, brushes, razors and most tend to do multiple passes. Seems the gents back then saw shaving only as a part of their morning routine and had little variety in their gear. They found a soap they liked or could afford and stuck with what worked. I admire that and I admire the thrift of a one pass shave. I will say however that with all the great products avaliable it's fun and exciting to aquire large variety in the den. I wish my grandfather was still with us, I would love to get his thoughts on this. Great post and a really intersting read.
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