How Many Passes Do You Take?

I realize that this topic has been discussed in the past but its been a while and there have been plenty of new members joining the ranks of DFS so here we go - How many passes do you take for a normal shave? A side question is do straight razor shavers take multiple passes as well?

When I started out DE shaving a few years back I was pretty much a one pass guy having developed a healthy fear of shaving ATG with my multi-blade cartridge razor due to the horrendous irritation and ingrown hairs that inevitably resulted. Over time I progressed to the 3 pass shave WTG, XTG and ATG. I took my time, used a mild razor (EJ DE-89) and generally mild blades and I also used the alum block post shave every time. That alum block was a godsend and allowed me to increase the number of passes with a minimum of post shave irritation. I use it rarely now and only when I've had a particularly rough shave which happens now and then. After having moved to the 3 pass shave I noticed that I had a couple of spots where the beard grew diagonally or just differently - the area on my neck under my chin requires a 45 degree upwards right to left stroke and then there is the area right in the angle of the chin where the beard is iron. I figured if I was doing these two areas I may as well add an extra XTG and ATG pass so for the past couple of years I've been doing a 5 pass shave which leaves me very well shaved indeed. I think 5 is a good number and I think that, for me, it will do just fine.

If any other members care to share their views on multi-pass shaving, I'm sure many of us would find it very interesting.

Blondes once
Brunette twice
Redhead three
Black hair dressed as Morticia as many as it takes
shaving four

Preamble required--I don't shave my face. Most regular members here at DFS know this, but since this topic has been specifically started to assist new members, I figured it was pertinent to preamble my response with that factoid. Everything I say in regards to shaving is relative to shaving my head, and just a little cut-in on my cheeks about twice a weeks. So take that grain of salt into consideration.

With that said--3 passes, no touchups. I use a straight or shavette primarily, but even with an SE or DE safety razor, I have come to the point where WTG/XTG/ATG is all I need to be close enough and comfortable.

When I first started using safety razors along with brush and soap, I, like many, chased that BBS, and I paid the price, many times over, with avoidable irritation.

So I learned that good enough, is just that...good enough. I shave at night, so the concept of arriving at work in the morning with a BBS dome is completely foreign to me, already, so I learned over time that I just didn't need to go there for my own benefit. I was just gonna sleep on that clean, freshly shorn scalp anyhow, so I ditched the 4th pass and touchups altogether.

I've found my head to be much happier. My skin feels better, I feel better, and as my techniques on both my hones and with my razor continue to improve...so do the results of a simple 3-pass shave.

It works for me...

I realize I'm a little anal doing 5 passes and that I'd probably be better off or at least just as good with 3 passes and a little extra attention to the two trouble spots I mentioned above. I'll consider going a week of 3 passes to see if it makes a difference to my day. Maybe....

Blondes once
Brunette twice
Redhead three
Black hair dressed as Morticia as many as it takes
shaving four

So...Morticia, I don't share your tastes but not because I don't find the type attractive, but rather because I've had this recurring nightmare featuring a woman very similar to either Morticia Adams or Lily Munster, same look in any case, beautiful woman, diaphanous gown, long dark hair, the nightmare part is that in the woman's hair are the faces of tortured souls trapped there. I don't know what the dream means but I've had it several times over the years The first time that I recall was in 1971. Its not a wake up screaming soaked in sweat kind of nightmare, just a really creepy one. I have no recollection of having watched a horror movie with a similar image in it back then but its possible that I did and that I've blocked it out. So for me and that type I'll just.......pass.

" Don't torture yourself Gomez; that's my job." My first real GF was a Chicana named Terry/Theresa with blue black hair in a sixties beehive rumored to contain hidden razors for protection. From what? We used to drive into the Old Pass Road and take a short hike to this boulder to watch the shimmering lights of the San Fernando Valley. We encountered a very stoned Patricia Krenwinckle one evening demanding we pay to use 'the family's rock.' It wasn't a razor, but a small Italian stiletto folder that came out with Terry screaming ' I cut you up B! ' as Krenwinckle fled to the ranch and all the lights and sound of music went dark and silent, coyotes laughing at the scene under a huge harvest moon. We left in the morning fog projecting the scent of purple sage and the mist made her hair reflect a thousand micro droplets like a Shakespeare fairie. Pretty thing and she broke my heart moving with family to Colorado.

I usually do 2 passes and a cleanup. My razor of choice is a Feather AS-D2 w/Feather blade.

2 passes and cleanup like Hobbyist above. That's all I usually have time for in the morning. On the weekends I'll take my time and do a full 3 passes plus touch ups to get that extra close shave. Any more than that I'd be risking irritation.

I'm doing 4. My biggest issue is the pressure I previously used so I'm going wtg very light to get off most of the growth but not enough pressure to dig in and clear on that initial pass. I'll then run it again and pretty much the hair looks gone even though it's not near baby smooth. I'll then do my equator shave on my neck to try and get that crazy growth handled. Lastly I do atg on my cheeks and sideburn area. Rinse with cold water and hit it with a post shave balm or splash.

Sent from my S8+ using Tapatalk

2 usually.