How Many Passes Do You Take?

Marko.

Thank you for the Mantic59 film.

Mickey

You're welcome but I think the thanks are due to halvor who originally posted it further above in this thread.

I have a stroke that is probably used by almost everyone. I use it every time I shave,
It is simple (my favourite kind of everything) but I think it doubles the efficiency of every stroke however I will make no claims for it.
It is used for, with the grain, against the grain or across the grain strokes and needs no cautionary warnings.

Make your stroke. Then move your razor only 1/2 its with and make another stroke. Thus one half of your first stroke has received a second or overlapping stroke. Continue this with every stroke you make.
Ththththat's all ffffolks.


Now for slant head razors.
Every safety razor you have may be used as a slant head.
Put your razor in position on your face. Then with the tiniest twitch of your wrist turn it at an angle to the direction in which you will be moving it BUT PULL IT IN THE ORIGINAL INTENDED DIRECTION.
Voila! A slant razor and you have complete control of the now variable angle.

Just think of a snowplough clearing the road. Its blade is always slanted toward the side of the road, left or right but it goes straight along the road..

Mickey

Make your stroke. Then move your razor only 1/2 its with and make another stroke. Thus one half of your first stroke has received a second or overlapping stroke. Continue this with every stroke you make.

I haven't tried this technique, but the advantage of going with buffing strokes instead is that you will have fresher lather plus residual slickness on your skin when buffing, plus the razor will also be covered with lather. With your half overlapping strokes, you'll likely have less lather/slickness on your skin and, I imagine, most also rinse their razor between strokes. It may not make up much of a difference in practice, but could be what tips someone's shave and skin from smooth to sore.

Halvor,

First I must thank you for the Mantic59 videos.


Next, I can not argue with the points you make. I have never considered them.
They certainly sound logical,
I am concerned with having to make my razor jump during the buffing process though.

I am going to try the three processes and I will be back in a few days.



I hope.

Mickey

My pleasure, Mickey.

I don't let the razor jump, though. Just move it back and forth, keeping it on the skin, going a little further down each time, only to lift it where I normally would at the end of the stroke. If your lather is good, so should you be

I get my best shaves if I can go 36 hours between shaves. I don't have to go to my office every day, so in a good week I shave Monday morning, Tuesday night, Thursday, Friday mornings, and late Saturday night. On that schedule I can always do 3 long slow passes with touch ups and get an incredibly smooth shave. But if I have to shave 6 or 7 days a week I cut back to 2 passes- WTG and a modified X/ATG pass. A really detailed 3 + pass daily shave eventually leads to a bit of irritation, especially in the coldest months of winter. Of course, many's the morning I start out committed to a 2 pass shave but find myself going for that third pass anyway.

With safety razors my routine is two lather passes then I use witch hazel for a touch up pass. I never shave against the grain. A lot of people do I know. A lot of people do a lot of things. A with the grain followed by across the grain with a little touch up gives me a great shave. With straights or shavettes I do 2 passes.

I have a stroke that is probably used by almost everyone. I use it every time I shave,
It is simple (my favourite kind of everything) but I think it doubles the efficiency of every stroke however I will make no claims for it.
It is used for, with the grain, against the grain or across the grain strokes and needs no cautionary warnings.

Make your stroke.  Then move your razor only 1/2 its with and make another stroke. Thus one half of your first stroke has received a second or overlapping stroke. Continue this with every stroke you make.
Ththththat's all ffffolks.


Now for slant head razors.
Every safety razor you have may be used as a slant head.
Put your razor in position on your face. Then with the tiniest twitch of your wrist turn it at an angle to the direction in which you will be moving it BUT PULL IT IN THE ORIGINAL INTENDED DIRECTION.
Voila! A slant razor and you have complete control of the now variable angle.

Just think of a snowplough clearing the road.  Its blade is always slanted toward the side of the road, left or right but it goes straight along the road..

Mickey

So every stroke half the blade is running on skin that was shaved and not relathered? That does not sound good. Specially for newer shavers. Same with turning the angle of the head while shaving. That could end badly with a more sideways movement. A snow plough is not angled to make a better cut. It's angled to move the snow in a direction. Razors are not made to be used like that.

If it works for you great. I just want to point out to newer shavers that learning basic solid technique is the best way to get great comfortable shaves. Not twisting on a razor or gimmicky shave strokes.

Ah, it appears that we may be about to get into the slant debate.

Fear not, Marko.

I am a firm believer in the old, tried and true techniques.
I use them for every shave.
But I am curious enough to try anything different that pops up.

So I will not debate my suggestions.

I will only say "TRY IT".