Thread: Is ATG just not for me?

Most of my edges are quite capable of ATG, but my skin doesn't like it. If I ATG on the 'stache area, I get white bumps. My WTG/XTG/XTG shaves get me to a happy place.

I usually do the same thing. Stay in the "happy place".

It is not uncommon for the blade to want to stop on the area you are describing. Obviously sharpness is an issue, but usually if you lift your chin higher to stretch the neck and lower jaw/chin area, you should find it easier to shave and less likely to nick.

Have fun.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I usually do the same thing. Stay in the "happy place".

There's beer in my happy place.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I usually do the same thing. Stay in the "happy place".

I do like the happy place...

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think I'll just focus on WTG, XTG for now. I was a bit concerned initially, because every video I could find was 2 passes, WTG and XTG (cheeks) ATG (neck) including Lynn's excellent DVD. I did get my WhippedDog razor this morning and I honestly couldn't tell a difference between that and my month old Dovo edge; although I didn't try it ATG.

I've only been doing this as long as you so I'm no expert. But I have been addressing the same issue and I think I've learned a couple things that help. Others have already brought up blade sharpness. That's made the biggest difference for me. Pointing the chin up to stretch the skin is good advice too.
But unlike DE shaving for me, going ATG may not always be necessary for BBS. I've found that WTG and XTG with a straight gives a closer shave than the same strokes with DE. With a couple good WTG/XTG passes, I can often get BBS by angling somewhere between XTG and ATG in those spots where ATG is not easy.

I've only been shaving with an SR for a couple of weeks but I'll throw-in here because I just overcame this exact problem last night. I kept getting hung up on that same spot. I could sometimes pull it off on my right side, using my left hand but always tugged and pulled to a stop right under my jawbone on ATG on my left.

Three things I did (not sure which combination did the trick):
1) Leap of faith! I had to stretch my neck more and point my chin as high higher while stretching my skin with my other hand, just below the razor. I call this a leap of faith because I couldn't maintein eyes on my neck and was shaving that area "blind". It was a little scary but actually not very hard just going by feel.
2) Watch the angle. When I stopped looking and just started feeling, I realized that I wasn't changing the angle nearly enough to following the curve up my jaw.
3) Micro-stretching. I kept the skin tight by stretching just below my razor hand and following the razor up, very closely. I tried to mimic a barber shave I watched on youtube.
4) Intermission stropping. Since I've already done a full WTG pass and some XTG, I thought maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to strop again before doing ATG. I have no idea if this is good technique or not but it made me feel better

Originally Posted by onimaru55

I think you have unrealistic expectations to be trying ATG after only one month but if the razor stops & or cuts you, you most likely have the wrong angle of attack &/or a dull razor you have degraded by inexperienced stropping. Your next blade may well be better because you have not stropped it.
I don't mean to sound critical. It just takes some time to get all aspects of shaving wired . Take your time.

Exactly right. The razor has to be well honed and stropped. I have been straight shaving for over three years, but have only been going ATG the last few months. It was almost like a beginner learning to shave. It takes a while to get the hang of it anyway, so dont give up.

I never go ATG. the angle of my stubble to my face is too low (in fact my beared totally lies on my face and this makes ATG very aggressive on my face.).
by the way I am not sure "I have been straight for nearly a month" was the best choice of wording lol I was joking.