2 Pass BBS - is WTG necessary?

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66
Location
Oxford
Hi all,

So I've been experimenting on how to achieve BBS with minimal passes. Prior to this month, I had not shaved ATG on my neck for a long long time as I always suffered with ingrowing hairs and razor burn. Now YMMV definitely applies here, but if you are a regular razor burn victim then this may be of some help.

I have been experimenting and comparing with how the number of passes affect my skin against the shaving direction.

I have found that I get far more feedback (alum block) and sting when completing 3 passes all WTG than I do with a WTG+XTG, WTG+ATG (Never tried this on my neck) or even XTG+ATG.

So I have come to the conclusion that my skin just does not like more than 2 passes - And (for me, at least) it seems the number of passes are more closely linked with razor burn that the direction of the pass.

Last night I used a Voskhod in an EJ 89 and shaved XTG+ATG. This morning it seems JUST as close as a 3 pass shave but my skin feels healthy enough to shave again today! With 3 passes I have to leave a day in between as a minimal, sometimes two.

Now I have to add that I wouldn't try this on multiple days growth as I'd expect starting with anything other than WTG to tug and pull.

so with all that said..

Am I missing a fundamental need for a WTG pass here or is this just YMMV?

Do any of you have a 2 pass routine that you've had great success with?

If so, do you use a more efficient razor if doing 2 passes/ different blade/ prep etc etc?

Cheers!
 
I abandoned the three pass shave some years ago, like you after some experimentation, and now I do just WTG and ATG passes... Neck area included, as WTG on my neck doesn't shift many whiskers..I have a very tough beard.
The combination of razor/blade I use at the moment is an old, Nickel plated brass ball end Tech..older than I am, combined with either a Gillette Platinum, or a Polsilver blade..Both from Glen at Gemstone trading( Great guy to deal with)...The blades are used twice only then binned as experience has shown, on my beard at least, that the blade's struggle and have to be changed mid shave if I try for three consecutive uses...
I sometimes have to re-soap under the neck area to get a BBS finish, but rarely if ever any soreness...
I finish the shave with a very thorough rinse (important) followed by ONE drop of Lavender oil, dripped onto a wet hand, wet hands rubbed together,then massaged into the wet facial skin...I buy the oil from Yorkshire Lavender by the way.
But we're all different, what works well for me, may not be as successful for someone else..This is just my routine.
 
It depends more on what I want and how my skin reacts. Some days I'll go the whole hog and 3 passes, others I feel satisfied with just the 1 or 2 pass shave. It may also be down to which razor I use and how many prior uses the blade has made. Whichever; I do like to protect my skin and I stop if discomfort appears to be the order of the day.

Otherwise I'd be more than happy with a 2 pass and it would usually be WTG and ATG. XTG may do a bit of a tidy up job but I tend to find it is the most aggravating of the passes.

Oh and how many passes often depends on who has bathroom priority and I invariably lose out on this side.
 
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