Shaving Q&A #4: How Many Passes?

[waynerjson]

I always do 4 passes All against the grain with a Feather blade loaded into a Merkur Slantbar. I then follow this with a visit to the local trauma center. Just a little shave humor, sorry.

[CorCat87]

@waynerjson i like to do the same but with an R41 

[xmatt19x]

i do 3-4 passes. one with the grain on the face and neck, second across the face and upwards on the neck, third against the grain on the face and neck, and a final fourth on missed spots. train your skin to get used to going against the grain eventually it will become easy, it is the only way for me to get a baby smooth shave. use an exfoliating scrub before hand and rub a warm cloth on your face to ease up the hair. if you want try shaving in the steam room or after coming out.

[TheLusianPopa]

@xmatt19x i dont irritate myself and i shave with and against .The against is the most effective for closeness.Most ppl habe better moustache chin or even necks(my case) so mor epasses where the density is better and fewr where it i slighter or doesnt even exist:))

[rrg019000]

Love your videos! I do three passes, 1) Down. 2) Up 3) From ear to middle of face Then I feel around my face and find rough spots, lather the rough spots one more time and go lightly over the rough spots against the grain. It's been working pretty good. The key is always to keep "reduction" in mind. You're goal is never to get a baby smooth shave, but you WILL get a baby smooth shave if you just keep reduction in mind.

[MagicActor1987]

Mantic, I have extremely sensitive skin and fairly coarse hair. I shave to take care of just the small stubble. But even so, I find that when I go with the grain (DE safety razor), it takes me around 8 passes before I give up and switch to my Gillette Fusion. If I go against the grain lightly, even once, my face is a bloody mess. Going across the grain is hard due to varying hair growth directions. So with a DE, even after reducing with an electric, I can't get rid of simple stubble. Advice?

[mantic59]

@MagicActor1987 I'm afraid a lot of it is learning what your skin can--and cannot--handle. You might consider experimenting on which angles that may be *almost* across the grain would give you hair reduction without the twists and turns: that's the beauty of a DE razor--while you may have to understand the hair's grain, you don't have to be a slave to it. Try shaving straight down, twice (relathering before the 2nd time), regardless of grain.

[MagicActor1987]

@mantic59 Thanks! I'll give it a shot. I really want to be able to enjoy a wet shave; it is fairly fun, and the irritation is nil, so it's really just getting rid of the cuts.

[lesleyhenriquez]

@MagicActor1987 I had this same thing with a DE. Fairly sensitive skin and against the grain gave me blood and with gave me a porcupine feel. I experimented with different kinds of cream and it helped a lot. Always use a hot cloth or shave fresh out of the shower. Consider using a shaving oil, this way your skin is slippery as hell and it will bleed far less, at least in my case. The one thing that guarantees me a close shave is an open razor, but that takes a lot longer than a DE.

[AngeloR674]

@MagicActor1987 try pre shave oil... under the shave cream.. it acts as a protective layer to your skin

[a13ids]

You're a true credit to youtube and wetshavers around the world Mantic. Why in god's name the discovery channel haven't snapped you up for a show I wont understand because your videos are specific, educational and enjoyable to watch. Keep the vids coming. Mo from Yorkshire, UK.

[grampian66]

I am writing to say thank you for producing a great You Tube channel. I am new to traditional shaving and have found your videos a great help, so thanks again.

Kevin from Yorkshire

[theclewis]

I like how you can just do a video on youtube with a full lather on your face and it's totally fine... lol :)

[bighock80]

i recently discovered the personna m5 magnum. Its a more economical version of the fusion at half the price. I would like to see a review on that since its cost effective and gives a comfortable shave in 2 passes.

[saveablade]

Preparation is the key to a good shave – if you can be bothered. A good time to shave is after you have had a shower because the hair will have softened somewhat.

[WideOpenTuna]

Should you relather after each pass?

[mantic59]

@WideOpenTuna yes.

[WideOpenTuna]

Should you relather after each pass?

[WideOpenTuna]

So should you relather after each pass?

[WideOpenTuna]

So should you relather after each pass?

[WideOpenTuna]

So should you relather after each pass?

[slayerguitar]

mantic, i have a tough growth under my chin and a few hours after shaving its stubbly again but the rest of my face is still stubble free untill the morning, any tips?(i tried using hotter water and spending longer working the lather into the area)

[mantic59]

@slayerguitar try taking shorter strokes with the razor in that area. also check my advanced shaving techniques video, "blade buffing" might help.

[antoningi]

Would you recommend using hot or cold water when rinsing the blade? I used ice water to rinse the blades (use a basic Mach3)because I heard somewhere that the cold does something to the metal and gives a closer shave. But I've stopped doing it because I felt I got more razor burn from it. Is that something that matters or just bad skin care ?

P.S. love the old clips in your videos :)

[mantic59]

@antoningi I've read about this too but it doesn't seem to make a difference for me. Try it and let me know how it goes!

[antoningi]

@mantic59 Did a semi control test. Shaved using warm water, then not for a day and then used ice water and not for a day and I felt a significant (or as close as I can get in a day) difference. Use a very basic, cheap moisturiser and I'm smooth as a baby for at least 24 hours. So doing it back-to-back I'd say there's certainly some difference

[aderator]

@mantic59 I've found that heating up my blade in hot water feels much better than the cold that i had read about.. thoughts? or just my imagination in a cold winter? :)

[mantic59]

@aderator it is a personal preference kind of thing, some like one way, some the other.

[AngeloR674]

@aderator U SHOULD GET YOUR BLADE AS HOT AS U CAN HANDLE IT.. IT WILL GIVE U A BETTER SHAVE

[mulliganmaisy]

Hey Mantic, do use shave talc? When's the proper time to use it?

[mantic59]

@mulliganmaisy no I do not use talc but it is a good idea for a video!

[elbiich]

@mantic59 are multi blade razors better than single blade ones?

[mantic59]

@elbiich I think single blades are better except in some very specific circumstances (like doing one quick pass to look presentable in a short time).

[jaberwocky6669]

Except for some us unlucky b*stards. My chin hairs require than I press hard and angle my blade aggressively. Normal strokes just take the soap off but leave behind all of the hair.

[chef123]

love the end music

[ageofpoo]

I only do 2 passes ... first one against grain and second pass across grain

[TheGamegangsta2]

I only use one pass...with the grain and thats it....not a close shave but i look presentable.

On special occasions i may shave with the grain for a good close shave :)

[Trotters80]

wtg, xtg then atg???. Mantic your ten minute video shows you wtg, atg, xtg?. Which should it be in your opinion?. Great videos, love em all. Cheers.

[mantic59]

@Trotters80 no i also do w/x/a grain. What you see in the 10 min shave video is how my grain grows.

[hypnolobster]

I'll be honest, I'm a lazy wetshaver. I use feather blades and an old gillette tech razor, and I do a single pass and blade buff or j-hook the rough areas. However, I always do it 30 seconds out of the shower on a wet face, so it's not tough at all.

[odeonusIX]

I always hear talk about with, across and against the grain but never what to do about guys who have what I have on my neck. a series of swirls and whorls like tiny little hurricanes. impossible to pick a direction and a constant mess and challenge to shave consistantly.

[steveUys]

@odeonusIX I have exactly the same problem. I only switched from an electric recently, and still haven't managed a single shave without irritation or cutting myself in the neck area (and usually both). So far, to get a good result, I have had to go over a number of areas repeatedly, and my neck does NOT thank me for it.

If anyone has any tips to improve this technique, they would be much appreciated.

[BadApathy]

@steveUys Try very short slightly diagonal strokes and rinse the blade with hot water after each stroke. If you're like me-and a lot of other guys-your face will never be super smooth. My skin is too sensitive and my facial hair too coarse. Focus on beard reduction rather than removal and revel in the fact that you don't have razor burn. That works for me. GL!

[kherux]

@steveUys Try a little oil on your face, under the lather. Any oil that you find in the kitchen, e.g. olive oil.

[mantic59]

@odeonusIX try going in the *predominant* direction. If all else fails just try straight down or straight up to see what works best and don't go for the 'smooth as a baby's butt' shave on the neck.

[SuperSpitt81]

@odeonusIX My neck used to be the same way. I let it grow out for 2 or 3 days, then shave straight down. Over time, it has become trained to grow straight down as well. It might work for you, it might not, but you could give it a try.

[cristinelbuff]

I really appreciate what you do mister :) Very big fan ! Thanks !

[kherux]

You're standing there with lather on your face and you don't even shave! Hahah, funny. Well, nice vid.

[rongallant]

I use 2 passes. However, I don't go for BBS.

[Dhari1]

@rongallant I'm going for DFS. For me this is much less of a chance for irritations. Thumbs up.

[finnsia]

@rongallant "BBS" ?

[ftwb]

@finnsia baby butt smooth

[hanksnivelyreturns]

I don't know where I'd be shaving-wise without you, mantic. I really appreciate all your videos.