I once read on B&B someone reporting: "I did my usual six passes. . ." To me, that seemed excessive. By that point one is just smearing on lather to scrape it back off--or he is using a REALLY mild razor. I think three is sufficient - especially if one of those is ATG.

Good eye. Who knows 90+ years later but I figure it would be darker having oxidized by now.

Trust Gillette's advice and shave more and get a sub par shave? I don't think so. When I want a very close shave...First pass WTG/XGT, Second pass AGT/XGT, Third pass touch up trouble spots.

I do a WTG pass only if time allows. Otherwise it's XTG/ATG must times. WTG on my neck seems to do very little.

No. 31 was interesting. Increasing the exposure of the blade as it starts to blunt, by unscrewing the handle slightly. I have been using my razor like a hoe (fig. 1) instead of utilising the Gillette slide.

To me, using a loose razor/blade is just asking for trouble.

What you are saying makes perfect sense, my father shaved every day and so have I, at 63 I can't remember having to shave off 2 days growth may be I'm just strange. It's my children that don't shave every day. So I think that I took my fathers example and the not shaving every day started in the 80s in my area.

Dave

Hey, that Gillette Slide is pretty good.

Welcome to TSD. You've certainly stirred up a hornet's nest!

If I start with ATG I get irritation. You're trying to reduce the beard with successive passes, not mow it off in one. I don't get what I consider satisfactory shave unless I go ATG on the third pass, usually adding a fourth with a touch up. Maybe it's my technique but although it may sound like a copout, it's about finding what works for you.

Regards,
Chris

Ok, as promised, here is my go with only ATG passes. I only did one but did several mini-strokes to keep it to one lathering.

Implements of stubble destruction:
VDH in a cappuccino mug, 67 Slim Adjustable on 7, brand new Voskhod, and SOC boar


Stubble available for removal:


A good lather:


Post rinse:
Right side

Left side


Post shave:
Didn't think of taking a pic of the AS but it is a home blend of Clubman Lime Sec, 4711, and some green Barbasol remnants; it is quite delightful. And this vanishing cream. I love this junk, it is the last best thing I do before AS.


Post shave impressions of only going ATG:
It is completely possible but I did miss out on the WTG pass just because it has been a part of my routine for so long now. The shave is nice but I did miss a little bit on my neck and chin. Missed is one of them things only y'all would understand, anyone who isn't as shave obsessed as we all are would never notice. It can only be felt while faceturbating; everything else turned out BBS and there is not irritation so far. I'll report back in a day or so if any weirdness happens while getting stubbly again.

Do I recommend it? Nah. It loses a little bit of the therapeutic nature that comes from the ritual. But is it possible without a butt load of pain. Yep, it sure is.

Other than the spots you missed, like the chin one which i can see, it looks really clean.

Yep. Honestly, I'm pleasantly surprised. I figured it would have been a lot harder to get this good without following my usual protocol. An hour after the shave I'm still irritation free.

You got skills brother, glad it worked for you.

Thanks. 5 hours in now and still no irritation. I think that this may be viable for some folks.

I do want to add though that I had just gotten out of the shower so my whiskers had time to soften.

A with the Grain pass is the easiest way to remove the most amount of hair with the least amount of irritation.

I thought that too.....I went one pass completely against the grain with next to no irritation. Even now, I have no irritation. It opened my eyes and to be completely honest, it was a lot more efficient than doing a with grain pass first and ATG removed all the hair with a teensy exception. And I miss spots after two passes sometimes.

I think it is a completely relevant way of shaving. I'm probably not going to do it simply because I like the ritual though, but if ritual isn't your thing, then once you get your technique down, I think shaving ATG only is viable if you are one of those hurry up kinda folks.

I hate to tinkle in anyone's Wheaties, but the OP is onto something. It works, it is comfortable, it is faster by a pass or two, and I'm glad he asked the question. I've been shaving like this for almost 7 years now and hadn't tried it. Thought of cartridge behavior as blasphemy.

Sometimes blasphemy reveals enlightenment.

I always start WTG as it's how I learned and it seems to make sense starting out on the easiest path, with the least resistance for beard removal.
I think the multi pass shave is to promote less irritation rather than closeness. After all when safety razor shaving first began, being clean shaved in general on a daily basis, was not the rule and so it had to be sold to the public. Comfort I'm pretty sure was paramount.
After the first pass I'll go ATG more or less for the second pass. I'm not super disiplined and go in all directions after the second pass. My final/touchup pass is made using just water. After reading this article however I may start to try beginning my shave ATG on my first pass. I'm all for saving time as long as the shave quality remains excellent.