How Many Passes Do You Take?

the usual 3 pass .. WTG, XTG, ATG, with touch ups... but if I'm really enjoying the shave, I'll just do extra passes simply for the fun of it.... :-)

Str8 Shaver I agree 1000%.

And thank you for the edit!

I plan on three passes, though it varies by razor and blade.

Straight Razor, which I'm still learning - three passes and several touch-up passes in though places.

Regular double edged safety razor - three passes.

R41 with Gillette White Box Gillette Platinums - two passes and a touch up or two

R41 with Feather blades - two passes.

OneBlade Genesis V1 - two passes for a close comfortable shave. Three passes for BBS.

... Using a very efficient razor also helps — I’d rather do two passes with a medium-aggressive instrument than 3–4 passes with a mild one.

Definitely! More efficient = fewer strokes of blade on skin = less irritation. Which is why a straight, well used, makes for the gentlest of all shaves.

I do what I call 2 1/3 passes. But I also go over the same area 2x at times because I still have lather in place after the first stroke.

I am similar to Brian, in that I do what I call 2 1/2. My neck gets a bit of extra attention, as the whiskers are growing swirly-whirly, necessitating creative angles and strokes to get the area smooth. Getting it also without irritation is the tricky part! I have to wear a collared shirt and tie for 12 hours, and carts always had my neck irritated by the end of the day, even if I loosened my collar. DE shaving as been wonderful for that aspect. A close shave (I seem to almost never get the much sought after and praised BBS) with a DE leaves my neck feeling great in a collar and tie, even at the end of the day.

Yup, it's my neck also that gets that bit of special attention, the left side specifically.

1 pass on my lower neck (I rock a beard) and 1 pass WTG on my head..

When I first started using a DE, I did three passes WTG, XTG one way, then XTG the other. Then I dropped one of the XTG and added an ATG. Eventually I dropped the XTG altogether but added a clean up. Now, I've found myself going WTG, XTG, ATG then a little clean up if needed and if my skin can take it. I would like to get to the point where I don't have any clean up but I have a few spots on my neck and under my chin that are nigh impossible to get.

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When I first started traditional shaving 5 years ago I was determined not to waste time with extra passes. I was the wise zip and dash guy. It took me less than a week to realize those old guys knew what they were talking about.
Near the end of week three I was frequently indulging in four joyful passes.
Today I often resent breakfast stealing precious moments away from my shaving. I think that is called evolution.
Today I must be the the very first Jewish evangelist. My enthusiasm has converted several steadfast, confirmed and faithful electrical and aerosol converts to that old traditional creamy right way,

I think I'm incorrigible This thread was making me think I needed to dial down the number of passes I've been doing but after watching the video posted by Tbone I noticed that the chap did his XTG pass in the opposite direction that I did. Thats got to mean another pass!! Yup, I did a six pass shave this morning on 2 day stubble with the Rockwell 6s on 4 and a fresh Feather blade. What a sweet shave. I used the alum block after and there was hardly any sting so very little irritation. To be fair only one cheek actually had beard growth in the direction that it benefitted from the extra pass. Used the DFS 2017 LE L&L Grooming soap and finished with Krampert's Finest Bay Rum. so nice.