Question about BBS-

[Headcrowny]

A question for those who've trodden the path for a while. I've been diligently working on my shaves and am at the point of three passes with touch ups becoming a matter of routine. Shaving is smooth and the rhythm is there. My question has to do with what I'm perceiving at the final stage. I've got the bristles very, very short. Mainly undetectable against the grain. However on the cheek area it's proving difficult to go from "almost there" to "there". I notice that even when I go over the same spot multiple times, I still hear that scheet scheet scheet noise (the "shaving sound") on every stroke. This suggests to me that the hairs aren't getting cut off; just bent over, perhaps, so the noise continues. I'm wondering if this may be telling me that the razor, although quite sharp, is no longer quiiiiite sharp enough and needs to have some touch up.

Both my good blades came shave ready and all I've done so far (with them) is stropping. So it's clear that at some point they'll need to go back on the stones. I was planning to wait until they "let me know" they're ready and I'm thinking maybe this is the way they're doing so? Since I've never brought a blade from shave ready to no-longer shave ready, it's a bit of an unknown for me. So, hoping that those who've gone through the process a few times can either confirm (or not).

[ace]

If I am shaving with a shave ready blade, and I make an ATG pass on either cheek, the result is that I feel nothing at all moving my hand against the grain. A shave ready blade ought to achieve that level of result. If your blade cannot do this, then it needs work on the hones, perhaps just a touch-up.

[anthogia]

I'm no expert but have been at it quite awhile. You'll know when your blade is no longer shave ready- the shaves will pull and tug and you won't be able to achieve BBS comfortably at all- not just in some places. As far as BBS goes, some areas are just so difficult that you'll never achieve them. I wonder often on some areas if it's not the stretching of the skin that is popping the hairs back up into feel. I know that when I touch up- and I admittedly cheat with a DE for touch up- that there is one area under my right chin that will NEVER get BBS no matter what I do- even using a feather blade and I'm pretty confident with my technique now. However, when I release the skin I no longer feel the hairs which leads me t believe that stretching brings (obviously) the hair follicles up higher. I wouldn't drive yourself crazy with areas like that. I did and still do sometimes and only wind up with irritation, and razor burn. If you're getting BBS on most areas thats a plus in my book and a success!
Hope that helps in some small way-
Tony

[Ryan82]

If your final pass is ATG (which is required for true BBS) your razor needs to be at optimal sharpness and your technique spot-on. There are certain strokes that help, like blade buffing and low angle scything, but you really have to be confident in your abilities to pull it off without bloodshed.

[ScottGoodman]

If I am shaving with a shave ready blade, and I make an ATG pass on either cheek, the result is that I feel nothing at all moving my hand against the grain. A shave ready blade ought to achieve that level of result. If your blade cannot do this, then it needs work on the hones, perhaps just a touch-up.

What he said, most likely a barber stone will do the trick.

[pfries]

I have an area just below the cheek bone, extending in toward the nose that will not get BBS if I stretch the skin.

I have to let the skin bunch up for lack of a better term.

If you have watched some of the barber shave videos primarily the ones from Indonesia and such they use the technique.

[onimaru55]

Just a reminder to take care at the no sound point.
If you don't get any shaving sounds you are exfoliating .

[Headcrowny]

Final pass is ATG. Definitely wasn't able to do it for a while. Now I've got it down, I believe. Both low angle and a scooping motion under the jaw. The under-jaw region, which used to be "I can't do it at all, I'm putting my blade down" is now the best area, surprisingly.

[Headcrowny]

Thanks; that's what I suspected.

[Headcrowny]

I'm no expert but have been at it quite awhile. You'll know when your blade is no longer shave ready- the shaves will pull and tug and you won't be able to achieve BBS comfortably at all- not just in some places. As far as BBS goes, some areas are just so difficult that you'll never achieve them. I wonder often on some areas if it's not the stretching of the skin that is popping the hairs back up into feel. I know that when I touch up- and I admittedly cheat with a DE for touch up- that there is one area under my right chin that will NEVER get BBS no matter what I do- even using a feather blade and I'm pretty confident with my technique now. However, when I release the skin I no longer feel the hairs which leads me t believe that stretching brings (obviously) the hair follicles up higher. I wouldn't drive yourself crazy with areas like that. I did and still do sometimes and only wind up with irritation, and razor burn. If you're getting BBS on most areas thats a plus in my book and a success!
Hope that helps in some small way-
Tony

Actually, I've had the opposite experience. When I stretch the skin I can't feel the bristles but when the skin is relaxed I can (running my finger ATG). Which would mean, of course, that even though I cut all the hair when the skin is pulled, I'll lose that BBS when I stop pulling. For that reason I try to have the skin relatively relaxed during the 3rd pass.