Thread: Question for the bluebeards

Ok guys, I want to hear from the guys with those heavy beards. It isn't all that motivating for me when I see that it only took somebody 6 shaves to start getting BBS but he only has a few whiskers on his chin and a little something around his sideburns. No offense to these guys, i just can't identify with it. I'm about 35 to 40 shaves in, and starting to get a little discouraged. So I'm wondering, about how many shaves for you bluebeards out there before you started getting BBS?

Thanks

Well, my encouragement will sound pretty lame... I have a very heavy beard around the goatee area, and my beard is awkward to shave because in critical areas it lies very flat. Until I started with a SR I don't think I'd ever had a good shave. I now get a shave that blows me away, but it's not BBS, and it looks pretty rough come 5pm. BUT, it used to look like crap by 11 am when I used a disposable! The learning curve seems to flatten quickly - in the beginning, my shaves got better very fast, but now the improvements come in small increments. My commitment to myself was to shave for one year, because that's how long people say it really takes to learn, and I'm just going to keep that commitment and see where I am after a year. (Six months to go.)

Straight razor shaving is not an easy thing to learn. If it was, then everyone would be doing it because the rewards are better shaves by far and more enjoyment.

A year ago a guy posted on here that his first shave was BBS with no problems. I don't buy it.

It took me three months before I felt I was competent and got good shaves. BBS shaves took longer, and they seem to me to be dependent upon one's ability to perform an efficient ATG pass. That skill took me six months of practice to develop. For me, it was a matter of committing myself to it and putting in the time. It takes some patience to be able to put six months into something in order to gain a high level of skill. Golf was like that for me, and so was chess. If you think straight razor shaving takes a long time, try marriage. THAT will teach you something about time, commitment and patience. I've been married twice and, in comparison, my shaving skills are looking pretty darn good.

I don't get BBS. I get closer than with a DE though. BBS is for babies or guys with too much time on their hands.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I don't get BBS. I get closer than with a DE though. BBS is for babies or guys with too much time on their hands.

Well, that pretty much tells me where I stand. And I thought I was too busy?

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I don't get BBS. I get closer than with a DE though. BBS is for babies or guys with too much time on their hands.

I sort of agree.

I'm a daily shaver and am about 8 or 9 months in and CAN get BBS in most but not all areas, and it only takes a minute or two extra over my typical "good enough" shaves.

I might also suggest that most guys probably shave for what looks fine in the mirror. Probably only us obsessive wet shavers walk around faceturbating all day finding those few slightly rough areas. I think I develop my ability to feel roughness much faster than I develop the skills to reduce them.

I have kids, I know what a baby's butt feels like. My bare skin is rougher than that...why obsess about the invisible stubble on my rough weathered skin? (Because its s hobby)

I have a very heavy beard. I soon gave up on BBS and concentrated on technique, trying for up to three passes if it was all going good. Now most, but not all, shaves are very comfortable and smooth. Still learning, and actually enjoy shaving for the first time in my life.

I always figured some guys confuse bbs with it just feeling smooth going with the grain. Which isn't hard to do, but I consider bbs to be not feeling any whisker or traces of anything but skin while rubbing face in any direction. And yes I also have a heavy beard and haven't yet gotten bbs fully with my straights especially not in my neck area or chin. But cheeks, no problem lol :-)

Whenever I am acquiring a new skill and for some reason I does not come to me I always backtrack. By this I mean if you got your tips from the wiki on this website go over them some more, if you watched a YouTube video watch it over; if somebody taught you meditate on what they said. After you've done that start over. I have gone this way
1 start with the easiest parts of your face (for me cheeks and side burn)
2 shave difficult areas (chin and under jaw) don't try to get everything
3 lather your chin and go over it once more and this time pay attention to the details and go slow with multiple short strokes.
That is what works for me, but once again an excellent shave(not best or perfect) comes when all the elements are present ( good beard prep, good lather, a sharp razor and above all excellent fundamentals)

I am happy with a shave that leaves my face feeling smooth with the grain. My beard is heavy, my skin sensitive, so I don't shave against the grain. I shave everyday and it will last until the early evening. With a Gillette cartridge razor I wasn't getting any closer, but I had bumps, nicks and irritation.

When I first started straight razor shaving, my technique was not up to par, stropping was poor, and so my edges were not staying sharp. This meant that I needed more passes and struggled more to get a close enough shave.

As your technique improves and you learn to keep your edges sharp, your shaves will improve and you will need less passes.

It will take time, patience and perseverance. Hang in there!