Slightly demotivated.. The quest for the elusive BBS

[ace]

All we can do is share our experiences based on our memories. I was honing my own blades within the first month, but generally shaving with a Shavette during that early period. If I had to give timelines, I would say that my shaving with an SR started getting competent at about three months. At six months, and shaving every day, I was using my own honed blades and getting what I felt were really good shaves. While I never concerned myself much with BBS, I did want perfectly smooth sides of the face and a perfectly smooth neck as well. I think my quest for that clearly accelerated when I became comfortable with the ATG pass. While I had used it for some time, it took additional time to learn how to be aggressive with the blade and get the job done without causing any problems. After two and a half years, I still feel like I make progress with every shave, but I think I was achieving all the personal goals I had set at the one year point. By this time as well I was getting it all done within ten minutes, and that was important to me.

[OCDshaver]

A year...

Good news is, it's out there. This helps me with both time frame and expectations.

I'll take this as a challenge and slow down...

Thanks Gents!

You didn't mention that this was something you were doing, but if you are cleaning up with a DE after your SR shave I personally recommend that you stop. I forced myself to figure out how to tackle my problem areas with the SR alone. As long as i could still reach for an easy solution, I made no progress. If you are anything like I was, you'll be in the same boat. The moment I started to force myself to try new things in order to solve my issues, I started to improve greatly. You're gonna do it and tell some other guy all about it in a couple months. Good luck!

[Matt69]

The other good news is that you don't have to get to a magic number - 100 shaves, or a year - but you get steady improvement all the way. I've now been straight shaving since January 2012, and my latest 'win' is proper ATG on my upper lip - directly upwards towards my nose. A couple of months ago, I changed stretching patterns on my neck and got a sudden jump in smoothness in the hollows to the sides of my Adam's apple.

This has been a continuing process, and every time a new technique works out, it's a feeling of achievement, and you add that technique to the toolbox.

All the way through, I've been thinking 'The shaves I'm doing now are so much better than what I was happy with 2 months ago', and it's this that's kept me at it.

Enjoy the small breakthroughs, and don't worry about the rough patches - you'll get them in the end.

[Chreees]

I have been at it since February and am getting excellent shaves. What I figured out is that you just have to map out which directions your hair grows, and experiment with your angles. I do two passes- WTG, then XTG. Then with no lather at all, I slightly run the other way XTG. I tend to not go ATG because it irritates my face too much. Alum block, witch hazel, and then some Clubman's Bay Rum and I'm ready to take on the day.

Best of luck, man.

[MikekiM]

Thanks again.. all good responses..

In the past two months, I have gone back to a DE twice. Both times because I was in a real rush. I will NOT do a clean-up with a DE. As noted above, the best way for me to learn is by doing, not 'sort of trying'. So it's all or nothing.

I am not stuck on any number or time frame. I have yet to duplicate the DE shave and needed to get my expectations in line. To say it a different way.. I drive a lifted Jeep Wrangler. With larger tires, acceleration is the pits. Add aerodynamics based on a building brick and speed is not, ever going to be in the Jeeps repertoire. Just not possible.. not even down hill with a tailwind. So if I asked a Jeep forum, what I needed to do to get a 10 second quarter time out of my lead-sled, it would be a waste. That is what prompted my question. We all use relative terms like BBS, DFS and SAS and to each one of us it means something different.

Your responses have helped me put things in perspective. I came to SR's for the learning experience and the slower, more enjoyable shave and so far, it's all I had hoped. I started DE shaving too many years back to remember the learning curve but, like my shaves now, the DE shaves were hit or miss. Then.. poof.. it all came together. I'll keep at it.

I have (what I believe are) good tools, well honed and clean. Good stropping technique and habits and most important... the willingness to learn.

I should have mentioned it earlier.. I have a REALLY detailed face map from my early wet shaving days.. I know exactly which direction things grow and also have a really good idea of where my challenge areas are. I expect those spots to take longer to master (without drawing blood).

Hopefully, as noted above.. I'll be able to help a new guy at some point!!

[ace]

It might help you put your journey into perspective to take a look at the Member list under the 'Community' tab. If you do some research there, you'll find that very many and probably most folks who try SR shaving don't get very far. Look how many started posting and stopped rather quickly. That doesn't mean conclusively that they failed to make the jump to proficient SR shaving, but it certainly is an indicator that they tried it, didn't find much success, and then quit never to be heard from again.

SR shaving isn't easy to learn. Most who make the attempt don't.
SR shaving will give you better shaves, but, as you have seen, it doesn't happen right away.

Also, take a look at how many begin their journey with questions instead of studying the Library. Because of that, they start their journey without the knowledge that might help them complete it. Success takes work. Some put it in and make it, but most don't and return to some other way of shaving.

If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. You're already a success! Have fun as your improvement increases.

[Attila]

It might help you put your journey into perspective to take a look at the Member list under the 'Community' tab. If you do some research there, you'll find that very many and probably most folks who try SR shaving don't get very far. Look how many started posting and stopped rather quickly. That doesn't mean conclusively that they failed to make the jump to proficient SR shaving, but it certainly is an indicator that they tried it, didn't find much success, and then quit never to be heard from again.

SR shaving isn't easy to learn. Most who make the attempt don't.
SR shaving will give you better shaves, but, as you have seen, it doesn't happen right away.

Also, take a look at how many begin their journey with questions instead of studying the Library. Because of that, they start their journey without the knowledge that might help them complete it. Success takes work. Some put it in and make it, but most don't and return to some other way of shaving.

If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. You're already a success! Have fun as your improvement increases.

Wow...some great advice here. Particularly the part about doing plenty of research before. Helps tremendously!

[England]

To answer your question, YES you will eventually get that perfect BBS shave from a straight. You will not believe this now but you will eventually surpass the shave you get from a DE.
I shaved with a DE for 15 years and thought my shaves were perfect. Two years ago I moved to a straight and am now getting the best shaves of my life.
You will hit milestones along the way without even realizing it or why but will just notice better and better results as you go.
I can remember about a year ago when I was trying to crack going ATG on the chin and thought I would never completely master it. Nowadays its second nature and I don't even think about it.
As others have said research and practice then research and practice some more but most important of all is remember this =( YMMV ) You will find some things that work for others may not work for you and things that work for you may not work for others. A good example of this is my shave routine which is, 1 x ATG pass + touch-up's. Have not heard of anyone else that does this but for me it works perfect. BBS every time in less than 10 mins.
However YMMV
Stick with it, sounds like you are doing well and things will only get better.

[Wayne1963]

Mike, I was a DE user before "going straight". Before becoming proficient with the straight, I would go back and forth to the DE, and I thought the straight would never equal the DE. In fact, I thought the straight was over hyped. Boy, was I wrong...in a big way! The straight is more comfortable than the DE. I can get BBS with the DE, but the straight will do the same with more comfort. The only drawback to straight shaving, to me, is there are multiple skill sets to learn. Just enjoy the journey, and you will get there.

[matloffm]

Your ability to get a BBS is a function of your technical skills, your ability to maintain the razor's edge and your face. The smoothness of your skin, the contours of your face and the coarseness of your beard are all determining factors. The more complex your "shave problem" the harder it is to get a BBS with a straight. Some guys cannot get a BBS with any razor. BBS isn't the end all of shaving. Enjoy the process.