Thread: Missed (a perfect shave) by that much!

Originally Posted by MisterMoo

This thought hurts more than a nick.

First and foremost, as I have posted many a time, I don’t believe in the BBS shave! I find the quest for one a waste of time and a loss of enjoyment of doing the shave!

I believe in a close, comfortable, smooth and enjoyable shave!!

In post # 4; What Bombay said about ‘patches’ seems to lead you to the conclusion of ‘visible’ patches of hair? I ‘think’ what he’s talking about are small areas that you and only you will know that they are there!

When I look back on my shaves by an old time barber I didn’t know to trying to check all different directions as I’d watch all of the old timers just stroke downward.

Hell I can pass that test with just a good one pass shave; with two passes it’s good everywhere except a small area right below my jaw on the left side of my face.

Don’t kill yourself or your face! Enjoy a close, comfortable and smooth shave. I hope you will enjoy getting one!

Originally Posted by cudarunner

First and foremost, as I have posted many a time, I don’t believe in the BBS shave! I find the quest for one a waste of time and a loss of enjoyment of doing the shave!

I believe in a close, comfortable, smooth and enjoyable shave!!

In post # 4; What Bombay said about ‘patches’ seems to lead you to the conclusion of ‘visible’ patches of hair? I ‘think’ what he’s talking about are small areas that you and only you will know that they are there!

When I look back on my shaves by an old time barber I didn’t know to trying to check all different directions as I’d watch all of the old timers just stroke downward.

Hell I can pass that test with just a good one pass shave; with two passes it’s good everywhere except a small area right below my jaw on the left side of my face.

Don’t kill yourself or your face! Enjoy a close, comfortable and smooth shave. I hope you will enjoy getting one!

Yes, re. the #4 thing. Pretty much invisible spots known only to me and my wife (who enjoys checking out the results each morning). She humors me. So, I guess, I am pretty much there. I can certainly settle for 90% perfection 90% of the time in all the optional things. It's SOOOOO much nicer than a Braun electric or the Schick HydroElectric Vibrato, which is pretty good. Corrective hair redirection surgery is out of the question.

So the daily 100% BBS shave may be something of an illusion. I suspected. There's no doubt I am very happy with my new shaving regime and that's not going to change. I'll just keep on keeping on then and see what changes in the next few months. I have seen that small changes in method can have big results
in the outcome. It will be fun to works the details a little each day while trying to achieve better sharpening skills. Better stropping might generate the next big improvement.

Item last - no, not killing my face or my fun. Just plodding along cheerfully every morning, pleased as can be. I much enjoy developing this skill! Thanks for the heads up and good perspective on the art.

Sometimes it helps to change your grip on the razor. For example, to get the right side of my neck smooth I straighten out the scales like a fixed blade razor (or Japanese style razor). The scales do not get in the way at all. Some may ask why I do this, and it's difficult to describe without a visual presentation, but in the end it's how I've always done it an it works great for me. No use fixing what isn't broke

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Sometimes it helps to change your grip on the razor. For example, to get the right side of my neck smooth I straighten out the scales like a fixed blade razor (or Japanese style razor). The scales do not get in the way at all. Some may ask why I do this, and it's difficult to describe without a visual presentation, but in the end it's how I've always done it an it works great for me. No use fixing what isn't broke

I want to believe there is a grip that'll do the trick but, so far, it has escaped me. Might just need more time and technique to find what's literally right under my nose.

Originally Posted by MisterMoo

I want to believe there is a grip that'll do the trick but, so far, it has escaped me. Might just need more time and technique to find what's literally right unde my nose.

Haha, yeah that would be great but you've been given some good advice so far and I figured that a grip change used in conjunction with the other tips should do the trick. Yes, it's going to take some experimentation but I have no doubt you'll figure what works best for you.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Haha, yeah that would be great but you've been given some good advice so far and I figured that a grip change used in conjunction with the other tips should do the trick. Yes, it's going to take some experimentation but I have no doubt you'll figure what works best for you.

Took a weekend off from shaving and let things settle out. I returned to the elusive smooth-in-three-directions neck shave without particular enthusiasm. However, I returned with the Dubl Duck Dwarf, a razor I have been slow to embrace due to the worrisome square point. Gotta say it seems to shave a little easier than my other razors in spite of absent jimps. I paid more attention to the neck-stretching and, without adding a lot of extra passes, employed a number of scything strokes XTG on each side of my throat. It still isn't perfect but the results are at least a 50% improvement in the hard to get real estate. Was it the time off, the technique or the razor? Or all three?

And in the top of the 2nd (month), no runs, no nicks, no errors. Working on the details and keeping it fun. Damn - I like a smooth shave!

Originally Posted by MisterMoo

Was it the time off, the technique or the razor? Or all three?

Possibly all three. By far the easiest factor to rule out is the razor; using a razor that is, without question, properly sharp will eliminate that variable. A little time off helps too, as it allows the skin to heal. Longer whiskers also tend to lend themselves to a smoother shave. But technique is likely what contributed the most to your improved results as it sounds like you`ve employed a few tricks from this thread.

It sounds like you're on the right track and progressing well. Carry on!

Originally Posted by MisterMoo

Was it the time off, the technique or the razor? Or all three?

And in the top of the 2nd (month), no runs, no nicks, no errors. Working on the details and keeping it fun. Damn - I like a smooth shave!

I'd say all three.

I can assure you that the square point won't be a problem in due time. I had a Filarmonica 12 razor I really liked with a round point and couldn't pass it up when another one became available in Classifieds with a square point. At first I had to be careful, but now it honestly doesn't make any difference which one I use. Those two Fillys are interchangeable for me now.

Your advice of keeping it fun is probably the best tip for a beginning straight shaver. There is a feeling of accomplishment as skills develop; you appreciate a great shave; and then the realization kicks in that shaving has become enjoyable.

Hey moo, glad you're getting it, I recently got to that point too, with some help from MickR. Its a good feeling hey.
Still don't get a perfect neck, still get the odd nick and weeper, but I don't get razor burn etc. And I can get my face down to my jawline smooth, yay

Originally Posted by edhewitt

Hey moo, glad you're getting it, I recently got to that point too, with some help from MickR. Its a good feeling hey.
Still don't get a perfect neck, still get the odd nick and weeper, but I don't get razor burn etc. And I can get my face down to my jawline smooth, yay

Hoi. Simple minds and simple pleasures. Never thought shaving could be such a hoot.

I executed the not-recommended and seldom discussed "4th Pass" this morning. Mostly cruising for leftover low hanging branches. Got everything from the jawline right up to the earlobes and eyeballs feeling just right in four directions. The neck, not so much, yet even this is a matter of degree. It's nearly as good as I ever managed with a Schick or an electric - perfect in three directions and just a tad scruffy feeling ATG - but! and this is a big but, and I admire a big but sometimes, no redness or irritation at all.

Advice in this thread and elsewhere continues to be helpful, esp. the dry hands, dry shank and towelette approach to razor grip and stretching technique. The scythe + guillotine as a single multidimensional move is the white whale now. I am after it at all costs.

Eagles or Dockers?