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

I swear it's down to one thing. Am I the only one?

OK, so it's only a month. I know you have to allow three but I really am having great luck with the good advice here. I am missing a 100% BBS event by just a tad. I know, one day soon, I'll figure out how to swipe inwards on the sides of my neck up to the throat for the final stages of ATG perfect shaving. What with collarbones and jawbone it seems like there just isn't enough room for a hand, blade and handle to fit in the "hard to get at" area. After getting the chin, lip, throat, deep neck scar and ear-vicinity figured out I am at the threshold of a dream shave. Just seems like trying to squeeze a 10-pound razor in a 5-pound bag.

Try tilting your head to the (opposite) side, fold the scales back as far as they'll go and hold just the tang and scales at the pivot. Stretch your skin by pulling up at the jaw line and use real light pressure.

That's how I had to do it first starting, but worked my way through it. YMMV.

i think even the most experienced of us would struggle to get a bbs neck. i think most people will have patches were they just say stuff it.

Originally Posted by bombay

i think even the most experienced of us would struggle to get a bbs neck. i think most people will have patches were they just say stuff it.

This thought hurts more than a nick.

Originally Posted by MisterMoo

This thought hurts more than a nick.

I am about as far in as you taking into account the week's off I have had, but from what have read Bombay is right. The directness of his comment made me laugh.

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!

Ah, the mystical, magical and sometimes mythical BBS. I guess it depends on who you talk to and their definition of BBS. I sometimes think that people start SR shaving with too high an expectation especially of what is achievable in the short run. That said it does come in time and sometimes quicker if you don't try so hard to get it.

Bob

Originally Posted by MisterMoo

I swear it's down to one thing. Am I the only one?

OK, so it's only a month. I know you have to allow three but I really am having great luck with the good advice here. I am missing a 100% BBS event by just a tad. I know, one day soon, I'll figure out how to swipe inwards on the sides of my neck up to the throat for the final stages of ATG perfect shaving. What with collarbones and jawbone it seems like there just isn't enough room for a hand, blade and handle to fit in the "hard to get at" area. After getting the chin, lip, throat, deep neck scar and ear-vicinity figured out I am at the threshold of a dream shave. Just seems like trying to squeeze a 10-pound razor in a 5-pound bag.

Let me give you my take on the "perfect BBS." You are going to learn how to shave all parts of your face perfectly, but on just about every given shave you are going to overlook a spot or two. If you're a perfectionist like me, it's liberating to know that I can miss a spot yet know I have mastered straight shaving.

Your progress is amazing in comparison to mine. It took me two years to "master" straight shaving and the next year I got far better at it.

I think straight shaving is pleasurable because, with all the variables, you never get tired of it. You achieve excellence, yet it's still challenging and after every shave you get the great feeling of accomplishment that puts a spark in your day.

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