Sorry, I only got active on here again in August.
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NP it isn't the only thing repeated in here. I just can't find my copy and paste sheet right now :<0) .
Goes something like ... I just shave and I get darn good ones everyday. If I think I am going to be putting my face somewhere that BBS would matter I don't stop till I got it. Of course the C/P version is more eloquent.
Two pass shave with light touch up during week for a DFS. May take my time on Sat. And do a 3 pass to chase the BBS. I have no complaints with my DFS results but it iw fun to see if I can get a little bit closer to the elusive BBS.
I stopped worrying about it.
Judging from the responses in this thread most of us are in the same boat. Like most of you I started off shooting for BBS all the time, once I got there I realized the ability to achieve BBS is more fulfilling than being BBS every time. Besides, with my sensitive skin it's not worth the irritation, not to mention the additional time. I reserve BBS for special occasions.
Now I'm at the point where a DFS is damn fine :D
BTW - if we really want to open a can of worms someone should start a thread on the definition of BBS :w
Since I started this thread I will give my 2 cents. When I first started I used the chase for BBS to gauge my skills in shaving. Now I use the chase for BBS to gauge my skills in honing. So I only attempt it now after a fresh honing of a restored blade.
DFS is good enough for me and the SWMBO and reduces the time required, allowing more time to make scales and hone some more.
I do two passes on my lower neck, three on my face and upper neck.
I hope for BBS, but accept DFS.
DFS is good enough for me, I do a modified 2 pass, WTG on the first pass and ATG on my neck and XTG on my face, I can't seem to position my hand for XTG on my neck.
Surely an accurate definition is obvious. It is not possible to feel stubble no matter which direction you move your hand across the shaved area. I have heard "directional" used as a prefix, but it seems to me more of a contradiction.
Whenever I have shaved too close, apart from the tenderness I get more ingrowns.
If I'm going to use an acronym to describe the type of shave I look for, I'd go with 'CCS' - close, comfortable shave.
That's what I look for when I shave: a shave that's close enough to last the day, but I won't sacrifice comfort at the altar of closeness.
Wait your telling me BBS does not stand for Big Bald Sasquatch?
Next you will tell me that DFS does not stand for Daily fuzz scraped....
OK I have some more work to do.....
All I will say further is that I have never heard the skin on any part of a baby described as stubbly (even just small, hard to get to, patchy areas when going atg) no matter what direction people are describing it from. :)
Even with very careful wording that doesn't really sound good. But that's the best I could do.
Ed you got me picturing a guy walking up to a lady asking " pardon me can I feel your babies butt?
Just for a comparison to my shave . Honest !"
I have to admit, I feel much better about myself now. I could never understand how people could shave everyday. I am always trying for a BBS and I can't touch a razor to my face for at least 3 days after. If I would stop at a 2 pass, it would be much easier. Good info.
This thread is going downhill fast :)
What a great thread! I loved reading through the responses. I did notice quite a few 'senior members' that go for (and get) a BBS. I am a new member but not new to wet shaving as I have used a parker shavette with a feather blade for quite some time. To me, I enjoy the satisfaction of getting a BBS shave with no nicks, cuts, weepers, or irritation. That is a home run for me. Most of the time this is what I get with 1 WTG, 2 XTG/ATG passes, and a clear water pass. This last technique has saved me about 15 minutes knocking my BBS shave time down to 25-30 minutes. Before that it would take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour doing touch ups. So for me to spend 25 minutes shaving and getting a perfect shave it is well worth it. As someone else said I know that I am reaching my potential when I can do this consistently. Now, I do end up missing a few hairs sometimes and I don't go back to get them because a DFS is just that. Damn fine. I'm ok with that too but it's not what I shoot for. I also try to get that perfect BBS in as little as time as possible which is another goal. By the way-I define BBS as baby smooth in all directions with a normal touch on both face and neck. I used to have a heck of a time getting two spots on my neck and two spots below ears on jaw line without feeling like I was attacked by an army of red ants but I now have the technique down and faceturbate quite often throughout the day. :)
Why not? This is just taking a sharp object and removing hair from my face and neck it ain't rocket science!
I would like to get to BBS every time, but I don't chase it. Usually I just keep shaving until it loos decent, only after I've finished and cleaned up and dried my equipment and used aftershave then I feel too see how good the result was. The days I realize I got BBS I'm very happy with myself.
Awesome phrase!! It caused me to do a quick search and I found that it has been used. With as much time as I spend looking through old buried threads, I can't believe I haven't seen this one before!!
Not sure who to give the credit to, so I'll just give credit to the Site.
And yes, I have been caught in the act of faceturbating.... :blush
It's a goal I aim for each time, because it feels so good when I reach it.
Nirvana
Fortunately I rarely get razor burn. If I start to then it's time to give the razor a touch up.
I don't chase it but if the shave just feels great and the razor just wants to keep going...I let it. Get bbs most areas most of the time. I don't worry too much over the trouble spot but will give it a go when everything aligns. Happy shaving. Merry Christms.
Unless I am in a hurry I get BBS every time.
most days Im good with a DFS. BBS is a rare-ish achievement for me.
Barry
I see all these wonderful photos of the smoothest skin outside of a hairless mole but I'm plagued with pine needles for facial hair that grow in every direction on the map. I've settled with "As close as I'm gonna get without turning my face into hamburger" close but BBS is out of my grasp. It's still my favorite hobby.
It's a sport. I go for BBS as much as possible. If I'm shaving with a straight and doing 3-4 passes, I intend to get there. Even when I'm in a hurry for work, if I've got enough whipped cream in the mug to go for one more, I might as well.
I can't put away my razor until my face is BBS. Must be a touch of OCD. ;)
This is a very interesting thread! I tend to agree with phrank, if I get a DFS in 2 passes I call it good. I have to be clean-shaven for my profession, and my beard is fast growing. So if I get it in a presentable shape with a WTG and XTG shave, it passes muster and I will have fun shaving the next day.
I try for BBS on my face and a DFS on my neck. Like RMarsh my profession requires a clean shave.
This is my 3rd year shaving with a straight. About the middle of year 2 I stopped chasing the BBS and settled in for DFS. Two passes and this started to get better and better. Now with two passes I am getting very close to the BBS on my cheeks. Problem area is the neck,but that is much closer too now. Don't make it a race. Slow down and enjoy and what you'll find is that you are getting there. My stropping is much smoother, pre-shave is more fun, I notice little things more now like how slick the skin seems to be some days and how sticky the blade is others, or how much pressure it takes and the angle of the blade. I couldn't tell you if it is 31 degrees or 32 degrees but I can tell on my face when to open the angle and when to close it. As I have experimented this gets easier and more fun...