Do you chase the BBS? Or is DFS good enough?

[samda]

I do a three pass shave. I am blessed with no razor burn so I can get a BBS shave often. If after three passes I miss a few hairs no big deal. I'll get them tomorrow.

[Splashone]

First off I tend to follow a set rotation of razors. I have razors that I never expect a BBS from so that immediately sets my expectation. My work day shave is 2 pass and maybe a touch up under my jaw line. Whatever the result is good enough. If I am going out with the "fairer sex" then I will pursue BBS, choosing an appropriate blade is the first step.

[Ludvig]

I don't try very hard to get BBS. As long as as it looks good and feels decent. If I don't get BBS I just have more to practice on tomorrow, no big deal

[Phrank]

As we say here in Berks County, 'it wonders me' why I hear so much talk about BBS.
For me I am content to do 2 passes and get a DFS.
So do you chase the BBS? If so, why?

I'm with you, two passes and a DFS.

A BBS shave increases the time for me exponentially, risk factor also goes up with the required ATG pass all over for a third pass, then spending time with the blade and water only doing touch ups.

Also, for a BBS shave, it somewhat dictates what razor I have to use, no huge blades, have to go around the 5/8th size, at least for me.

Finally, I then take myself out of the shave equation for the next 3 days, it's such a close shave. I like shaving, so a DFS shave allows me to shave every other day, or if necessary, every day.

Cheers!

[OCDshaver]

When you brush your teeth, do you try to get ALL of the plaque off of them or just some of it? When you bathe, do you try to get all of the filth off of yourself or is a little dirt under the fingernails ok? When you hone your razor, do you chase a perfect edge or is a reasonably sharp edge good enough? I think you see where I'm going here. But I dont CHASE a BBS shave, I get one every time. I've learned what I need to do to get it and that's my routine. And the reasons are simple. When I took up SR shaving I was completely efficient with a DE and was loving the results I was getting. I tried a SR for fun but promised myself that if I couldn't get as good of a shave with a SR as I could with a DE or better (something I had seen promised in many circles), I would drop it as an interesting diversion but not something I would stick with. Because, what's the point if I can do a better job with a DE? So I took on that challenge. The reason I switched from cartridges was because I wanted a really good shave. I kept hearing that a DE or SR could deliver that. If I was ok with the results I was getting, I wouldn't have made the switch. OTOH, if my razor isn't up to the job, I'm not going to punish myself in order to get it BBS. That's just stupid. In that case I accept a bad shave and fix the problem later.

[Laurens]

I don't quite agree

When you brush your teeth, do you try to get ALL of the plaque off of them or just some of it?
I get no irritation when I do
When you bathe, do you try to get all of the filth off of yourself or is a little dirt under the fingernails ok?
Again, no irritation
When you hone your razor, do you chase a perfect edge or is a reasonably sharp edge good enough?
Always the best edge I can manage
I think you see where I'm going here. But I dont CHASE a BBS shave, I get one every time. I've learned what I need to do to get it and that's my routine. And the reasons are simple. When I took up SR shaving I was completely efficient with a DE and was loving the results I was getting. I tried a SR for fun but promised myself that if I couldn't get as good of a shave with a SR as I could with a DE or better (something I had seen promised in many circles), I would drop it as an interesting diversion but not something I would stick with.
Because, what's the point if I can do a better job with a DE?
Because it's fun!
So I took on that challenge. The reason I switched from cartridges was because I wanted a really good shave. I kept hearing that a DE or SR could deliver that. If I was ok with the results I was getting, I wouldn't have made the switch. OTOH, if my razor isn't up to the job, I'm not going to punish myself in order to get it BBS. That's just stupid. In that case I accept a bad shave and fix the problem later.

[RezDog]

In general I do 3 1/2 passes, two if I'm tired or time restricted. This achieves a near perfect to perfect shave every time. I'm not chasing the BBS, I am more or less achieving it in about 20 minutes. Sometimes when there is an event or a special evening with my wife I may touch up with water after to get the ones I can feel are a little longer when I massage my beard, although they may or may not exist.

[OCDshaver]

I don't quite agree

That's ok. Its your shave. It can be anything you want it to be.

[bill3152]

I shave to bbs everyday, although I have a small piece under my left ear by the nape of the neck that is impossible to go atg, straight, de mach 3 you name it. But my shave ready test for a blade is a 5 pass with no irritation and I dont get any. So Im chasing a different side to sharp with my Jnats. And it seems no matter how long you are shaving, your technique improves. They all pass HHT with flying colors though. But thats another post!

[ScottGoodman]

You will notice that it's more of the newer guys focusing on the BBS. For me, most of the time a DFS is just fine...but when I don't shave for a day or two it just happens to be that I get a BBS every time without trying. DFS is just fine for me...