How do You Define "BBS?"

[Ron A]

Hey, All,

I keep hearing that BBS is the ultimate goal. I finally may have reached it IF my definition of BBS is consistent with at least most of you.
Here's the deal:
After shaving, if I stroke my face with my hand WITH the grain, it is absolutely smooth as glass all over--everywhere. (No detection whatsoever that whiskers were ever there.)
If I stroke my face with my hand ACROSS THE GRAIN, it is absolutely smooth as glass all over.
(These "tests" are the same whether my face is wet or completely dry.)
When I stroke my face against the grain, I detect the presence of whiskers, albeit like super duper fine sand paper.
My thought is that if stroking my face against the grain were to be smooth as glass with no detection whatsoever of whiskers, I must have used high power Nair or some acid compound and melted those suckers well below skin surface.
So...my brothers in blades...have I accomplished BBS???

[bpatton]

I can make it so I don't even feel the whiskers against the grain with a DE, but with a straight that state has eluded me.

I believe BBS is to the point you cannot even feel whiskers against the grain. If not, I'm there with ya buddy!

[xman]

No whiskers even rubbing ATG. What a feeling. Just ask my wife.

X

[LX_Emergency]

yup mee too. No whiskers when rubbing any way. But It took me a while and I kept on finding new definitions of BBS.

[rtaylor61]

BBS means you don't feel any stubble regardless of the direction you rub your face. However, I don't refer to that as a perfect shave. Acquiring a BBS shave means you are getting down to the "nitty gritty". To me, a perfect shave means that it is one I am satisfied with and one that looks good. Striving for a BBS shave on a daily basis, IMO, means you are doing damage to your face.

RT

[DwarvenChef]

Last night was as close as I ever got to BBS and it didn't feel exsesive at all. Great shave Got that tricky spot for me figured out and all seems well. See what happens next time

[AFDavis11]

For your skin health you should be satisfied where you are now.

[Ron A]

OK. So let me get this straight.

In part, I guess I'm asking you guys for help in rationalizing not always achieving a BBS shave.

So, it seems there is consensus that a BBS is feeling no whiskers rubbing any direction on the face. Everything, every way, is smooth as glass.

However, according to a couple of the responses so far, this is different from achieving a "perfect shave". (Thanks RT!)

A "perfect shave" can therefore be a shave in which we 1) enjoy the process; 2) are satisified with the results (in other words, maybe not fitting our definition of BBS, but the shave is close and smooth); and 3) the result looks good.

So, I think my new strategy will be to achieve a "perfect shave" as defined above and not worry about achieving BBS. If BBS is the result, so be it, but perhaps it shouldn't be the yardstick for success.

Is this a cop out? Am I selling my soul to the shave-devil with such a compromise?

Carry on,
Ron

[BrianB]

Of course you're not selling your soul! You've gained access to a higher-state of being. You're doing better than the drones with cartridge razors - much better!
The occasional extra mile for a BBS shave is worth it if you just feel like having an extra-special day or if it's a special event, but day-to-day you're probably doing more harm to your skin than it's worth.
The woes of male euphoria!

[AFDavis11]

There are good reasons why it says in every barbers manual published not to go against the grain. A BBS shave one day might be fun but I think getting used to a perfect shave is more important. I once saw a BBS addict with an ingrown hair that grew to the size of a golf ball; horrific! He had to have surgury to get that hair cut out of his face.

You should focus on getting a BBS shave and still using the proper stroke direction, that is the essence of perfection of this art.

Actually any hack with a cartridge can get BBS with an against the grain pass.