Do you go BBS every time?

[TonyJ]

I find that, in the past few months, having lost the BBS obsession which you certainly all had at some point when starting shaving (the need to compare to alternative methods etc...), I do not aim to go ATG every day or so to achieve BBS. I find it more comfortable to not go ATG all the time. If you skip the ATG, you will still look very clean shaven, only you will be able to feel the difference (and your wife/girlfriend/...).

Moreover, I don't think it's the best idea to go ATG every day.

My conclusion for the moment is that if you go WTG and XTC you will have a very smooth shave except not BBS in some areas, and there's NOBODY that will be able to tell the difference without touching your chin, and I don't let that many people touch my chin... let alone rub it lol.

How about you guys, any people here who go about it the same way? This is of course, only if you shave every day. If I didn't shave for two days I will always go ATG because I 'missed out' on that other shave

I feel just same way like you do. No need to go ATG every day. BBS is nice but absolutely overrated. In straight & wet shaving world is so many other things to enjoy than the one and only BBS.

[Yorkie]

For what extra time it takes I do three passes plus touch ups - All the pre-stuff is already done, my razor has had a strop and my brush is full so a few extra minutes is no hardship. Then again I don't shave every day. If I did I might only do two passes.

[JimmyHAD]

I do WTG for the first pass and then a combination of XTG and ATG depending on the area. I don't know if it is all bbs but it is a smooth surface when I am done with my shave. I only do 2 passes + touch ups in problem areas.

[rrp1501]

I do WTG/ATG/XTC every time. Probably from my military training. Have to be clean shaven all the time! But now I have a Goatee as a sign of rebellion! Man am I a rebel or what!

[TheBaron]

Although I'm not talented enough for consistent BBS shaves yet, my facial hair grows slow, if I did 3 passes I could probably get away with not shaving for a day without looking too bad. Currently since I am still learning I've been doing only 1 pass to make sure that each day I have a good amount of stubble by the time I shave the next day. That way I have a good canvas to learn on every day. Then one day of the week I'll do multiple passes just to practice angles and learn the XTG and ATG passes.

Basically at this point I'm doing what ever maximizes my learning, I can always be picky about how smooth I am when I'm pro like you guys.

[Bart]

Hmm. Maybe some dissidence is in order...

Unless you have the bad luck of getting ingrown hairs when you shave very close, why would you skip the ATG pass? I would rather skip the WTG pass.

ATG has somewhat a reputation for causing more skin irritation than the other passes, but I believe that's primarily because it is usually the last pass in the multiple pass approach. Possibly one pass too much, but that could also be solved by omitting any other pass.

Granted, the direction of the hair growth guides the edge a bit more into the skin during the ATG pass, but I believe that effect is minimal when you pay attention to a proper shaving angle. Otherwise the razor is just passing over the skin, removing some epidermal skin cells, but no more than during the other passes.

I personally adapt my passes to the length of the growth. A WTG is a reduction pass for me. If there is no need for reduction (shaving every day), I just skip the WTG pass. That buys me more "skin-exposure" for fumbling ATG, which is the only option I have for looking cleanly shaved for half a day.

Of course mileages will vary...

Bart.

[mojka]

me too, I hate any roughness on my face.For me it's enough that I can feel it.

[CRR]

I normallly do WTG, XTG, ATG and minor touch up. If I'm in a hurry, like this morning for example, I pull out my DE with a Feather blade and use the same procedure, only it's much faster. I can shave in easliy half the time or less.

Not nearly as enjoyable, but it gets the job done when needed. I like a smooth face everyday, so one way or the other, it's gonna happen.

[Obie]

Gentlemen,

I do the three standard passes with some cleanup everyday. I try to get a BBS as best I can. It is not so much an obsession for me. I just love the ritual of traditional shaving with a straight razor.

On the practical side, my beard has been in a continuous revolt against me since my youth by growing in 37 different directions. The neck especially is a revolutionary loony bin. After all this time, no matter what angled razor strokes I use, I am still unable to clean my neck and under the chin properly.

Also, a sliver of a beard arks east and then north from just above my right jaw and ends just below my right side burn, while the rest of the beard on that side grows southward. So when I shave with the grain north to south on the right side, I must make sure to use a steeper angle in addition to a buffing motion to clear that sliver. It's frustrating.

I have varied the passes, changed their sequence, eliminated some, added some, but still the battle continues. Oh, there has been progress, but no complete success. Yet I know someday I will win the battle.

Why I say this is because I follow three important principles in almost everything I do, especially if it is challenging from the start: focus, discipline and tenacity. I also try to have a good time while doing it.

Regards,
Obie

[tinkersd]

Lets face it Gents, places like SRP, B+B ect are were fellows like us,[OCD types] go to face our compulsions with dignaty and verve. Yes, BBS does rule in my lu, and I admit, even after my three main pass's I rinse off with hot water and do touch up's as needed to get that BBS shave I started and was promised when I took up wet shaving as a hobby!! Let face it, after all the stropping and face scrubbing lather wipping hot towel applying, it just doesn't bloody well take all that long to do some extra pass's to, well, feel like a million dollers in the morn. The whole process IS the Zen of str8 shaving and IMHO is what makes it all worth the effort. That's my ruddy two cents, hope it was worth the time for 'ya'all to read it.

And to all, have a great BBS every time!!!!

And Humbly, as alway's, I still am,

Tinkersd of SRP!

...........At Last, my arm is complete again!!!!!!!!!!!
[Sweeny Todd]