THE MUCH SOUGHT AFTER BBS

[dave5225]

I said never . My understanding of TRUE BBS is to not be able to feel stubble anywhere , in any direction (WTG , ATG , XTG) . I'm happy with a close , comfortable shave .

[Slamthunderide]

I choose often and sometimes it depends on how much time i put into the shave. With out a dought the longer I take the better the shave. But I always get a good shave.

[AlanII]

I went for sometimes. Your definition is very strict and sometimes covers it. Truth be told I don't aim for it anymore, prefer Lynn's 'sticky smooth' which I hit much more often than not. Not that I'm saying BBS is not cool, it's just that the next day ya gotta go for it all over again. It's the sticky smooth that does it for me. Nice thread by the way.

[ControlFreak1]

This is one of those where the definition is wide and varying, on another post the definitions were so, and it is certainly so at least in part because everyone's beard, technique, experience, skin type, equipment,etc. are different. I've heard someone define BBS, but I think that most would not take that definition. Someone else (which I would probably most agree with) mentioned (as a test) taking a cotton ball or one of those cotton facial pads and going against the grain - if it doesn't hang up then it is BBS. I voted 'often' yet there are spots because of their location and direction of beard growth are very very difficult to get BBS and those often would not pass the strictest BBS test. I have also learned that the soap or cream makes a bigger difference than I (and maybe many others) would have thought, at times I thought that it was a particular razor but concluded that it was actually the soap or cream that was effecting it.

[treydampier]

For me its about time. I have to admit as I have before, there are many days, I do a single careful pass WTG and it looks fine. I just shadow around 8:00 that evening. If I do all three passes I can get a full two days staying smother than a Mach3.
Plus as others have said, it depends on the prep, the razor, and how easy it is to get the three strokes over each area of the beard. My last week spot is the neck and right jaw line working with my left hand for the XTG pass, other than that I keep getting smoother on my neck each shave and the left hand is getting better.

[Sirshavesalot]

For me it's 99% of the time, but this depends on many factors and variances that I have to adjust for.

1. How long since I've shaved.

2. Condition of skin, sunburn/winburn, dry skin, any blemishes.

3. Time of day, morning shaves( the beard is softer) really makes a big difference for me.

4. Time in shower, longer obviously better.

5. Which soap and razor combo I use,for some reason some razors to me work better under certain soaps or creams.

6. The edge of the razor, newly honed, rehone, or needs a touch up.

7. The brand of razor, each razor feels different, thus the lust for more blades.

8. Music, I appreciate good music in my shavecave time. I like ambient or classical, nothing too jarring.

9. Finally the last part and definitely not the least, my mood, mental condition, if I'm distracted or stressed, it may take me a little longer to achieve the BBS.


cheers
David

[thebigspendur]

BBS ain't what it's all cracked up to be. Whether I get a totally BBS shave or one that's 75% BBS I still get a great shave besides when I used an electric I always got a 100% BBS shave every time. Unfortunately it only lasted a couple of hours.

[Sailor]

I do get BBS shave usually/often. I have several razors on rotation, and with some i just can't get it. I've found that wedges work better than hollows.
2 passes are usually enough for me, but sometimes i take 3 and then it is really BBS.

[simon1]

I did something a bit different this morning for the situation.

I didn't vote due to the "variables" in your day or how much you use a straight and your definition of BBS (I have very coarse whiskers).

My vote would be some times , kinda sorta.

I used my Dovo this morning instead of my McPherson Bros. (for some reason the Mac P seems to shave better; maybe it's a bit sharper).

Just did a warm water rinse on the face, then run hot water on the brush and made lather.

Did two WTG and then a ATG, and got a good one, kinda sorta. And I haven't shaved with a straight for a couple of months.

Felt ATG with fingers and some stubble, which I also get with a cartridge razor.

About 30 minutes later I went and picked up the Mac P. (silver steel). I think it's the singing blade kind of thing for that razor.

Didn't strop or anything on the Mickey P. razor, and did a dry shave on the little stubble that I could feel, but couldn't see. Went XTG and ATG a bit with short strokes, and then pulled the bit that's under the jaw line up over the jaw bone and went from the ear to the chin (short, carefull strokes).

Could see the little white flakes of dead skin that were raked off, that were building up on the edge of the razor,...but no irritation or burn.

Your mileage may vary.

[Bruce]

Well, its like this: if I did the baby's butt routine I'd worry that I'd have to swath my face in a diaper. People look at me strangely enough so I do two passes, damning the torpedos, and go full speed into the day - and that's good enough for a bit of satisfying faceturbation.