THE MUCH SOUGHT AFTER BBS

I was curious as to how often members get that sometime elusive BBS.
I got what i call a "true" BBS just last week after using straights for almost 1 year. it was perfect, not one missed patch or a single hair not shaved.
I may be too critical of my own shaves. i normally have a 3 pass shave and then check for missed areas. then after about an hour, i check again and most of the time i find a really small area or a couple of hairs missed.
so everyone tell me how good they are at getting the BBS and also how they attain the great shave that we all want everyday.

Going by the criteria in your description I have to vote 'sometimes'. It does depend on how much time I devote to it but I seem to often miss a spot here or there when I feel of it an hour later. Sometimes I click on eight and it is a true 100% BBS but I couldn't say often. Pilot error, not the razor. ;)

I went with "sometimes" because while some areas always get BBS, other areas are really hit or miss. Also, I didn't click the "Depends on how long..." because I don't think it's from going back and getting every last patch. Sometimes I just hit the sweet spot, mow down all the whiskers and walk away smooth. If I have to keep going back I usually wind up with unnecessary irritation.

Lets first define BBS. After shaving my entire face feels BBS if I stroke it. However, if you rub your finger over your face exactly against the grain you will feel some stubble. So I voted sometimes as I do not manage to go ATG in my neck area.

Sometimes, depending on how much time I devote to the shave. I know I can do it more easily with a number of razors, but it takes time which I often do not have. That said, a "non BBS" shave is still significantly closer than a shave with, say, a DE, and it lasts longer.

I almost always get BBS, it just depends how long I'm willing to spend on my trouble areas, which often require multiple ATG touchup to get perfectly smooth. Using a DE, like I currently do, I can consistently (95%+ of the time) get BBS. With a straight, because I shave one handed, I have a little more trouble on my chin and there's one patch on my right carotid I can never get because of how the hair grows - I'd guess 75% of the time BBS with a straight (excluding that patch on my carotid).

When I have the time to do it right.
WTG + XTG + ATG + WP (on spots) = BBS
unless I mess up and nick myself.

So I almost always get a BBS - when I have the time and do it right.

I get BBS everytime...Unless the blade is dull of course...But I think it is in the stroke on the face. I learned to shave from my Grandfather 30 yrs ago and he didn't do the "long stroke" that I see people use today. He used very short strokes that worked the own the face, so the result was several passes completed in one pass. I too use this technique because I have all ways shaved with a straight and have done it that way to save time and get an effective shave. :beer2:

My barber said that I don't need to get a BBS every shave, but I often shoot for it. I voted often. The results really depends on the state of mind, time, prep and keenness of the razor. I really believe the razor's edge plays the greatest part and time is a factor of that followed by state of mind and prep.

With some razors I can get a BBS quickly with minimal prep, others prep, time and state of mind come into play. The sharper and smoother a razor's edge the higher probability of BBS.

The hair on my neck grows sideways and the areas just off center towards the bottom of my neck are the hardest to get all of the time. Last month I shaved through my Henckles. I got a BBS shave with all of them but some got there quicker that others. I believe the difference comes form the honing. All of the Henckels needed the bevel set when I got them and most were restoring the bevel. Since I don't have a scientific or precise way of measuring the quality of the edge off the bevel setting hone it is a judgment call based on evaluating the tests results and time spent on the bevel (patients and mood). Next, the degree to which I can maintain minimal pressure on the blade while working up the grits and final stropping play in the end quality of the edge. Honing is not a science (yet) and there are infinite levels of shave ready. While quality of the steel (manufacturer) plays a major role in the final edge the manufacturing process has tolerance zones such as hardness, tempering, metal composition and grinding, which can have an accumulative effect on the quality of the final edge. The best edge of the Henckel's lot was a Vacuum, which scared the hairs off my face along with some skin. I don't attribute that to the model, just everything falling into place at the same time and place. There were other that came really close and still others that were just great shaves. I believe the greatest variable was me and that I could probably get most of them to the same level but they are so close and all give great shaves I don't feel the difference is worth the time, but maybe some day.

I just do my normal shave and more often than not I end up with a BBS. I sometimes feel a bit that I've missed, but I don't go back and touch it up, or anything like that, I just pay a bit more attention on that area for my next shave. I do a three pass WTG, XTG, ATG shave each time and don't even think about aiming for any particular result, I just enjoy each pass as I feel the hair get reduced.

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 .

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

:beer2:

I'd say 99.9% of the time I get a BBS shave. It just depends on how much abuse my neck has taken recently!

If its playing up (as it is at the moment), then I tend to hold back a bit and its only BBS if I feel going WTG. My face is always BBS though, its just my neck I have to be careful about, so I went with always (for my face) and often (for my neck).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 59caddy

How Often Do You Attain A "BBS"

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Not often. I guess I haven't tried to attain one in months, and I'm not sure I ever attained a face and neck with the same smoothness as a baby's surprise basket

I remember when I was Still Waiting on the first one. It seemed like it would never happen. Sometimes I would get close, But often not. Now I always yearn for that BBS Feeling.

"Never".

But I am purposely not aiming for it either. My skin is to sensitive, so I cant go against the grain.
One of the reasons I actually picked up a straight in the first place, was because I found that it was easier on my skin to shave with a straight.
By leaving a little stubble, my skin does not get irritated.

Quote:

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BBS ain't what it's all cracked up to be

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Not quite sure I agree with this statement. A true BBS should last a very long when done with a straight. When I do it I'm good for an entire 8hrs easy.

Cheers
David

I'm very particular when it comes to what I call a true BBS shave. True to a baby's butt, I expect you can rub your hand in any direction and feel completely smooth. Honestly, I can achieve this in some places, but in the tougher spots, I get an ever so slight rough sensation when rubbing ATG (totally smooth in every other direction). Because I can find these 'rough' spots, even though they are ever so slight and only ATG, I call it a DFS, not BBS, although I suspect for some, this is BBS.

Hi Guys & Gals
I finally achieved a BBS after 5 weeks of practice with my first straight razor. I have been practising with a shavette for 3 months before this and it has come together faster than I expected thanks to all of the superb info, knowledge and skills imparted by all on this site.
Thanks guys & gals

Kind Regards, Andy.

Congrads Razorlight, and I love the band too! Good stuff!

The Rakes are good too!

Cheers
david

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mbrossar

I'm very particular when it comes to what I call a true BBS shave. True to a baby's butt, I expect you can rub your hand in any direction and feel completely smooth. Honestly, I can achieve this in some places, but in the tougher spots, I get an ever so slight rough sensation when rubbing ATG (totally smooth in every other direction). Because I can find these 'rough' spots, even though they are ever so slight and only ATG, I call it a DFS, not BBS, although I suspect for some, this is BBS.

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Well said. :tu

I've gotten BBS in the tough spots on a few rare occasions, but generally I just get a DFS. (Upper lip in particular, but it's pretty close unless I curl my lip over my teeth.)

If the poll was for DFS I'd definitely say always! Then again, if I was born rich I wouldn't be poor. Well maybe I would, but I'd have a lot more razors to show for it!

I said sometimes. I can do it if I want to, but I usually don't. I will get razor burn if I go for BBS. Maybe my technique isn't great, but I think it's beacuse I have very sensitive skin. I could not shave with a Mach 3 without getting razor burn, no matter what I did. I aim for Directional BBS - my face will feel BBS when rubbed in the direction I make a pass. That, going mostly WTG and some XTG, is plenty close for me.

On special occasions, I may go for BBS.

I've not been at the straight shaving game for long but a DE trained me well. after I got my Boker King cutter I've always had a perfect shave.

First I wipe my face with a hot towel, steaming hot water from my tap. Then I use cold lather to lather my face so the hairs all stand up, and the cold lather really wakes you up and prepares you to walk outside into a cold Saskatchewan winter.

I personally find that a shot of whiskey or any other substance of abuse makes the cold lather experience more tolerable :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sirshavesalot

Congrads Razorlight, and I love the band too! Good stuff!

The Rakes are good too!

Cheers
david

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Hi David,
Thanks for congrats...
The band are great - my musical tastes are many and varied usually dependant on mood!
I hope all is well with you.
Kind Regards, Andy.

I voted for somethimes, because I usually don't have enough time to devote to the shave. On weekends, when I have time, I can achieve a BBS by just taking my time on prep, etc...

Voted "Always" because I do. I hope more of us can say "always" too.

Pabster

Well again I think I stated this before, I always get a BBS if I go for it, but I don't go for it everyday, mostly because I like to sometimes grow out a goatee, or stache for a couple of days, so everywhere else I get a bbs.

I think the edge is such a huge part of this, it also makes me wonder if keeping a large stable of blades is really good or bad. I mean when you get used to a blade and have it honed, stropped just right, it makes it very easy to get a bbs, partly because of familiarity with the way one or two razors shave.

I have some razors in my stable that are great shavers if I took more time to keep the edge perfect but I don't Im lazy I guess. On the other hand I have some razors which have amazing edges and I make sure I keep them that way because I love the look and how they shave.

This will sound strange but I'm a very aesthetic guy, if a razor looks like hell or just looks off I probably wont shave with her until I get her looking just so.

Cheers
David