THE MUCH SOUGHT AFTER BBS

[59caddy]

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.

[JimmyHAD]

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.

[BingoBango]

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.

[Kees]

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.

[BeBerlin]

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.

[mosley59]

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).

[Otto]

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.

[Wintchase]

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.

[Joed]

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.

[dannywonderful]

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.