Thread: Single Pass Shaves Vs Beard Reduction

A simple way to resolve this, I think, would be to have one guy who says he can get "BBS" with one pass show up at one of the annual meetings in MO or NC or wherever, in need of a shave, anything between 24 hours or a month, do the pass, and present his mug to the other attendees who would certify the procedure and the results.

I don't think it's possible.

Any takers out there?

I think a lot has to do with age and genetics. Some guys have a beard that's more pre-disposed to getting BBS than others, IMO. As for myself, after a really good 3 pass shave, the best I have been able to obtain is about 85% BBS in all directions. I don't think BBS should be a term that is thrown around loosely as it sometimes seems to be. BBS to me should be akin to bowling a perfect game.

+1 to the shave my butt comment awhile ago. Ever since I began wet shaving, I have become a face watcher. A very common observation I have made is that some guys (particularly the younger guys) wake up in the morning with half a BBS before they even touch their face. All they basically have to do wave a str8 around their face and it's bald as a mango. It's not fair to compare that with a guy like me who wakes up with a sheet of 20 grit emery cloth for a puss.

Anyway, it's fine with me. On my 3 pass days I get a pretty DFS and the true BBS will happen someday as a bonus. When that day comes, I'll be faceturbating all day!

Originally Posted by flyman

I'll be faceturbating all day!

LOL Guilty as charged!

Originally Posted by flyman

I don't think BBS should be a term that is thrown around loosely as it sometimes seems to be. BBS to me should be akin to bowling a perfect game.

+1, YES!

This is exactly what I've been saying for a while, and probably a big cause of all the confusion and discussion in this thread.

Preamble before the ramble!
Single pass with one stroke of blade and no overlapping? No, this doesn't give me BBS.

Single pass = one general direction with overlapping strokes = yes, if not BBS, then DFine.

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Why doesn't it work to shave lightly against the grain on the first pass? To ask another way, why does shaving against the grain require less aggression when the stubble is shorter? I thought a sharp razor makes contact with the hair the same way no matter how tall the hair is

ATG only??

I've been trying an ATG only experiment the last couple of months (I think that's how long).

What have I actually been doing?

Direction
-sometimes the blade is going ATG, sometimes a blend of ATG/XTG

Stroke style
-tending towards guillotine, with light buffing motions.

In other words - slicing style, with overlapping strokes.

Does it work?
Yes - I get a comfortable shave (though there is room for improvement).
I'm not too fussed now about the direction so much now, but for what works!

#This approach has worked regardless of how much beard I've had - 24 hrs, a couple of days, a couple of weeks (after a hiking camp).

My aim is really about getting the most comfortable and efficient shave.

So for me, this means less repetition.

I'll shave one side of the face, clean the blade, swap hands, then do the other side.

Side effect of the experiment
I tried doing a WTG shave a few days ago and found it really uncomfortable and awkward (especially when I started shaving under the nose - I couldn't get a nice angle).

Moral to the story? - seems to be all about practice and technique.

If you practise a mainly WTG style and get good technique, you'll get a good shave.
If you practise a mainly ATG style and get good technique, you'll get a good shave.

Do whatever works!

All the best,
Michael

Single pass VS Beard reduction?

Just thinking back to the OP.

I don't think I've ever managed BBS with a single pass -with a single non-overlapping stroke.
(Overlapping strokes are really doing gradual beard reduction, rather than cutting it all in one go).

This hasn't worked with ATG only.
Maybe it might be possible with a really well-honed blade?

Just another thought...

All the best,
Michael

The beauty of straight razor shaving is that one pass will suffice. I rarely get the time to do more than one pass, but I notice the difference if I do.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Try it and see what happens. I did and my beard was laughing at my razor (yes, pro-honed). Beard reduction can be a good thing.

I have tried many times, and agree with your conclusion - saving the against the grain directions for last gives me better results than starting out with them. I guess I get hung up on what "beard reduction" implies and whether merely shortening or changing the shape of the stubble is really what is helping make the last pass go more smoothly

whatever. I had a nice shave last night