What exactly is BBS?

[LawsonStone]

I have found--likely I'm the last one on my block to find it--that before my ATG pass, a few passes on the strop helps that final pass be closer and smoother.

[Alembic]

Im still new to the SR shave and i am chasing the BBS (Need to show the wife the Fruits of the Hobby ) Spent 30min of shaving time doing it and still no closer....Yet. I'll get it then just do the WTG after that.

A piece of this has nothing to do with skill and technique. It's that your skin needs to break in. That can take 4-6 months to happen and is completely outside of your control.

So meanwhile, shave all you can to get the practice, strop a couple of times a day to get the practice, and finally, build some lather you may not end up using to get the practice.

Then one day, it all comes together nicely.

[Tuxedo7]

I have noticed, in my pursuit of a BBS, that under my jaw line I'll still feel stubble during the shave, after a WTG XTG and ATG. I'll give up because tenderness is starting to get the best of me. But then after, after the post shave routine, cold water,EveryMan Jack menthol, face balm, post shave strop, and 2 fingers of bourbon poured, I run my finger over the problem area and Viola, no stubble!. Any else ever have that experience?

Hey Sous ... You are not unique in your experience. My opinion on this (and you know what opinions are like), is that if you have prepped your face well (post shower, good lather, etc.), the hair has likely expanded with the warming and absorption of water. This leaves the hair slightly lengthened. Once your shave is complete, the face is splashed with cool water, and astringent/alum block applied, and your face is given some time, the hair shrinks back to it's natural length ... and if you've shaved pretty well, that is either at, or maybe even just below the skin surface.

I've actually gotten to the point that I kind of know what my face/stubble feels like during the shave, so that I have an idea when to stop chasing the BBS (in spots) ... as I have yet to get BBS completely on my chin or right under my nose.

[hoglahoo]

It just means smooth as a baby's bum - if you do not know the smoothness of a baby's bum then you cannot know bbs

[thebigspendur]

BBS is that ultimate quest many seek like winning the gold medal at the olympics or driving a Ferrari or discovering something new and unique.

depending on your beard it might be relatively easy or very very difficult. It's one of those things the more you obsess about it the less likely you are to attain it.

You just shave and improve and then one day it just comes.

[Alembic]

BBS is that ultimate quest many seek like winning the gold medal at the olympics or driving a Ferrari or discovering something new and unique.

depending on your beard it might be relatively easy or very very difficult. It's one of those things the more you obsess about it the less likely you are to attain it.

You just shave and improve and then one day it just comes.

I'd like to add this - you don't get them every single shave.

It's like a pitcher that is capable of pitching a perfect game - but does not do so every game.

There is "What you are capable of" and "What you actually did".

So I strive to get them, and if I do - great. If not - there's always the next one.

[HNSB]

This thread may help you define BBS: http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...xbbs-abbs.html

[welshwizard]

I think if you have any common sense you can tell when you've had a good shave.
Too close and you get irritation and burn, not close enough and you still have some stubble.
We are individuals and once we've left our teenage years behind, should have the experience to decide when we have shaved closely enough.
I'm not a great fan of shaving very closely against the grain, as for me it causes skin irritation,damage and spots. However, for many others it will cause no problems.

[flyman]

I think if you have any common sense you can tell when you've had a good shave.
Too close and you get irritation and burn, not close enough and you still have some stubble.
We are individuals and once we've left our teenage years behind, should have the experience to decide when we have shaved closely enough.
I'm not a great fan of shaving very closely against the grain, as for me it causes skin irritation,damage and spots. However, for many others it will cause no problems.

+1 On the common sense part of knowing when You have had a good shave. That is, of course, quite subjective. My challenge was to objectively quantify BBS since it seems there are varying degrees of definition as was pointed out by HNSB in his link above. Then again, the argument could be made: "Who cares?" The important thing is that we ourselves decide when we've had a good shave or not.

-1 On the notion of leaving my teenage years behind. I'll not hear of it.

[flyman]

BBS is that ultimate quest many seek like winning the gold medal at the olympics or driving a Ferrari or discovering something new and unique.

depending on your beard it might be relatively easy or very very difficult. It's one of those things the more you obsess about it the less likely you are to attain it.

You just shave and improve and then one day it just comes.

+100! Thank you!