BBS in One Pass?

[Stubear]

I agree with the G-man here, I'm more interested in comfort than total total BBS-ness...!

I usually do two XTG passes on my face (one each way) then a WTG and XTG on the tache and chin area. The neck is a sort of scything WTG/XTG thing that I usually do twice and that gets me 99% BBS. If I really feel around (especially ATG) I can find the odd tiny little straggler, especially on my neck, but chasing after those really boots the comfort down a notch. So I tend to leave them and go for comfort.

Besides, that 99% shave keeps me totally smooth for a good 15-20 hours and frankly I can get away with shaving every other day if I really want to.

[RazorRed]

I suppose BBS is in the interpretation of the person shaving the face. I can get a nice smooth shave with one pass, as long as I don't run my hand ATG. I guess that's why I say that I don't get a BBS without at least 3 passes. When I finish all the passes I have planned, I splash some water on the mug and run my hands around in every which direction and usually always have a few small spots for a touch up. I have found that testing the jawline and neck, using the heel of my hand feels the stubble left behind more so than my fingers. And from my DE experience, it's when i find those stubborn areas that still remain after the touch up is when I hurt myself when trying to rid my face of them. Nowadays, I just say, tomorrow is another day, and leave it alone.

[str8fencer]

I know I've never been able to get a BBS in one pass, and can't see I ever will. I can't even do it in 2 passes, I need touch-up after that to get all the spots, especially at the neck. And like the G-man says, if you really look for them, you can find them. If I shave in the morning I'll just go quick, and do a one pass and touch-up which definitely makes me presentable to the outer world. If I have a relaxed shave in the evening I tend to hunt the BBS, and actively look for the minute stubble. As long as the shave is comfortable I don't mind it, providing I have the time.

[DLB]

I have three razors that get me 90% there with one pass:
6/8 Thiers-Issard Le Grelot
6/8 Hart Steel
5/8 Le Grelot P-Hospital.

However, I have to do a second pass on my chin to get that last 10%.

Even then, I would characterize it as DFS.

To truly get BBS on all of my face, it takes two or even three passes.

[newb]

I can almost get BBS in 1 pass but only with a slant going ATG nice and slow. I can't imagine getting it with a str8 in one pass. Heck ,getting BBS with a str8 for me is a rare occurance.

[Ryan82]

I think the biggest problem with the discussion is the term BBS

+1, and I have long said that BBS is the most overused/misused term in the wetshaving community.

BBS= Baby Butt Smooth, also known as perfectly smooth or the perfect shave, whatever. It's called that because a baby's butt is likely the smoothest skin in the world. I can not once remember changing my baby's diaper and thinking, "wow, that little bum is smooth except ATG". That's why I try to push more accurate terms like "directionally smooth", because BBS technically can't be done in one pass - unless, I suppose, that pass is ATG.....

[PhatMan]

Hi,

Unfortunately for me, an excellent multi-directionally smooth shave needs an ATG pass with an ATG touch up. My neck seems not to be able to cope with this, so about 18 months ago (as others have mentioned) I chose comfortable over smooth

I feel that as I really enjoy the shave, am I really bothered about BBS ? Not any more - I take the shave as it is, close or not !

There is always tomorrow for another shave

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

[TheZ]

I just tried a one pass ATG shave, with touch ups on the weird parts of my neck, and only going XTG on my chin and 'stache, which is how I normally finish there. Except for a few spots that are normally hit or miss for me, it's a BBS shave. Was not as fun as my normal 2.5 pass shave though, but certainly quicker.

[ace]

+1, and I have long said that BBS is the most overused/misused term in the wetshaving community.

BBS= Baby Butt Smooth, also known as perfectly smooth or the perfect shave, whatever. It's called that because a baby's butt is likely the smoothest skin in the world. I can not once remember changing my baby's diaper and thinking, "wow, that little bum is smooth except ATG". That's why I try to push more accurate terms like "directionally smooth", because BBS technically can't be done in one pass - unless, I suppose, that pass is ATG.....

Would it be possible to get a "directionally smooth" shave if the one ATG pass was performed in such a way that it took into account the varying growth directions of different parts of the face and attacked them (perhaps not the best term) each in their opposite direction? That pass would have to be multi-directional based on the needs of the different areas. I'm not advocating doing this, but it seems it might be possible. I'm well aware that we're in the "over-thinking" phase here, but it's Saturday night, the wife is out, my razors are honed and stropped and oiled, I can't find any razors to buy, the dog has already been out, and, yes, I've already done the dishes.

[Ryan82]

Would it be possible to get a "directionally smooth" shave if the one ATG pass was performed in such a way that it took into account the varying growth directions of different parts of the face and attacked them (perhaps not the best term) each in their opposite direction? That pass would have to be multi-directional based on the needs of the different areas. I'm not advocating doing this, but it seems it might be possible. I'm well aware that we're in the "over-thinking" phase here, but it's Saturday night, the wife is out, my razors are honed and stropped and oiled, I can't find any razors to buy, the dog has already been out, and, yes, I've already done the dishes.

Thanks for the question, and you're quite possibly right - except that wouldn't be a directionally smooth pass, but a one pass BBS shave. It is about the only way it would truly be possible, assuming of course that your whiskers grow strictly N to S or S to N (the whiskers on my neck, for example grow sideways, making an ATG pass there near impossible) and no touch ups are necessary. The reality is that not many skin types could take ATG as a one and only pass; many do not like going ATG to begin with as it can be bad for the skin. So yes, possible but not recommended. I guess I should have stated in my OP that a one pass BBS shave isn't possible - if that one pass is WTG at least....