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Ok I have just recently decides to start straigh shaving and I have been using a cheap shavette with single edge derby blades. The main problem I'm having is I am on my 5th week of shaving this way and I'm still not getting a bbs shave even if I do it twice a day I can still feal some stubbles on my neck and chin.
A few things that affect the quality of shave in a random order:
Sharp razor
Stretching the skin in the problematic areas such as neck.
Good beard prep.
Using proper technique as in the right stroke and direction of attack of the hair, chin and neck are not the easiest areas to shave.
cowboy559,
Please do not let anxiety or dis-satisfaction enter into your shaves !
For the longest of time I was obsessed with getting BBS shaves every time; I came to realise that this was beginning to spoil the enjoyment of my shaves.
Now I take whatever the shave gives in terms of closenss. Most of the time, the shaves are very close, other times not.
All of the shaves look very presentable, so I just do not worry about absolute closeness anymore.
I shave with a straight to enjoy the experience and the shave :)
The best results of the straight shave are not acheived linearly with time; all of a sudden you will find that all becomes well with your shaves ! :)
Good luck !
Have fun !
Best regards
Russ
Unbeknownst to us the razor actually cuts the hair at the depth of real whisker/lather penetration. Try using better lather, rub it into the whisker below the skin line with heavy facial finger rubbing, and then shave using a light touch. You also must find a way to stretch the skin at the chin, which is no easy feat. The skin at the chin is too tight to easily stretch and the skin at the neck is too loose. Given the two spots you're having trouble with, skin stretching may be another contributing factor to your difficulties.
The first 100 shaves are just practice. Be patient. BBS smooth will come with practice. The "cheap shavette" might not be the easiest tool to learn with.Quote:
Originally Posted by cowboy559
Cowboy,
Chin and neck are the hardest places on my face, and where the whiskers grow the fastest as well, one other option is to try a different blade in the Shavette. I have experienced closer shaves with other blades.
You don't say much about your technique and if you are using bad technique you are only reinforcing this bad technique which makes it all the more difficult to unlearn. Tell us more and we may be able to better pinpoint your issue. Keep in mind this is a skill which takes some time to master.
Keep at it cowboy and it will come.
I go for a good shave not a bbs. It's a bonus when I get the bbs.
I've been doing this for years now and my baby butt-like face still has micro stubble mini-remnants. Maybe my baby butt-like face is precocious and grows stubble before its time, or maybe my technique is lacking. I don't have a clue really; I just shave again tomorrow and will once again be able to feel where the whiskers were.
I know, some of us just have burdens we must bear.
Thank you all for your help. It was my skin stretching technique that was off, shaved this morning and got a great shave not bbs but was much better than a cartridge razor :)
Not everyone can obtain full BBS everywhere, even some very experienced members. Focus on getting a good shave with a straight. Improvements over time are smoothness, closeness and proficiency with a straight. Time taken greatly improves.
I agree with everyone else - forget BBS and just concentrate on developing your technique. I do not understand this fixation with BBS that some people have. Have you seen some baby's butts? Not a look I want to emulate on my face, I can tell you.
More to the point, the number of times I have seen or heard of people carving up their face, or irritating it to the point that their head looks like an outbreak of eczema on an engorged baboon's arse, because they are chasing this (IMO) unrealistic ideal of BBS, makes me believe the entire concept is flawed and should only really be a goal for very experienced shavers (and even then....).
Here endeth the rant....
James.
Cowboy,
The truth is with every shave your technique gets better and better, and one day everything will just fall into place. It's one of those things in life where no matter how much you think you know, there is always more to learn. But the beauty is every shave just keeps getting better and better no matter how long you have been using straight razors. Relax, go with it and most importantly just enjoy your shave.
BBS shaves are just a goal. So is a .400 batting average, a 99% score on the Miller Analogies Test, or an 800 score on the college boards. Aiming for a BBS shave every time is unrealistic, and the pursuit of it usually brings too many passes, nicks, weepers and razor burn. I've recently tried pursuing decent but not great shaves. I shaved today quickly with just one WTG pass and was satisfied with the result. I got it all done in under 4 minutes, and nobody complained about how I looked. My face thanked me all day!
I would say as long as you're getting a comfortable shave, you're on the right track. Your shaves will improve with time.