RocketMan
Gem Star
RazorAddict
Welcome To The Sharp Side!
Posts: 4,167
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Post by RocketMan on Mar 30, 2012 8:34:44 GMT -6
There was a time when I frequently made BBS (baby bottom smooth) shaves my goal. It seemed like the challenge was to make my mug as snag free as I could. That appeared to me to be my 'measure of success' using some fine vintage razors.
There came a time though, after a few 'raw faced in public' episodes where I looked like a shiny red beet - albeit a smooth one - that I started to pay much more attention to the idea of an 'acceptable shave'. I wanted to look shaven and clean, but I started to keep the passes to a minimum, rarely ATG and mostly WTG, and I didn't worry about BBS.
Some days when I have lots of time I do still go for a full out grind after a luxurious prep, but seem to have settled on the Acceptable Shave.
How about you? When are you done?? How low do you go?
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Post by wchnu on Mar 30, 2012 10:39:19 GMT -6
BBS is a myth for me. Why bother? I get a DFS with little effort from most any of my razors. Usually unless someone feels my face they can not tell. And no matter how close the shave is there is stubble after what 4 hours or so.
So why bother ?
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Post by johna2231 on Mar 30, 2012 11:39:52 GMT -6
Hmmm, it's probably just because I'm so new (less than 1 year wet shaving) and because I'm still so amazed at how wonderfully close these razors are capable of shaving that I still go for BBS nearly every day. Now keep in mind that I work nights so every morning to me is like a weekend morning to normal folks. I get up shower, enjoy a luxurious three pass shave, coffee etc. However, I can already see myself leaning towards more aggressive razors partly because I can achieve BBS in just two passes. So perhaps I'm getting seasoned enough to let the BBS go and look more at an acceptable shave? I do favor smooth and comfortable more than close.
Good point RM. I'll be curious to see where others weigh in on this.
John
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Mar 30, 2012 16:56:48 GMT -6
Personally, I only find aggressive razors interesting. That's for a few reasons.
If I can't get a BBS easily, why did I bring everything out and shave anyway? I won't produce irritation to get a BBS, so it requires the most efficient of razors.
That's one reason I dislike blade testing so much (DE) anymore. It takes me away from the best blades and razors that I know will produce the shave I want w/o irritation and the 2 1/3 pass BBS. I HATE walking away with only a DFS. Sure, I do it at times for one reason or another. But I don't like doing so when I know a BBS is so easy to obtain. 3 passes is my limit. If it requires more than that I accept a DFS.
Given the blades and razors I really like, I can produce a BBS with no more effort, no irritation, and no special techniques so why wouldn't I go for that every day? I no longer get ingrowns with blades so that's not a consideration any more.
I absolutely love the BBS feel to my face (so does the wife), and it's something I wasn't able to do with those multi-bladed PITAs I used for 40+ years, so maybe it's just over compensation for that? I dunno, but I strive for a BBS every day that the gear allows me to.
As I wrote, blade testing sometimes means I can't get that, so I set my sights lower that day, but that's not the norm. I absolutely won't spend so much time that I could get irritation or spend inordinate amounts of time to pull off a BBS.
Including 3-4 minutes for face prep and face lathering I can still pull off a BBS in 13 minutes with clean up and put away. I prefer to be more relaxed than that, and really take my time and enjoy it, however. I'm almost never in so much of a hurry that I want to bypass an enjoyable shave to hurry to an experience that may not be quite so enjoyable. Does that make sense? We've lost the realization that what we have in hand is enjoyable in the pursuit of rushing to "other" enjoyment.
OK, plus I like to faceturbate, and who wants to faceturbate a DFS? If the stubble grows back (and is felt) within 8 hours it just wasn't a great shave.
FWIW, I never get red faced or anything similar. Just clean shaven and my normal shade.
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Post by bladerunner on Mar 30, 2012 20:33:23 GMT -6
I just shave for a good shave that will last the day most of the time, especially morning shaves DFS is just as it's labeled, fine. I sometimes go further a few times during the week and aim for BBS with evening shaves for night entertainment.*
*My entertainment isn't faceturbating either
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Possum
Master Shaver
Cast Iron Marsupial
Look out you "Fuzzy" wabbit!
Posts: 1,274
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Post by Possum on Mar 30, 2012 20:48:44 GMT -6
I go for BBS every time I shave. Some days I get one, other days I get DFS. No problem if I don't get a BBS shave. I enjoy the entire shaving experience with vintage equipment and some great custom made lather from a great cream or soap.
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blobby
SE Super Freak
Posts: 83
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Post by blobby on Mar 30, 2012 23:25:39 GMT -6
There are areas on my face, I can easily get BBS and do so every time. There are areas particularly on the neck area where it's just not worth it as it nearly always results in razor burn no matter what razor I use. So it's half BBS and half DFS for me. In any case if I'd attempt to go for the full monty every time I'd need to skip a day, firstly to let the razor burn die down and secondly to let enough growth through to warrant another shave. So, a BBS to me means shaving is cut down by 50%. That's unacceptable!
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sargon
Shave Master
Vendor
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Post by sargon on Mar 31, 2012 18:40:20 GMT -6
It depends. The only Shave that I've ever had that lasted more than a few hours was a 4.5 pass BBS with my 1912 using a brand new blade, but I can still get a bbs, and go for it fairly often, with my more common DE shaves. I have a VERY thick, dark beard, and there is no "acceptable shave", as even BBS is a 3'oclock shadow.
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blobby
SE Super Freak
Posts: 83
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Post by blobby on Mar 31, 2012 19:43:44 GMT -6
It depends. The only Shave that I've ever had that lasted more than a few hours was a 4.5 pass BBS with my 1912 using a brand new blade, but I can still get a bbs, and go for it fairly often, with my more common DE shaves. I have a VERY thick, dark beard, and there is no "acceptable shave", as even BBS is a 3'oclock shadow. Most people would consider that a pain in the backside but as you're talking to a bunch of fellow wet shaving tragics I can only say that you're a lucky bastard!
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RocketMan
Gem Star
RazorAddict
Welcome To The Sharp Side!
Posts: 4,167
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Post by RocketMan on Mar 31, 2012 22:27:44 GMT -6
It depends. The only Shave that I've ever had that lasted more than a few hours was a 4.5 pass BBS with my 1912 using a brand new blade, but I can still get a bbs, and go for it fairly often, with my more common DE shaves. I have a VERY thick, dark beard, and there is no acceptable shave, as even BBS is a 3'oclock shadow. That is a great description. I had not thought of that before as I have quite light skin and the stubble doesn't show so much as it may with your skin. Learning all the time - thnx!! I imagine we all have a different 'palette' to work with and it would be unique to each of us. Great comments on this folks. Seems like there are as many approaches to this as there are answers!! I am a little surprised as I always figure that everybody thinks like me!
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Post by wchnu on Aug 12, 2012 3:56:33 GMT -6
How about a bump on this one for the newer folks. ?
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Post by Alan on Aug 12, 2012 13:19:06 GMT -6
I don't strive for the perfect shave, just a good shave. We have to remember that with the tools we use, even just an "acceptable" shave is probably a whole lot better than what most folks get from the plastic multi-blade gizmos.
Alan
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krissy
SE Super Freak
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Post by krissy on Aug 13, 2012 12:56:18 GMT -6
Since i'm shaving my legs and not my face I get a BBS shave each and every time!!!
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Aug 13, 2012 15:40:33 GMT -6
I actually got a decent shave from the carts. I had no issue with that at all. I had an issue with the prices of the cartridges. OK, I'm having a more enjoyable shave now too, so I shave every day.
I could probably go back to shaving with the products I'm using now and enjoy it, but there is still the problem of carts and their high price, so it's a non starter.
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Post by wchnu on Aug 14, 2012 1:57:21 GMT -6
I have tried to tell the guys in my family and gals too that it they will just change to a decent soap and brush the shaves would be much better. Mostly they are to lazy heh.
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