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Barney14
Was the 3 pass shave something done back in the 40s / 50s or is it a more recent phenomenon
Some answers here
Thread 'How Did the Three Pass Shave Originate? One or Two Passes Were Standard Historically.' How Did the Three Pass Shave Originate? One or Two Passes Were Standard Historically. - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/how-did-the-three-pass-shave-originate-one-or-two-passes-were-standard-historically.630894/
Thread 'How Did the Three Pass Shave Originate? One or Two Passes Were Standard Historically.' How Did the Three Pass Shave Originate? One or Two Passes Were Standard Historically. - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/how-did-the-three-pass-shave-originate-one-or-two-passes-were-standard-historically.630894/
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Barney14
Thank you
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Barney14
I remember that my father only lathered his face once, no 3 pass shaving, the wife's dad the same, she says that a blade would last him weeks or months, I suppose 3 pass shaving will reduce blade life.
Where blades better back on the day?
Where blades better back on the day?
For the most part, no. Average blades were not that great nor were they comfortable to use. Carbon steel blades did not last for very many shaves.
There were some excellent blades available at times, though. The early generation of stainless steel blades from Personna and Wilkinson Sword, for example, seemed to last quite a lot longer and were smooth. Blade coatings were introduced around this time.
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Barney14
The reason for my asking is I shave every other day and said I changed my blade every week after 3 shaves, she then mentioned her dad and got me thinking how mine shaved.
I do want to achieve BBS or near as for each shave, is using a blade a week OK.
Lockback
Dull yet interesting
I doubt it. My theory is that they were in a hurry to get onto other things, like their jobs, and one pass got most of it done and they were gone. We look at it as a hobby but 60 years ago it was just a chore you had to do so you didn't look like a bum.
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Barney14
It was definitely more bib and braces back then.I doubt it. My theory is that they were in a hurry to get onto other things, like their jobs, and one pass got most of it done and they were gone. We look at it as a hobby but 60 years ago it was just a chore you had to do so you didn't look like a bum.
It seems OK to me, anyway. How many shaves you get from a blade depends on many different things. Some people get six or more shaves, others get only a few.
Blades are relatively cheaper nowadays than they were back then. If good blades are 10 or 15 cents each, your overall cost is still very cheap even if you only shave once per blade.
@Barney14 , Before starting the thread linked above by brucered I researched this on B&B and our best information on this topic is now in that thread. Short answer, as noted above, is no. The three pass shave as a recommended "standard" is a relatively recent phenomena concurrent with the resurgence of DE/SE wet shaving over the past 10-15 years.
As noted in the referenced thread reality today is that most experienced DE/SE shavers do what works best for them per preferences, beard characteristics and their shaving tools. Result is preferences that range from a one pass DFS to 3 or more passes for BBS perfection. In my case a 2+ pass usually does the trick though I have sometimes varied this based on how mild my chosen razor of the day is.
Curious, what is your preferred shaving approach?
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Barney14
Makes sense
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Barney14
I go for BBS or near as possible, WTG, AGT & XTG
They used to do the cotton ball test in certain institutional settings. The only way to pass that test is by doing multiple passes. So, it was known.
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Barney14
I haven't heard of that before, what did it involve
Absolutely. Three shaves is on the lower end of the spectrum here where the average seems to be around 5-7 shaves per blade. That said there is a wide range from the "One and Done" brotherhood to the Excalibur club where fellow members realize dozens and some times well over 100 shaves from a blade.
You should use your blades for as many shaves as they work for you based on preferences, blade quality and beard characteristics. I use three brands of blades, Derby, Astra SP and Dorco and while the shaves delivered are of similar quality, regardless of blade, there is a significant difference in longevity. My Dorcos last the longest (10-12 shaves each), Astras in the middle and Derbys at the lower end (3-6 shaves each).
My recommendation is to experiment and see how many shaves you can go before you see a deterioration in blade quality and then decide if you want to use each blade for as long as it lasts or for a revised fixed number of shaves that is below the number where shave quality begins to decline.
What brands of blade do you shave with these days?
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Barney14
It was solely GSBs until a few weeks ago, I shaved once a week and a blade lasted a month or so.
Recently I swapped the GC 0.68 for a vintage 7o'clock OC and have bought Russian only blades 7 oclocks, Minora, Rubie and Nacets to name a few, I now shave 3 times a week.
Recently I swapped the GC 0.68 for a vintage 7o'clock OC and have bought Russian only blades 7 oclocks, Minora, Rubie and Nacets to name a few, I now shave 3 times a week.
After you shave, wipe a cotton ball on your face in every direction. If it leaves cotton, your shave wasn't close enough. You had to go back and shave again until you could pass the test.
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Barney14
Thanks, I'd have failed that many a time
Me too.
No, it was one pass, WTG, but I would shave ATG on my neck. I never heard of multipass shaving until I found B&B.
