Years ago when I shaved with a DE I did three or even four pass shaves and I was aiming for BBS a lot, 'cause heck, that's what was on the internet and at the time that was the only serious lessons I had in shaving. And I had a lot of problems with razor burn.
Since taking up single-blade shaving again, I have more modest goals and I generally just do two pass shaves. I'd like to get down to a one-pass shave with touchups, but my technique is not there yet. The only single-blade I've found that does a decent (better than an electric) one-pass shave is the Gillette Guard.
I have to question where the idea that a traditional safety razor should routinely deliver a BBS shave came from. None of my grandfathers ever really had that smooth of a face, for sure, and they both have very strict standards about shaving (they both ended up using electrics in the end, and my maternal grandfather delt with ingrown hairs a lot).
I think if I wanted a BBS shave, I would reach for my Sensor and do a two pass, with one pass against the grain, and I'd be prepared to deal with the extraordinary skin conditioning needed to get away with that. In fact I have done so a few times in the past with good results. But it requires a lot of skin conditioning to pull that off more than a few times a month.
Where the traditional razor shines is giving a FFS consistently with less irritation.
Since taking up single-blade shaving again, I have more modest goals and I generally just do two pass shaves. I'd like to get down to a one-pass shave with touchups, but my technique is not there yet. The only single-blade I've found that does a decent (better than an electric) one-pass shave is the Gillette Guard.
I have to question where the idea that a traditional safety razor should routinely deliver a BBS shave came from. None of my grandfathers ever really had that smooth of a face, for sure, and they both have very strict standards about shaving (they both ended up using electrics in the end, and my maternal grandfather delt with ingrown hairs a lot).
I think if I wanted a BBS shave, I would reach for my Sensor and do a two pass, with one pass against the grain, and I'd be prepared to deal with the extraordinary skin conditioning needed to get away with that. In fact I have done so a few times in the past with good results. But it requires a lot of skin conditioning to pull that off more than a few times a month.
Where the traditional razor shines is giving a FFS consistently with less irritation.
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