DFS-v-BBS-Worth the effort?!

[miamimoe]

Wanted to get some feedback on the whole DFS/BBS thing and what others think. I am back to DE shaving for 9 weeks now, and have made good progress with help from this site and members (Thanks B&B!). I can now get a 3 pass DFS shave with not much effort, other than doing some clean up and buffing on the chin.

To get a BBS, I have to spend a lot of time on the always troublesome neck. To get BBS on my face is fairly easy. My neck requires a lot of slow, XTG passes to get it right. If I go too fast-hellacious razor burn sets in. In order to do achieve BBS on the neck, it takes about 60% more time just on the neck. So, I have decided that for me, BBS is special days only, such as formal affairs and the like, or when I have the time to really indulge. Otherwise, its DFS, and that's it.

I was wondering how others feel about the whole thing, so please fire away with comments and ideas.

 

[icedoverfire]

First, welcome to B&B!

Second, keep in mind the golden rule: YMMV.

If you can live with DFS, then stick to DFS. If you absolutely must have BBS, then go for BBS. If you think BBS takes a lot of time, then stay with whatever gives you the best possible results in the shortest amount of time. As you said "BBS for special days only" - nothing wrong with that.

Personally, I can't get a BBS shave... If I try, I get such horrible razor burn that all the effort is made invalid. I'm happy with my routine DFS. Or if its a special occasion I try to get it as close as I possibly can, with as little irritation as I can. Always remember: YMMV!

Best,

-ice

 

[hipfan]

First, welcome to B&B!

Second, keep in mind the golden rule: YMMV.

If you can live with DFS, then stick to DFS. If you absolutely must have BBS, then go for BBS. If you think BBS takes a lot of time, then stay with whatever gives you the best possible results in the shortest amount of time. As you said "BBS for special days only" - nothing wrong with that.

Personally, I can't get a BBS shave... If I try, I get such horrible razor burn that all the effort is made invalid. I'm happy with my routine DFS. Or if its a special occasion I try to get it as close as I possibly can, with as little irritation as I can. Always remember: YMMV!

Best,

-ice

Ditto to all of this. Because of some seriously sensitive, ingrown-prone skin, I'm limited to DFS. Often times, I just do a 2-pass WTG shave, and I still get a nice shave with a sharp blade.

 

[elsmooth]

DFS works for me...my neck doesn't like too many repeat ATG passes, which are necessary for the hyper-smooth feel (for my face)...so for me, personally, BBS are not worth the effort/time.

 

[sodajerk]

While my beard is not too tough, I shave daily, BBS goes for 7 hours and have 5 o'clock shadow.

For me, getting BBS on my neck was all about direction. My neck hair growth swirls but, basically, my with the grain is S-N and XTG is W-E/E-W (toward the center) and I get BBS with 2 passes and touchups. If you haven't already, experiment with different stoke directions and see what happens. Good luck!

 

[Alec79]

If you can get a BBS without causing yourself major irritation, that's fine. If you can't, then just go for a comfortable and presentable shave.

 

[insomniac]

First, welcome to B&B!

Second, keep in mind the golden rule: YMMV.

If you can live with DFS, then stick to DFS. If you absolutely must have BBS, then go for BBS. If you think BBS takes a lot of time, then stay with whatever gives you the best possible results in the shortest amount of time. As you said "BBS for special days only" - nothing wrong with that.

Personally, I can't get a BBS shave... If I try, I get such horrible razor burn that all the effort is made invalid. I'm happy with my routine DFS. Or if its a special occasion I try to get it as close as I possibly can, with as little irritation as I can. Always remember: YMMV!

Best,

-ice

Agreed. Whenever I try to get a BBS, I get irritation as well.

Remember, you are still getting better shaves than 90% of the people out there, and that is a conservative estimate!

 

[michiganlover]

BBS is over-rated.

Nobody except yourself, and possibly your SO is going to know the difference between a DFS, and a BBS.

To the average person you meet on a day to day basis, your shave is acceptable if you have no visible patches of stubble, no bleeding, and no huge patches of irritation.

A SAS (Socially Acceptable Shave) satisfies these requirements, and is a step, or two below a DFS.

The average person could care less about your shave, if you don't have obvious errors that draw their attention to it.

Remember, our obsession with the perfect shave is not the norm.

 

[miamimoe]

Remember, our obsession with the perfect shave is not the norm.

First, thanks to all for the input-it is appreciated. Next, as regards the above quote, could not have said it better. That is why I have elected to go with DFS as my standard, and leave BBS as a "treat" for the days and times that I can really afford the luxury of a loooooong shave. I know that I can be a little on the OCD side, so that is why I was looking to hear from others. With a DFS I feel good enough, and get a shave that will keep me looking neat and presentable for a good 8-9 hours, and that is more than enough day to day, plus I am still really enjoying the whole experience without losing my mind about it.

 

[JPDyson]

I've got my 15 minute routine down; 2.5 passes, DFS (directionally BBS, but if I rub ATG, I feel stubble in a few predictable spots). If I want a true BBS, it's a 30 minute affair (requiring more careful beginning passes, and very careful final passes, plus touch-up), and can easily lead to some irritation on my lower neck and my jawline near my chin. Most days, I go for the former. If I do attain BBS, I almost never shave the next day.

Note: that's about 4 months into wet shaving, and only about 3 months hanging out around here - with a brief foray into straight razor shaving (that dramatically improved my DE technique).

 

[moonshine44]

BBS is over-rated.

Nobody except yourself, and possibly your SO is going to know the difference between a DFS, and a BBS.

To the average person you meet on a day to day basis, your shave is acceptable if you have no visible patches of stubble, no bleeding, and no huge patches of irritation.

A SAS (Socially Acceptable Shave) satisfies these requirements, and is a step, or two below a DFS.

The average person could care less about your shave, if you don't have obvious errors that draw their attention to it.

Remember, our obsession with the perfect shave is not the norm.

Couldn't have said it better. If BBS is literally a pain, why bother? DFS lets me do it all over again tomorrow...

 

[Seraphim]

I don't care that to other people my face looks the same DFS or BBS, what I enjoy is the feel of that BBS smooth skin as I rub my chin pensively pondering some weighty earth-changing matter during the morning meeting!




BTW- I did only go for a DFS today to give the skin a slight reprive....tommorrow is the full 3 pass shave!

 

[DavidP]

As everyone above has said do what works best for you. Shaving certainly isn't a competition, over time you'll figure out what makes you happy.

 

[ateace]

Of course, this is all personal choice.

I have learned that a comfortable and presentable shave is more important than a close, BBS shave.

Many of my closest, awesomely smooth shaves left me looking like I needed medical attention.

On the flipside, many of my best looking shaves were not so smooth to the touch.

 

[proxymoron]

Avoid faceturbation and you'll be fine.

 

[a_bit_crafty]

I agree with the personal choice. I like bbs for my legs, but that's legs, not face. My hubby prefers DFS to BBS because to him BBS is slightly uncomfortable.

 

[Go West Young Man]

Shaving isn't either/or - there's a continuum of constantly improving shave quality that you can achieve, the question is where on that arc you feel like stopping. Some days better, some days worse.

 

[DoctorTattoo]

Of course, this is all personal choice.

I have learned that a comfortable and presentable shave is more important than a close, BBS shave.

Many of my closest, awesomely smooth shaves left me looking like I needed medical attention.

On the flipside, many of my best looking shaves were not so smooth to the touch.

I'm sure I couldn't have said this better! I need to be presentable for work, but sight difference between DFS and BBS can't really be seen.

Shawn

 

[mbrossar]

I'm on the do what's best for you side and don't worry about what everyone else prefers. I would add a couple of observations.

1. Don't forget, none of us are playing on the same field. Everyone's beard is different, so some people might attain BBS quite easily while others can't achieve it at all.
2. Also keep in mind that this is an internet forum and there is no single reference point for the definition of BBS. Yes, we know conceptually what it is, but my money's on everyone having a slightly different definition in reality. I suspect that those who say they get BBS every time either have light beards that grow in one direction or they are a little more forgiving in their definition of BBS. For me, my definition of BBS is very strict. Any detection of stubble in any direction fails the test. While I can get every part of my face to this definition at one point or another, I rarely get my whole face there on any given day. It's just not worth it, although I get pretty darn close.
3. Penultimately, this is a skill. The more you do it, the better you will get. Even if you are "settling" for DFS (in quotes because IMO, DFS is still a great shave), your DFSs are likely to get better over time.
4. Lastly, IMO, there's always something better. For me, my favorite shave is a straight, but more often than not, it's too much of a PITA. This is probably partially because I'm still perfecting the many skills required for a great straight shave. None the less, for me, it's a DE shave for the most part and when I want to treat myself, its a straight. Careful, you might find yourself on this path one day too.

Hope this helps.

 

[palmettoking]

Sorry to interject, but what does DFS stand for?