I feel disappointed every time I go for BBS

[hotrodheat]

as stated. every time I want a BBS I need to go ATG. my problem is I get too many small nicks, razor burns and irritation. I've got a very thick beard. my skin is very smooth. I started going ATG 1-2 months ago. and before that time I never went AGT.

even with no pressure. tugging isn't good news. I feel that my skin is pulled every time I go ATG.

with good lathering. then going WTG re-lather and XTG, I never nick myself. I can have a nice clean shave. but when I go ATG. that is when the disaster starts. especially in my chin and neck(the area exactly below the chin)

I need some advice. I cannot tell what is my favorite razor. since I have like +15, and going to 20, I have astra sp 100 pack. I can say the most frequent razors I use are the fatboy, slim, and lord 1823 head+ edwin jagger DE89 handle.

I know what works for you may not work for me. but any tips might help. and thank you

 

[FunnyHoney]

I find using a mild razor helps eliminate razor burns going atg. When I first started out, I was using 34c and was going atg. Even though I got very close and smooth shaves, razor burns were too much. So I got hold of gillette tech and everything was fine. I always go atg and don't have the irritation.

 

[Ron Scott]

This is personal. I cannot use FunnyHoney's approach because "mild" razors--that expose relatively little blade--are far worse for me. I can get BBS from any razor but will get uniformly irritation-free BBS' with razors exposing more blade (what some here now call "aggressive").

Maybe we can all agree to take that last pass slowly and with no pressure.

I might also suggest not rotating razors while you're trying for a good BBS. Rotation makes it hard to find out what works and what doesn't. Maybe stick with the 89 for a couple of weeks?

 

[VerbaVolant]

...that is when the disaster starts. especially in my chin and neck(the area exactly below the chin)

I need some advice...

If your lather is indeed "good" , a fresh blade and a mild/medium aggressive razor then you can try to release trapped hair in the neck/chin area with the help of a facial scrub. See this study:


Insights into shaving and its impact on skin

Good luck and don't give up.
BBS is overrated anyway. For me, DFS stands for Daily Fine Shave.

 

[Bentley72]

don't go for a BBS shave. The goal should be close and comfortable

 

[will_i_ockham]

don't go for a BBS shave. The goal should be close and comfortable

+1
Don't stress the bbs. Stay focused on technique and getting as good a shave as you can.

 

[-dave-]

That's right, if you focus on bobs you'll make a mess, dont think about it nd just go for comfort and you'll often be surprised with the results

 

[OzoneAz]

don't go for a BBS shave. The goal should be close and comfortable

+1

These are some wise words. Once you have achieved a comfortable and smooth shave, everything else will follow.

 

[Wingnut]

BBS: perhaps the most over-rated concept in all of wet-shaving--siren song for new guys, which leads them onto the rocks of razor burn and irritation when their ambitions inevitably outstrip their technique.

Give me a COMFORTABLE shave over BBS (with irritation) any day...

Knowing when to walk away from a great shave might be the hardest lesson for new wet-shavers to learn.

 

[hotrodheat]

I read it all. so your typical facial scrub can improve the release of trapped hair, fig11 shows it. but which brand? and I have never used any pre shave. some said olive oil is good.


and thank you for this awesome info!

 

[hotrodheat]

I read this before shaving today. and used my new merkur slant 37c for the firsttime. wow this razor is so damn smooth. and I felt it just cuts everything easily. so it is both aggressive and smooth

unfortunately. it bites even with no pressure. but you don't feel it. I achieved a BBS faster with lesser effort.

I must be fair and square. so at least I need to try all my razors first to know which one suits me best.
I feel that the edwin jagger's head is just too mild for me. but I do believe it is well built and will last a life time. I use the lord's 1823 head with the 89 handle. I used this combo for a long time when I only had these 2.

I don't know, I think I will try to stick with one for 2 weeks. but after I have tried all my razors. since some of them I just used them once. so this won't take much time. I will try to narrow it down to 3 razors.

 

[VerbaVolant]

I read it all. so your typical facial scrub can improve the release of trapped hair, fig11 shows it. but which brand? and I have never used any pre shave. some said olive oil is good.


and thank you for this awesome info!

The only product I ever used is The Real Shaving Co. Daily Facial Scrub
I would recommend reading the Ingredients List prior to use it on your skin. I like it very much and I am now using the third tube but once this is gone I will find a different product.

I am sure that any facial scrub would work, especially the ones formulated for men. I use this scrub the night before shave, two or three times a week. I could try to use it as a pre-shave treatment since I noticed it leaves skin very slick and well hydrated. Hmmmm, I will try this tomorrow.

As to the pre-shave treatment, I did try grape oil, jojoba oil and lanolin. I will stick with the basic, so no more oils for me. The only pre-shave treatment I use, if I have to, is when I shave first and do not shower in the morning. If that happens I will then wash my face with soap, rinse and keep beard wet for two minutes. I always imagined that face washing would clean the hairs of natural skin oils so water can better penetrate stubble, helping with the proper hydration.
See this study re. hydration: Observations on the Cutting of Beard Hair

Take everything I said with a grain of salt since I am far from being an "expert"

Good luck and most importantly, enjoy your shaves.

 

[Chadao]

+1

don't go for a BBS shave. The goal should be close and comfortable

 

[BRITD]

I feel disappointed every time I go for BBS

The thread title is more of a statement than a question. I must be a underachiever because I have little interest in a BBS shave. It seems that any good advice on BBS shaves is falling on deaf ears so all I have to say is, good luck with your quest.

 

[gus1942]

We have these threads about once a week. Certainly there is nothing wrong with a smooth comfortable shave, but I WOULD FEEL DISAPPOINTED IF I DIDN'T GET BBS EVERYDAY.

 

[ajmanouk]

I rarely go ATG...it just does not seem to work for me. WTG XTG XTG gives me a DFS in most spots and a CCS in some.

 

[evperry]

I get BBS every time I shave. I wont shave unless I have the time to get BBS shave. To me this is the holy grail of shaving. Im at this over 6 months and I have dialed in a BBS in about 20 mins flat. I only shave 2-3 times a week and NEVER 2 days in a row. I use merkur futur on a 3 with Astra. I realized that with an adjustable you can play around with the setting and for me that works perfect to get that nice smooth comfortable BBS shave. My sister in law touched my face and immediately asked how I get my face so smooth, that in and of itself was work the effort it took to learn my technique. Also a good ATG will get my 48 hours easy of not having to shave again. Anything else I would have to ht it every day.

Pre shave Oil, Face lather, WTG, XTG and the light ATG. I found that my ATG was not south to north, it was on a diagonal going towards my eyes when on my cheeks but IS south to north near my side burns. That face mapping they talk of on this website is very important.

I also NEVER reuse blades as I found that this minimizes the cut and nicks to like none when going ATG.

Lastly, light ATG means light ATG.

Its possible and not hard to achieve.

 

[Chaloney]

I use neutrogena face scrub while I shower. It works well. Makes a noticable difference in how closely I can comfortably shave, especially my neck. I have used Clinique face scrub in the past. It is marginally better--more and finer grit, but much more expensive and less readily available. I also got a sample of a product called liquid sand at nordstoms a few weeks ago. Double the cost of Clinique iirc and only a little better than neutrogena.

I've used pre shave oil in the past. Didn't notice a difference when I stopped now that I'm using good shaving soaps. With lousy non-lathering creams and a fusion it made a difference. Now it doesn't.

After I shower I make my lather, lather my face and let it sit while I get everything else ready and strop (I use a straight). Then I rub in the lather and rinse it off (I use the face scrub in the shower), then re lather and shave.

I agree with the other posts--I try to get a close shave, but comfort is the priority. I'm relatively new (about 1 1/2 months) so technique is good but still being refined. No Pressure and keeping from going over and over the same area without lather seem to be the keys for me as far as avoiding razor burn.

 

[hotrodheat]

FINALLY A BBS WITH MUCH LESS DRAMA. I USED A FACIAL CLEANSER AND USED A NEW SHAVING SOAP CALLED PRORASO ULTRA SENSITIVE. IT WORKED. I HAD MUCH FEWER NICKS AND NO IRRITATION OR RAZOR BURNS

THANKS MAN