I don't see it as settling, Jeff. I now know how to reach the results I want without producing irritation. However on different days, due to mood, wellness level or weather conditions (heat, cold, humidity) I may prefer a DFS++ or I may prefer a BBS. I make the choice each day based on how I feel. It's like eating at the dinner table - I know how to stuff myself and clean my plate each night. However, I may also sometimes want to eat less if I know I may want more dessert later in the evening, or if I am trying to lose weight. My shave - My Way.
I understand what you're saying, but I am able to get a VBBS any day with any of my select safety razors. That's not the case with the straights. I'm just addicted to that velveteen skin feeling. Love it. Fortunately my beard is heavy and requires daily shaving.
As far as I am concerned, there are different degrees of BBS. There is passing the cotton ball test and failing the cotton ball test BBS. It is very rare and close to impossible to get a cotton ball free BBS with a straight. The reason is that you can't go due east to west or west to east with the edge perpendicular to these directions on the neck. Even with a great technique, you will have invisible stragglers. Now, it takes me 15 minutes to shave and get great results that is less than BBS. Do I want to spend another 10 min to get just shy of BBS. No, because it's the law of diminished returns. Do I get BBS shaves with DE's. Yes I do. However, I prefer straightshaving because it is much more fun and cool for me. I get close enough shaves with a straight that I am quite satisfied. When I say that I have a BBS from a straight, it means my cheeks are truly BBS and my neck is visually a BBS, but there are very few invisible stragglers. For instance, my neck will feel BBS going WTG and XTG, but not ATG. In my example, as I am feeling ATG, one side might be BBS and the other side isn't because I pick up a few invisible stragglers. I don't need to pick up invisible stragglers and risk irritation or a cut. With all that said, you need to decide if a full blown almost impossible BBS from a straight or accept BBS as failing cotton ball test. That's up to you. The reason why you can get a BBS velveteen shave with a DE is because it can rotate 360 degrees from any direction to get those stragglers without any problems.
Primo's take on BBS: While everyone loves a true BBS, for me, I never chase it anymore. For the 3 (three) hours it lasts, it's simply not worth the extra effort and risk of irritation, which btw., lasts considerably longer than 3 (three) hours.
Order details Razor Head: WR2-SB Razor Head (1.05mm Blade Gap) Razor Head Finish: Polished (Basic/Textured) Handle: WRH2 (90mm (Regular) Solid) Handle Finish: Polished (Basic/Textured) Stand: No Stand Above is the confirmation of my order details. I already have a WR1 OC SS with a 0.61mm blade gap and a WR1 OC Ti with a blade gap of 0.74mm. @Boojum1 Mark and I tend to like many of the same razors. He got a WR2 with a 1.05mm blade gap. We talked on the phone and he suggested I stay with that choice for smoothness and efficiency as a daily shaver. I really did not want the mirror polish. I already worry about scratches or blemishes on the other 2. Plus I have the polished Tradere on the way at some point. It has been held up by COVID related production delays. That is the order details and my rationale for the choices. I can easily understand how people would make changes to some or all of my choices. Just writing it down again is making me start to rethink things. Turn it off Clint
Thank you Joe. I am guilty of over analyzing things. The ladies here give me a hard time when I start down that path.
I don’t currently experience pleasure in my straight shaves. That is not the case for my safety razor shaves. I'm hoping that eventually that may change, but currently That is not the case. I don’t think I’ll ever be satisfied with a straight shave if I can’t achieve a VBBS.
The point I was trying to make in response to Jeff's @jgreenepa response is that I am not "settling" for anything less than what I wanted to achieve. Some days I feel better with a DFS+, DFS++, BBS-, BBS+ or whichever term you may want to call it. I've learned my skin tolerances, grain mapping, lather consistency preference and several other factors. I have learned so much from reading everybody's posts with regard to trying different variables in the shave. I now get it right most days and I am so happy about that. I finally have a routine determined whereas I know how to achieve a great shave without irritation. I choose on that day what level I will achieve. I am not "settling" because I am incapable of achieving some certain level of uber, voluptuous, nuclear level shave. My shave designations may be different from others, and I am sure they are. It's my shave and it's my way that I've made work. Whichever level of shave that makes a person feel great that day is all that matters really. Call it by any moniker you choose.
Yes, Jeff, I recall you mentioning recently that you prefer tools over scented soaps. I am going to try to diminish some of my soap collection, then may replace or reorder a few.
