The Noobie Dilemma; closeness or comfort?

**Mad Man** · 10-27-2011, 01:38 AM

Was discussing today with some veteran wet shavers at work and the topic of closeness versus comfort came up.

Because noobs are still learning (your humble narrator included) our skill and technique usually sends us down one of two paths...

1. Get excited by really close - trying to get BBS every day and then dealing with "hot face" and pain.

Or

2. Satisfied with a comfortable shave without irritation but not BBS.

Which are you?

I've settled on comfort

**GreekGuy** · 10-27-2011, 01:53 AM

I think getting a comfortable shave is more important when starting out than trying to get a BBS shave. While I always try to get a BBS shave thats comfortable, I can tell when my face needs to recover and just go for a comfortable shave instead. If my face is burning and irritated, it doesn't really matter how smooth it is (IMO)

**Oscroft** · 10-27-2011, 02:03 AM

Start with comfort - closeness will come naturally as your technique improves.

**neo71665** · 10-27-2011, 02:05 AM

Always go for comfort, bbs comes with time. Its a fine edge on how far you can push it before you butcher your face up. With every shave you can get closer and closer. At one point you will go over but you just have to know how much to back off and stay there.

**Samec87** · 10-27-2011, 04:01 AM

I have had to re-learn this, because all of my shaving life I shave until my face is completely smooth. Anything less than BBS has always driven me crazy (i know, i''m a fanatic). But now i have to force myself to quit when i know i'm starting yo overdo it. I hope this makes sense.

**Mad Man** · 10-27-2011, 06:08 AM

Yep. Makes sense samec.

**neverender2113** · 10-27-2011, 06:22 AM

A closer shave isn't worth the risk of irritation and cuts. I'd take a comfortable SAS over BBS with redness anyday.

**deruitem** · 10-27-2011, 07:03 AM

+1

**Go West Young Man** · 10-27-2011, 08:24 AM

Comfort all the way.

**saliavin** · 10-27-2011, 08:28 AM

I always go for comfort on the face. But after 2 passes, and it is looking like almost BBS, I go for it. I usually don't have any penalties this way.

On the head, I always go for BBS. The head must be tougher than my face, I rarely get any burn on the head. Gotta keep a silky smooth dome for the LOTH!

**KM-instructor** · 10-27-2011, 10:23 AM

Comfort

**Lobwedge** · 10-27-2011, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by Oscroft

Start with comfort - closeness will come naturally as your technique improves.

Agreed. Definitely comfort first for me! Why pay potentially a high price for closeness while you're learning.

**Gissy** · 10-27-2011, 11:26 AM

I have found out that my razors are the difference here. If I use my Mühle R89 I geta comfortable nice shave, with my Rocket it's closer but also more razorburn.

**elsmooth** · 10-27-2011, 11:28 AM

Comfort always. Primary reason for me is that a comfortable shave one day will give me the opportunity to shave the next day! An ultra close BBS attempt will usually leave me with a face that begs for a day off...

**ackvil** · 10-27-2011, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by Oscroft

Start with comfort - closeness will come naturally as your technique improves.

+1.

**Banjoman** · 10-27-2011, 03:18 PM

Comfort for sure. Closeness will come with time.

**DOLLARBILL** · 10-27-2011, 04:00 PM

Comfort and Closeness is intertwined for me !
Enjoy Your Shave !

**dpmtherrien** · 10-27-2011, 04:05 PM

Count me in on the comfort. The closeness will come as technique improves, so don't try to rush it, its not worth the nicks, cuts, and irritation.

**tclayton** · 10-27-2011, 08:29 PM

Comfort. Being itchy (and bleeding if you're new like me) is never worth it.

**anxiolytic** · 10-28-2011, 03:15 AM

I am pretty bad at this. I have been going for about a month now and keep pushing it a bit too far and getting irritation. So annoying to rinse off and feel a patch of stubble! Will try backing off to just 1 or 2 WTG and 1 or 2 XTG.