answer:Let’s put it this way- if you got a perfect shave, how long would it be before your beard grew to where you would notice it? I have used a brush and soap for years (since the 70s) and find that I can get an ideal shave with quality soap, hot hot water, and a fresh bade. But if I use a blade that is more than about five days old, or the water is not quite hot enough, or I use a lesser grade of soap, I don’t get as close a shave.