Question on rough patches

Can a good lather "hide" minor rough patches?

I have an average beard-type and typically do a 3-pass shave with a clean-up pass. Most of the time, the shaves are very close/very comfortable/BBS...whatever you want to call it. But lately I've noticed that as I'm rinsing off the leftover lather, I find these minor patches of stubble. Granted, it's nothing anyone would ever notice, but I still feel it. The thing is, I don't feel it when I'm doing the 3rd pass or the clean-up pass. Is the lather hiding the patch or is it something else entirely?

I'd recommend going in different directions on those spots. My guess is that hair there does not go in the same direction their neighbors do.

I'd recommend going in different directions on those spots. My guess is that hair there does not go in the same direction their neighbors do.

+1

This would also be my suggestion as you have been shaving for quite some time, now, and I would imagine that you have a good understanding of your beard growth, so I am not sure what could be the issue.
Best of luck.

Could your third pass lather be too thick & protective?
The last pass lather should be thin enough that you can kinda see your skin.

This is one of the reasons I prefer to face lather-the lather automatically thins out on successive passes. With a bowl, it doesn't thin out enough.
I add a few drops of water from a dripping tap to my brush between passes.

I think I know hat you are saying. That feeling your face before rinsing off it feels baby smooth only to reveal roughness after all the slickness is rinsed away? Been there. What I do is add water to my face/lather so by the time I get to the third pass my lather is much thinner than my first pass BUT my slickness has increased with each pass. That reveals the spots needing touch-up. As stated I solve my odd spots by changing directions or skin stretching. Works for me.

Thanks Try em all and Lipripper660 ...I'm sure that was the problem. I've always bowl-lathered and my third pass is somewhat thinner than the first pass but never to the point of kind of being able to see skin. Yesterday, I rinsed off after my clean-up pass to once again feel one area of "roughness". I took a little lather from the bowl and smeared it over the area. That thin layer sounds like what you're describing. I did a quick touch-up on that area and was able to get the area nice and close.

I hate to admit it, but I didn't realize the 3rd pass lather should be much thinner than the 1st and 2nd lathers. But very thankful you guys brought it up!

Not sure others need to thin it down but that is what works for me.