Tried Shaving at Night - Mixed Results - And Going to Try a New Razor

So after 3 - 4 weeks of working consistently with a straight, I tried shaving last night to avoid the "rush" in the morning. I enjoyed the experience because I was able to take my time and focus on my problem areas (primarily the jawline), and I felt like a got a pretty good shave. It wasn't as good as I get with my DE razor, but it was acceptable. This morning, though, I could see a few areas where I didn't get close enough last night and the whiskers already were growing out, and I was concerned about how it would look during the day. I wear a suit to work on most days, and I think it's important to not have "missed areas" on my shave. So I did one pass with the DE in 5 minutes and all was good.

I'll probably continue to shave with a straight in the evenings during the week when I have the time, and use my DE in the mornings if I didn't have time to shave the night before or I feel that the shave needs "cleaned up." Have others experienced similar results?

On an unrelated note, last night I also continued to experience what feels like an unusual amount of tugging and pulling on my first pass with the straight (even though I had shaved with the DE that morning). I know that my technique is still improving, but I'm wondering if I also dulled my razor when first learning how to strop. So I ordered a Dovo Best Quality from SRD this morning to see if it's the razor, or me, or both. This is admittedly a somewhat expensive way of resolving the issue, but it's bothering me to think that I may be doing things right (finally), and I'm still experiencing difficulty because I've dulled the razor. And at least I'll have a second razor to fall back on. I'll know the answer to my question fairly soon, but has anyone else ever tried this approach?

Yes. That's exactly why I bought my second razor. The subsequent 10 were just for fun.

And 3-4 weeks for a new straight shaver is more than enough time to dull the blade. Most of us attack at weird angles and are just generally hard on an edge when we start (just a generalization. Definitely not a knock on your technique). It's probably likely that the razor could use a touch-up.

Once I figured out that my razor was a problem, my subsequent purchases were all honing equipment (strops and pastes, and a Norton 4k/8k stone). You can start exploring that realm too, or just send the blade off to be rehoned if it does indeed turn out to be the culprit.

As for the night-time shaving, I've been getting closer and better shaves in the evenings, and have found basically what you desribed to be exactly true for myself. I prefer it better. I like being awake and relaxed. It's a very good bookend for my day (usually lie in bed and read for an hour or so after shaving each night before sleep). Keep at it, I personally think that a proficient straight razor shave is good for at least 18 hours, which should get you through a workday with an evening time shave.

DISCLAIMER: I'm a military officer, so I hold my facial hair to a high standard of smoothness and appearance, and this technique works for me. When I was on the cartridges, I had to shave in the morning, otherwise I was an obvious no-go.

Thanks for the feedback vmathis! That makes me feel better about both the purchase and the evening shaving plans.

I do a lot of my straight shaving at night too. You already mentioned a few possible reasons for the left over growth your seeing in the morning; I feel lighting could also play a small part in this, usually much brighter in my bathroom during the day. Also I run my fingers over the entire face after my straight shave, this picks up rough spots that get missed in the mirror & allows me to correct them immediately.

I shave both my head and face, so there's rarely time for both in the mornings. So my regiment is to shave my face at night, head in the morning (my head hair seems to grow back in faster, whereas my face stays BBS all day).
I don't have a straight yet, but with my Parker DE I get my face BBS each evening. Then I shave my head in the morning. In the instances I find a missed spot on my face, I usually touch up after my head shave.

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Originally Posted by DCB2

Thanks for the feedback vmathis! That makes me feel better about both the purchase and the evening shaving plans.

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You got it pal. That's what we're here for! Makes me feel good to be able to offer up my own experiences. God knows no one deserves the kind of shaves I started out with. I thought I could do it all on my own without reading anything. I was wrong. That's why I'm here.

I do all of my Str8 shaving (head and face) in the evening after dinner, it's my end of the day routine (plus I can take all the time needed). After I'm done I relax with a nice Scotch, and browse SRP.

Just remember when deciding to buy a new razor "It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission" :argue:

I'm an evening shaver too. Stubble by morning isn't uncommon; my beard seems to grow fairly quickly, so after a nice smooth shave at 9:00 pm I can feel some stubble by 7:00 am when I go to work. But in reality I'm sure no one else notices during the day. It's one of those obsessive things that's probably worse in your own mind.

When I started shaving with a SR last year I also used a DE for touch ups, since I was not getting a close shave in all areas. That was always shaving during the morning. Nowadays I barely use the DE for touchups; I only need it for the chin area, but I've been practicing getting a good shave in that area with a SR. Small steps will get you there.

I typically shave during the morning, but I've tried evening/night shaves, and still do them on rare occasions. My hair grows quickly, so I end up with stubble the next morning after the shave. The stubble grows and gets more noticeable during the work day.

I shave at night also. After much practice with my straights, my 5oclock shadow shows up at 7pm the next day. I love my straights!