Thread: A couple days growth question

When I go a couple days without shaving, I feel like shaving is more difficult. It's not bad, not more irritating to the skin, shave quality is as good as when I shave every day (usually better because my skin has had a little break), but just more difficult...I can't put my finger on exactly why.

So, I was wondering, does having some growth magnify any flaws in one's technique? Should I let the lather sit even longer?

I'm not sure if that makes sense to anybody, but I'm just wondering if anyone else has had the same experience.

Some background:
-approximately 1 month of shaving 5-6 days a week.
-razor was purchased from SRD
-typically do one wtg pass and one atg pass.
-shave after shower and conditioning beard.
-absolutely love shaving with a straight and appreciate all the advice you all have given .


Thanks,

Ken

Typically, when I have a couple days growth, I make sure I work my suds in and let it sit for a minute. Then I use shorter strokes and minimum angle. I can clean up with a little longer strokes.

If you have any CrOx, you may want to do 10 light strokes followed by 60 on the leather to refresh your razor a little and see if that helps too.

Have fun,

Lynn

I find if I go a couple of days I get a better shave. I also find if I go a couple of days it's more a test of the razor. I have razors that will zip through a couple days growth like it was nothing and some that begin to balk. If your razors feel noticeable different when you shave a heavier growth you might want to check the sharpness of the razor.

Why would you ever skip a few days wet shaving is so much fun I don't think I could ever go a few days without a shave.

The heavier growth just makes it harder to properly hydrate the beard, make sure you use plenty of warm moist lather and let it soak for a while; and it would not hurt to wash your face before hand. Washing removes the natural oils and waxes that coat the hair and this makes it easier to hydrate. Unhydrated hair is roughly equivelent to copper wire of the same diameter. A sharp steel razor will cut it, but it will pull quite a bit.

I was leaning towards beard prep also, but wasn't sure if that was a possibility. Here's where my ignorance shines through: why does the length of the hair matter? Does the extra weight of the hair weight it down so it lays flatter or something of that nature. I don't understand why a razor's sharpness (or dullness) would manifest itself when the hair is a bit longer, but feel fine the rest of the time.

Thanks again for your replies!

Ken

Hello, KenL:

When I face a two or three day old beard, which is rare, I make sure the preparation is perfect, with the lather staying on my face longer than usual before the shave. Much in the way Lynn shaves under such circumstances, I use several short strokes and then follow with a long one. This is my usual stroke combination, anyway, but with longer stubble, I also flatten my razor a bit more than usual.

The honor always goes to the biggest razor I have, a Thiers-Issard "Dos Festonne" 6/8"-7/8" that mows every thing down. By the way, the shave always seems more comfortable under such circumstances. For one thing, the face and skin have rested. Also, the blade tends to have more hair to grab and consequently cut.

Regards,
Obie

Generally, with a blade, I've found that two days growth = improved shave. If the blade's sharp and your technique is up to scratch, look at your lathering. Since you dealt with SRP, I reckon it's the second two that need looking at. Check your angles when shaving. If its tugging, try moving the spine closer to your face. No pressure.

Originally Posted by KenL

I was leaning towards beard prep also, but wasn't sure if that was a possibility. Here's where my ignorance shines through: why does the length of the hair matter? Does the extra weight of the hair weight it down so it lays flatter or something of that nature. I don't understand why a razor's sharpness (or dullness) would manifest itself when the hair is a bit longer, but feel fine the rest of the time.

Thanks again for your replies!

Ken

As I discussed in my previous post, it is not so much about the orientation of the hair (especially with only 1-2 days growth) as with the process of hydrating the hair. Hair is normally as hard and stiff as copper wire of the same diameter, but once it absorbs water, it softens considerably. The problem is, mammalian hair evolved to be water resistant. Admittedly, some species have more waterproof hair than others, but all hair has some resistance to wetting. This is achieved by the presence of a thin film of oils and waxes on the hair. This oil is exuded at the hair base and coats the shaft, and it prevents the adsorption of water by the hair. As your hair gets longer, the oily shafts act as a raincoat protecting the lower part of the shaft. To properly hydrate the hair, the oily coating must be removed, this will allow the hair to adsorb water. It will also allow the outside of the hair shaft to become fully wetted and carry water down its length to skin. Once this occurs, the hair shaft will be softened at the point of contact with the razor.

The oil is most effectively removed using warm water and some type of emulsifier (e.g. soap). Thus, you will greatly improve the quality and comfort of your shave by washing your beard prior to lathering or by the traditional hot towel, lather, hot towel, relather sequence (which is just another way of washing your face before the final lather.

The lather itself serves to hold moisture against the hair, thus increasing the hydration and preventing drying.

Originally Posted by KenL

When I go a couple days without shaving, I feel like shaving is more difficult. It's not bad, not more irritating to the skin, shave quality is as good as when I shave every day (usually better because my skin has had a little break), but just more difficult...I can't put my finger on exactly why.

So, I was wondering, does having some growth magnify any flaws in one's technique? Should I let the lather sit even longer?
....snip....

A lot can depend on your expectations.
As Lynn indicated a good lather soak is in order.

In my opinion and experience the only thing that matters
is the bottom stumpy little bit of a whisker. To this end
splash cool water on your whiskers and rub. After
a couple days normal skin oil and stuff builds up so
add a wash and rinse to the beginning of the shave.
i.e Normal skin oil at the base of your whiskers might protect
your whisker's base from hydration.

Try this.
splash some water on your face and your soap, soak the
brush in warm water for 30 seconds.
After 30 seconds splash a little more water on your face,
shake the excess water off the brush and pick up a bit
of soap from the puck and start building a lather.
After another 30 seconds use your brush and lightly scrub
your face with half baked lather rinse with clear water
and wash off a couple days of skin oils. Face lathering
has an advantage here.

Continue building your lather. You may need to pick up
some additional soap but more often a lather only needs dribbles
of water. When the lather pulls together lather up let it rest for
at least the count of ten and shave...

If you had an egg timer running the shave begins about when the last bit of
sand would run out of a 3min timer from your first splash of water.

The first pass should be a simple systematic pass. Short
shaving strokes once over the full face. Mostly with the grain.

Next apply a small bit of lather and with a free hand feel for
missed patches. If there are any, lather those up and
tidy them up.

A third pass helps some go BBS but often has a price that you
pay tomorrow and the day after. We are all different so your shave
will tell you better than I can guess.

Rinse twice, pat dry and after 20 min if you are so
inclined apply witch hazel, an aftershave or balm.