Thread: Shaving every day?

Hey all, quick question about the frequency of shaving with a straight. I am now at the point where I am comfortable shaving my entire face with the straight, and have been doing so for a week now. I have been letting my beard get a little longer than when I was using cartridges, about three days between shaves. I would like to start shaving everyday as I did with the cartridges, as my work requires that I be cleanly shaved each day and I have been pushing it for the last week. I dont grow much hair each day but it is noticeable. Is there going to be increased irritation if I shave daily with the straight with not that much stubble? I take pretty good care of my skin in general but want to avoid bumps and irritation, it is a big part of why I started with the straight.

Thanks in advance!

You will, with enough practice, most likely be able to shave every day.
Not knowing your skin type and shaving technique, I would advice you to maybe try every other day first, and then, if that turns out ok, try to go every day. Take your time though, you do not want to go to fast with the transition.
Allow your skin time to adapt.

It took me quite a few weeks to be able to myself, but I suppose it is an individual thing really.
Nowadays I shave every single day, weekends included

Prior to wet shaving if I shaved more often than every 3 days my face looked like sausage. Once switching to wetshaving and a DE I was able to shave pretty much every day, skipping one occasionally if I got too aggressive. However since going purely to straights I can go every day without major issue at all. It's awesome.

Light touch, watch the angles, and concentrate on your beard pattern and you'll get smooth as butter results.

Charlie

Allow your skin time to adapt.

Does the skin need to adapt to the transition of switching to straight from cartridge?

Originally Posted by asj1991

Does the skin need to adapt to the transition of switching to straight from cartridge?

It's more that it will take some time for you to learn how to shave in a skin friendly way

Originally Posted by asj1991

Does the skin need to adapt to the transition of switching to straight from cartridge?

Yes, IMO it does.

Straights shave closer. The cartridge thingy that holds the blade will actually position the blade slightly above the level of the skin. Your straight lies on the skin and if you are less experienced it will dig into your skin, causing minute grazes, or larger grazes and cuts if you apply too much pressure.

Kees,

I think you've got this exactly right.

I shave every day and it did not take me long to realize that 2 passes (first one WTG, second one XTG) with virtually no pressure on the skin gives me an extremely close shave with no irritation at all so that the next morning I'm perfectly fine to shave again. Cartridge razors do require more pressure and IMO that's what causes irritation.

So, to answer the OP's question, yes, you can absolutely shave every day (at least I can) as long as you follow what to me has become the cardinal rule...NO PRESSURE WITH THE BLADE AGAINST THE SKIN. A little judicious skin stretching is all it takes for me.

Thanks guys makes a lot of sense. I think that Kees response is a good thing for people to read who are making the transition from cartridge to straight. I think that the problem areas for me, such as my neck and chin, are where I bury the razor into my skin, causing the very little irritation I do have. My cheeks and jaw are smooth with no irritation, so I think it is safe to say my skin type can handle everyday shaving as my experience and skill levels progress.

I can only reinforce what has been said. The major causes of irritation normally are too much pressure and too many passes. You should have no trouble with every day shaving taking this into consideration.

Have fun.