Thread: Are you shaving too often?

I find I do get a smoother shave when I skip a day inbetween shaves but I believe it has more to do with the skin having plenty of time to heal than it does with the length of hair.

If I take my time and concentrate on the shave (watch the pressure and angle) I can shave just about every day without anything more than minor irritation. If I do mess up then I just skip a day or two and then I'm back in the groove again.

Keep at it and always remember that the goal is a comfortable shave.

Charlie

With a DE I needed to shave everyday. With a straight, I can go longer without a shave. I still still shave once a day, eventhough I can go longer. Because I enjoy shaving with a SR.

No more "5 O'clock shadows"

When I was cartridge shaving my shaves were rubbish. I just could not be bothered shaving and as you say it was like brushing my teeth, something you had to do but just another timewasting chore.

I had to shave every day when I was cartridge shaving as my shaves were so bad, meaning very quick, patches missed, whiskers still under my nose, looking pretty shabby as just a rushed job always, could not be bothered.

Now that I am straight razor shaving and actually enjoying shaving, mixing up a lather, stropping, my shaves are vastly improved and I make sure I always finish with as best to BBS as I can get.

Now I do not have to shave everyday as my shaves are that close it practically takes 24hours for the whiskers to protrude from my skin.

I leave my whiskers to grow even a little more now so I can get a real sense for shaving and I can actually see and feel the whiskers eradicated from my face.

This results in less skin irritation as shaving less often but with way better results.

Originally Posted by klingenmeister

I find for me, I get a better shave with less irritation and easier shaving if I shave every other day or longer.

Whatever floats your boat. If you find that you get the best shaves by shaving every other day, I would go that route.

yea, this is one of those cases where everyone is right because you have to find your own way.

I used to shave every day though I really need to every day and a half so these days I shave with a straight every other day and time to time shave on the off day with a DE. I find I get better straight shaves that way. They're closer and more comfortable.

Thin skin may need a pre shave oil of some sort to give you more lubricity. I also wonder if the blade may not be as sharp as needed and you are using too much pressure.

I also have a medium light beard and while I *like* to shave daily (it's fun, dammit) my own experience it that a day off is sometimes a good thing, especially if I got cocky on my previous shave and screwed up somehow (usually making multiple ATG passes).

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Thin skin may need a pre shave oil of some sort to give you more lubricity. I also wonder if the blade may not be as sharp as needed and you are using too much pressure.

I think I'm good on both, there isn't much effort required to shave the hair and after a bad case of razor burn about a week ago i've let off the pressure. I've only got about 12 shaves under my belt so I thing my skin is still adjusting to it. I can shave everyday but i feel like both my skin is more healed and the longer hair shaves easier (especially on my chin due to its geometry). At 2 days without shaving I have a 5 o'clock shadow. I really enjoy shaving again so I stopped trying for bbs so I can shave every other day. If I go bbs I'm good for 3 days.

I think this is valuable tip for newcomers like myself not to over do it....

I have a shave and the next one is two or three days later. My skin needs at least a day rest. Due to my strong beard growth I have the right amount of hair after that period to make the shaving easier and going better.

I've been a daily shaver for most of my shaving life and old habits die hard. As has been said prior to wet shaving it was a daily chore, but since (especially with a straight) it's an indispensable time to relax, and pamper myself. I totally look forward to my daily shave and even though a bit of stubble makes a great shave even greater, I seldom seem to miss days. Once in a blue moon however, I will take a day off usually a Saturday or Sunday, every 5 or 6 months.