Thread: Nmber of Days

In an informal study conducted unscientifically on one face (that would be my own)... I notice that with 100% accuracy, the shaves I get removing a 2 or 3 day beard (can't go longer due to work and domestic restrictions), are infinitely more comfortable than a shave every day kind of shave. I can keep all controllable variables the same but shaving after after 2 or 3 days of not shaving is a rebirth, and shaving every day is a barely enjoyable red hot patooty. The smoothness results are indistinguishable but the burn levels of alum and alcohol based after shaves are noticably more scream inducing, an unmanly sound that conflicts with my gunfighter persona of using the straight. Any thoughts on this gentlemen? Thanks

P.S. Can't edit Post Title

Sounds to me like your face needs an extra day or two to heal itself. Since we remove part of the top layer of the ol' epidermis each time we shave, your skin needs to and will regenerate itself. Giving an extra day or two between shaves gives it time to do just that. Since the skin is healed after waiting you'll feel the burn of alum or aftershave less.

It's the same reason why it's recommended to wait until razor burn is completely healed before shaving again.

Now, if you're not getting razor burn, it's possible you can train your skin to shave every day if you do it for a period of time... it's quite amazing how adaptive and resilient the human body is.

No real idea, as I shave every day and have no real problems, normally, with razor burn. Individuals are different so results vary I am sure.

Bob

My only thought is that if you only need to shave every few days, and if you shave every day it is uncomfortable, then shave every few days.
Is the razor burn a technique or equipment issue, or neither?

Just guessing at this point, maybe I need to eliminate that 9th pass.

Originally Posted by edhewitt

My only thought is that if you only need to shave every few days, and if you shave every day it is uncomfortable, then shave every few days.
Is the razor burn a technique or equipment issue, or neither?

I would guess it's a technique thing. You should be able to shave every day with no problem unless you are one of those extremely rare individuals with truly finicky skin. Shaving with a 2 day or + beard is well known to result in a better shave or maybe I should say easier shave and even if you do irritate your skin you have more time for repair.

This has come up in the past too, so you are not alone here...

Myself I am a SR shaver first and foremost for the comfort to my face, I cannot use any other type of shaver more than twice a week... So I would say do whatever you face says is best, if it gets better later then you know it was an issue with some part of your technique or you face got tougher

I think this is the optimal topic on which, YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary) applies. I have never had sensitive skin, except when I started shaving 50 or so years ago with a Gillette safety razor and their "blue" blades. Since about 5 years after that, I have never had an issue unless I used a shaving soap that my skin didn't seem to like (which I have recently), or shaved 3 or 4 times in 24 hours, because of a special event, like a wedding. You'll find what works for you after some experimentation. Once you do, stick with it!

In the early days of returning to straight razor shaving I had similar observations, as time passed and my technique improved it was no longer so. I think that I could also add as my edges got better...

I have to say thebigspendur, that since your avatar changed, your posts have for me become more inscrutable.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I would guess it's a technique thing. You should be able to shave every day with no problem unless you are one of those extremely rare individuals with truly finicky skin. Shaving with a 2 day or + beard is well known to result in a better shave or maybe I should say easier shave and even if you do irritate your skin you have more time for repair.