I can only get BBS with 2 days growth

[Johnny J]

A poll was taken around here & most people reported that their shaves were better with 2 days growth than 1 (more hair length for the edge to grab onto or some such thing, was the working hypothesis). Well, in my case, the shaves are MUCH better with 2 days growth, or at least 1.5 days. So much so that I'm considering only shaving every other day. I just can't get it BBS if I shave every day. Anybody else have this problem & a possible solution to try? Maybe hair conditioner on my face? PS: My blade is sharp enough that arm hairs fall in half with no sensation of popping.

[joke1176]

I have the same "problem". I think it's more a function of your skin being a bit rough the 1st 24 hours after a shave.

Even if you have the smooooothest shave ever, you are still abrading your epidermis as you run the razor over it.
That gets you a slight inflammatory response, which makes your capillaries a bit leaky, which slightly increases interstitial fluid levels, aka edema.
That gives your face-meats a bit more...hilly...topography to run a razor over. Hence the not-so-smooth shave.

Typically an irritation reaction like that, assuming it's only a single event of irritation, takes 12-48 hours to return to normal, depending on the severity of the reaction.

That being said, a little time investment and skin stretching can pretty much negate that. It just takes more effort.

[Johnny J]

Update: I tried 20 strokes on the linen + 50 on leather, as Glen does before every shave & has been urging me to try. It does seem to help. Not quite BBS but much better than without the linen.

Let me clarify: the linen is unnecessary & makes no difference if I have 2 days growth to work with, but if I have only 1 day growth, it seems to help. My theory is that it helps by smoothing the edge, but I'm just guessing.

I wonder if the linen would be able to burnish the harshness off a freshly honed edge. Puffah, whose advice has been excellent so far, says that linen is a restorer of the edge & you should not need to use pastes or linen on a freshly honed edge. Nonetheless I am going to try it. Many here have complained about the harshness of their edges right off the hone, and I have to touch my edges up frequently due to barbed wire beard.

[RichZ]

I also have found that I get better shaves with a few days growth on my face. Not sure why.

[claytor]

For me, I get a closer shave and also less irritation if I let my beard get longer. Usually if I try to shave everyday I get irritation/slight blemishes on the bottom part of my neck. I don't think it's the fault of the razor because it used to happen a while back when I used a fresh cartridge razor. I've always tried to figure out a way around this (so I could shave everyday but haven't succeeded yet.

[nickyspaghetti]

In my opinion shaving a few days growth off is much more enjoyable too. I can't say why but generally it is more comfortable and smoother. Maybe it is because there is much less chance of the razor managing to skip over any hairs that lie flat?

[mischievous]

For myself a straight razor shave is almost too close. I've learned how to get very good results but I'm almost afraid to use a straight if I have to shave several days consecutively because I will get irritation and in-grown hairs.

I don't have the luxury of skipping a day.

My challenge is dialing back the closeness to be able to go several days in a row.

[Jimbo]

I agree with the irritation hypothesis. A wise man once said "A good shave lasts all day. A bad shave lasts all week."

Mild abrasion can take a day or two to heal. And if you have sensitive skin it can be an issue too, I think.

James.

[xman]

Count me amongst the many. I sometimes wit a third day just to feel all the glorious pleasure a good straight shave delivers.

X

[alex2363]

you have to let the razor rest one day affter shaving anyway, dont you? i read that somewhere in here that the razor has to be rested after one shave, atleast 24 hrs.