Thread: Why I stopped shaving, and why you might want to as well

Originally Posted by Theseus

A dermatologist told me that unless you get really dirty every day, you should only shower 3 days a week and wash your hair only once a week. He told me that if I absolutely had to shower every day, only use soap the three days a week, otherwise just water. Washing the oils off your skin every day can cause an over production of the natural oils in your skin and can cause serious skin problems.

To each their own. I work amongst the public, in public places. I'm not going to bed dirty.

Originally Posted by Havachat45

My beard doesn't grow fast enough to shave every day
I do enjoy removing a few days growth, though - it just feels 'right' somehow

Lucky for you.

I shave 4-5 times a week. I work 9 days every 2 weeks. On the 5 day week, I shave on Thursday evening and then on Sunday afternoon. On the the 4 day week I shave on Wednesday evening and then on Sunday. If there is a reason, I'll shave on the weekend. I was told to give my face a break from a razor by a Barber years ago. Seems Sunday, after the few days off, I get a great shave also.

Originally Posted by Mvcrash

To each their own. I work amongst the public, in public places. I'm not going to bed dirty.

I never said I followed the advice.

I used to shave every day without fail. I don't "have to" for work or anything. A one or even a two day beard growth is not frowned upon at the tattoo shop. I just felt compelled to shave daily. Lately I skip a day here and there because I'm running late. I've found it is a good thing for my skin to do an every other day shave. I still pretty much shave daily but will skip a day once and awhile and not feel like I've missed something.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I used to shave every day without fail. I don't "have to" for work or anything. A one or even a two day beard growth is not frowned upon at the tattoo shop. I just felt compelled to shave daily. Lately I skip a day here and there because I'm running late. I've found it is a good thing for my skin to do an every other day shave. I still pretty much shave daily but will skip a day once and awhile and not feel like I've missed something.

Honestly, I am at the point right now where I love shaving every day and make myself get up early to do it. I am sure it is a break-in period as I have only been straight shaving for a few months, but honestly I love the feeling right now of getting up in the morning a half hour early and starting with a hot shower and a "REAL Shave!" Wet-shaving is such a phenomenal hobby. Shaving was a chore done as quickly as possible with marginal results.

Originally Posted by Theseus

A dermatologist told me that unless you get really dirty every day, you should only shower 3 days a week and wash your hair only once a week. He told me that if I absolutely had to shower every day, only use soap the three days a week, otherwise just water. Washing the oils off your skin every day can cause an over production of the natural oils in your skin and can cause serious skin problems.

Sorry, I need to ask: which country was he/she originally from?
: "During one of his campaigns, Napoleon sent a letter to his beloved wife: "Dear Josephine," it reads. "I will be arriving home in three days. Don't bathe..."

Originally Posted by Johnus

Sorry, I need to ask: which country was he/she originally from?

He was one of those rare American born doctors/specialists.

Originally Posted by StillHand

I'll preface this by saying that I've only been shaving with a gorgeous little olivewood dovo for about three months. I've had a lot of fun playing with the variables- soaps, creams, aftershaves, oils, glycerin. But the one variable that is guarunteeing me a shave as smooth as polished Appalachian granite is-


Not shaving.


That's right. Skipping a day, two, or even three. Letting them whiskers grow, the skin regenerate. Letting SWMBO complain a little about the scratchiness. And after a day or two of growth, stropping that bad boy up and letting her slice through that beard like the Rebs did at Bull Run. Not the be all and end all of shaving improvements, and some of us have to shave every day (having to do something seems to take the fun out of it), but for those other newbs looking for something to give them a little extra kick of confidence, give it a day or two of rest.

Come back refreshed, and ready to get it done right. You've got the rest of your life to master it, after all, however long that may be. May you shave long enough to be able to stop.

What I do if I must shave daily and my face is tender is use a DE or SE razor in between straight shaves. They are easier on my face, although the whiskers grow back quicker.

The reason I got into traditional "retro" shaving in the first place is because my face couldn't take today's multiblade razors. I would skip weekends and even then, starting Tuesday, my face felt chapped. Knowing what I know now, I think the lack of protection from the canned foam and the build up of the canned gel on the razor had a lot to do with it. Plus, on multiblade razors I think one blade cuts the whisker and the others do a sandpaper job on your face.

I believe I have posted this once before. However, for those of you who didn't say it and get a little chafed from shaving every day there is a product called cutimol which is a cream that doctors recommend for psoriasis, however it can be ordered without prescription is a little expensive. However, the smallest dab on each finger will cover your whole face and its healing properties are amazing. I tried it in Mexico after my friend gave me some when I was badly sunburned. I did not appeal at all until I stopped using it. It truly is an amazing product I would recommend it highly to anybody that gets any type of irritation from shaving.

Works for me.

Since picking up straights, I am addicted to shaving and look forward to it but I agree with OP, the shave is better and smoother when I have 3-4 days growth, so thats how long I usually wait in between shaves.