Thread: This is my last question for today...

...and it's a simple one (I hope).

When shaving, is it bad to go over a part that's already been shaved and hence has no lather?

If you mean one stroke after another, I do that all the time. If I am coming back to an area that I have shaved earlier sometimes I will but usually I'll stick my finger in the bowl and get some lather and just put a bit on that spot. I've also heard of guys using water but I haven't tried that. Lather is there and easy.

It's fine, as long as it's not causing you irritation.

There are basic techniques that we know work. A couple of hundred years of experience combined with some healthy experimentation amongst various chaps on the forums & there's a huge amount of knowledge on the subject.
If however, you do something, & it really works for you, keep doing it. Just don't forget to share.

You may notice that straight razor shaving tends to dry out your skin more than M3/ cartridge razors. It can be OK to go over the same spot a bunch of times with a cartridge, but I wouldn't recommend it with a straight.

Like Jimmy previously mentioned, going over the same spot a couple times in quick succession shouldn't be a problem. But I would re apply lather if you've let it dry out (mere seconds on my skin).

If I give an area a touch up after already shaving it, I generally give it one swipe with the brush first. It still has lather in it, as I don't wash it out until I'm completely done.

Personaly, I have found it depends on pressure used.
If my razor is properly whet hardley any pressure is required and I can make multiple passes free from irritation. The delicate acid mantle that protects the skin is easliy removed with excess pressure, again expreimentation is needed with your routine and variables.

I do lots of blade buffing during my shaves. Scroll down to the bottom to check it out: Shaving passes - Straight Razor Place Wiki

I do it every time I shave, and pretty much everywhere that I do shave. In my opinion this is an essential part of the one pass natural shave.

I often just use water if I've missed a bit. The thing to avoid is overshaving an area which can lead to irritation. I find that sometimes a second pass with lukewarm water leaves less irritation than warm lather.

I can do it as long as I do it soon after I've removed the lather with the first pass. IE: the buffing motion. If I don't do it soon after my first pass, it dries out.