Thread: Shaving every day?

The important thing to remember is pain=damage so you need to figure out what the technique issue is. Maybe a shave every 3 days allows you to fudge a little however when it becomes every day you have no fudge factor there so your technique has to be perfect.

What would you guys recommend in the following situation. If I make several passes over an area, chin or neck especially, and it is not as smooth as I want it, how should I go about getting that area to optimal smoothness. Like Lynn said, I dont want to be making too many passes over any given area, but I also sometimes need to get that closer shave, and I really dont want to have to go over areas with a cartridge. Any temporary solutions until my skill level is high enough that I dont have to worry about making a ton of passes over one area?

Don't be afraid of cleaning up or finishing your shaves with the cartridge while you are learning.
Personally I find that I can get away with multiple passes if going lightly and carefully each pass.
While I most often end up doing 3-4 passes, I'm quite presentable after the second pass really.

For my troublesome areas I shorten my stroke and do 1 inch forward half inch back (to draw lather back over the area) and just work up or down the area depending on your growth pattern.

Hope you find something that works for you! I couldnt stand not being able to shave everyday, but you do need to go at your own skin's pace.

Originally Posted by alb1981

For my troublesome areas I shorten my stroke and do 1 inch forward half inch back (to draw lather back over the area) and just work up or down the area depending on your growth pattern.

Hope you find something that works for you! I couldnt stand not being able to shave everyday, but you do need to go at your own skin's pace.

The back and forth pattern that draws lather back onto the skin has proven to be really helpful to me as well. Is that an acceptable stroke to make part of my daily shave or is that just a beginners technique? I just dont see it very often in videos. (Buffing, I think it is called? someone correct me)

Originally Posted by asj1991

The back and forth pattern that draws lather back onto the skin has proven to be really helpful to me as well. Is that an acceptable stroke to make part of my daily shave or is that just a beginners technique? I just dont see it very often in videos. (Buffing, I think it is called? someone correct me)

Yes, that's called blade buffing, and be VERY CAREFUL when doing it. It's considered an advanced technique, and the potential for cuts and irritation is high. But yes, when you have it nailed down buffing does work very well.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Yes, that's called blade buffing, and be VERY CAREFUL when doing it. It's considered an advanced technique, and the potential for cuts and irritation is high. But yes, when you have it nailed down buffing does work very well.

Interesting. It came very naturally for me and turned out to be one of the most enjoyable parts of my shave. It really was comfortable once I got the motion down. Is blade buffing always ATG or can you also do it WTG?

I shave with a straight everyday and have yet to get razor burn. Because I love using both straights and DE razors, I often do WTG and XTG with a straight and ATG with a double edge safety razor. I am particularly careful on the neck area in terms of using the lightest possible touch.

To keep my technique developing, I do complete shaves with a straight two or three times a week.

Just take it slow and learn to use as little pressure as possible. It also helps to start with the blade on the face and just lift the spine until you find the correct angle for cutting through your beard.

Good Luck and Happy Shaving.

Originally Posted by asj1991

Interesting. It came very naturally for me and turned out to be one of the most enjoyable parts of my shave. It really was comfortable once I got the motion down. Is blade buffing always ATG or can you also do it WTG?

For some it will be natural, to others, well (to quote the movie title) there will be blood. If it's working well for you by all means keep at it. You can try buffing WTG and XTG, but for the most part it is saved for ATG passes.

Getting that out of the way....

I'm going to take a stance contrary to the opinions in this thread to say that not everybody can shave every day. Yes, many (if not the majority of) guys can get away with daily shaving, but many can not as well. I know because I'm one of them, cursed with soft/fine facial skin but with coarse dark whiskers. I've been doing this long enough to know that it isn't technique or prep or shaving soap selection etc etc. It also took many years of painful shaves to break myself out of the mindset that your skin will get "conditioned"; you can try it for awhile, but believe me if it ain't happening, it ain't happening. If you have sensitive skin you may just have to take a break and shave every other day, as it just isn't worth the grief.

Either way, good luck

Another excellent point Ryan.

For me, it was unbearable to shave with a cartridge razor every day. Just too painful and my neck, especially, would go all red and puffy. Things got even worse when I tried an electric and I just resigned myself to never having a a comfortable shave every day. I did not even think of trying a DE for some reason and went directly to a straight razor.

The point I'm making is that everyone is a little different and we all react differently to different types of razors. Its really not worth the aggravation, irritation and even possible bad cuts to force a daily shave if you find that you're not suited to it. Unfortunately, the only way to really find out is trying it after you have your technique, pre-shave and post-shave routine at the point where you know they are not to blame for any irritation.

I've been lucky in that I picked up on technique quickly for some reason and I'm improving my pre and post-shave routine week by week, which makes things even more comfortable. I'm convinced that those things contribute just as much as a good sharp razor does to a comfortable shave.