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Ok, this is a poll for everyone with sensitive skin; how often can you shave without irritation (not how often do you)? I find myself shaving every 3 days (thick but slow growing beard), but I wish I could shave every 1-2. I was curious who experiences the same problems, or is it just me?
I used to think I had sensitive skin until I started traditional wet shaving. now I can shave daily without irritation or problem.
I have a very thick beard and sensitive skin so i can only shave every other day
I think everyone thinks *their* skin is sensitive, especially younger guys whose skin hasn't suffered the ravages of the years. Sensitive skin issues often have to do with poor technique or using the wrong products. And honestly, I think some people who are wet shaving with DE razors probably shouldn't be. If you haven't gotten it figured out in a month of shaves, you might be ahead to use carts or a good electric.
I have fair English/Nordic skin and shave daily with no issues to speak of past the occasional ingrown.
Every 3 days
I tend shave 3-4 times a week, but if I prep correctly and be carefully follow technique I can shave everyday without irritation
Mostly everyday. I know some may get tired of this but good technique does wonders even when sensitive skin is an issue. The key is often lather hydration.
Al raz.
I am retired and most often can shave every other day, often less frequently.
But when I DO have to shave every day I just back off on how particular I am on buffing down the tough areas. I really don't think it matters or is even really noticeable to others, and this saves me some irritation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Island Dreamer
So what do you mean by "some people shouldn't be DE shaving"? What people? Why? I work outside for a living, my skin is pretty weathered, and all of the above shaving methods bring irritation to some degree.
Bingo!Quote:
Originally Posted by Alraz
Geat, keep em coming!
Every day, but only to SAS level. Pretty much one pass only, with maybe a little clean-up if needed. I used to be every other day MAX. Since making the move to wet shaving, I look forward to shaving and using different products so much that I recently started the every day SAS. It works perfectly, since the irritation was almost always caused by chasing BBS.
I voted for "every day," but typically I'll shave about six days per week. One pass only. Back in my cartridge and canned goo days, it was less often.
Most "performance" and other problems can be traced to poor lather hydration. Most people leave their lather overly dry.
Al raz.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gegarrenton
I don't know what you're doing, or what your social requirements call for, but I'm going to guess by the 2 1/2 day mark you're looking a might scruffy. If you can only shave every three days, you need to explore a Plan B. Lo and behold, I have a recommendation :w00t:!Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty1
Get yourself an inexpensive user-grade old Gillette tech, preferably a triangle slot fat handle model. Use a decent sharp and smooth blade like Astra, and try shaving every 1 1/2 days. One pass, with the grain only. You should be able to get a socially acceptable shave with a little familiarity of the routine. Sunday night, Tuesday morning, Wednesday night, Friday morning, Saturday night...
If your face can't handle that, I would have to think other issues are at play. If you build your lather on your face, try tilting your head back and just building all your lather on your neck from chin to collarbone. Then use the gentler paintbrush strokes on your face once the lather is built.
The tech is a forgiving razor, and quite mild compared to some of the masochistic cutlery out there. But in the right hands, it's a very good shaver. Remember, one pass. With the grain. You'll most certainly look better than your current routine of shaving every three days. And the tech is "self-regulating", meaning if you work within its inherent boundaries, it won't irritate your face. Good luck.
People who can't develop the basic skills necessary to deal with a double edged razor. After beginning the learning process, I think if you can't get the basic technique of creating a good lather and developing the light pressure required after, say, 30 shaves, maybe a person is ahead using more forgiving cartridges or using an electric. Traditional DE and straight razor shaving isn't for everybody, especially those who continually deal with irritation. Everyone can have a bad day but some guys seem to have bad days everyday. I'm not in anyway suggesting *you* are this person or should quit shaving traditionally, just making a general observation that this type of shaving isn't for everyone which is why so very few men do it. Sites like this and the other forums make DE/straight razor shaving seem like everyone's doing it when, in fact, most are not. Most guys shave with electrics and carts are far more popular for the next group than what we do.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty1
You're correct that any form of shaving can bring irritation to some degree but shaving with an electric probably offers the least amount of irritation for most guys (but so-so shaves at best) whereas shaving with a DE (or straight) likely offers the highest *potential* for irritation, especially for those who insist on the BBS shave and make one or more ATG passes. I would guess more than half of irritation issues are caused by ATG shaving and poor lathers vs. simply having "sensitive" skin.
In your initial post you stated you wished you could shave more than every three days but your slow growing, heavy beard combined with your sensitive skin was preventing it. I would guess you're either not prepping well, not using the right soap/cream for your needs, too much pressure, wrong razor, wrong blade, or some multiple of these. Once you get it all correct, you *should* be able to shave to a DFS level daily should you so desire.
You sounded like you were offended by my first response to you when I stated that not everyone can do this successfully even after some experience and effort to learn. No offense was meant and others, like Alraz, have pointed out some things to double check (like technique and lather hydration). I think it's often the wrong razor with the wrong blade for a lot of guys. Me? I'll take the mild razors using blades 2-4 times at MOST. Do some more experimenting and see how things work and maybe avoid (assuming you're doing them) ATG passes.
I wish I could shave every day just because I enjoy it so much but my skin just won't allow it. Luckily, with my work, I can get away with every other day.
I have a variety of skin issues. I gave up on my chin area a year or two ago and sport a goatee because absolutely nothing could shave my facial hair there without irritation, but the rest of my face gets two wtg passes each day with generally very little irritation.
I disagree with Island Dreamer. I think anybody can use a DE razor. It's all a matter of learning proper technique and attention to the details. There was a time in our past when safety razors were the only choice a man had and shaving every day was expected. Every man *had* to learn how to use a DE or suffer for it. But that's the key, isn't it? DE shaving is a learned skill. It isn't intuitive at all.
I used to think I had extremely sensititive skin until I learned proper shaving technique. I still get some irritation when I use a little too much pressure (it's a VERY fine line) but I have developed shaving habits that greatly reduces, and even eliminates, irritation so I am able to get a near-BBS shave every day.
practice makes perfect! de shaving for me luckily came naturally and there was no learning curve what so ever, electrics for me cause the worst irritation, then cartridge shaving less, and than de shaving, way less! I wish I could shave every day now that I enjoy it so much, but seems every three days for me works great! it used to be once a week but I cant wait that long anymore, too much fun! for me the longer it gets more irritation, the shorter the better, but some facial hair is nice for protection working outside, so 3 is the magic number for sure!
I have shaved 6 - 7 days a week for effectively my adult life. 99% of the time 7 days a week. I will occasionally skip a day or two if I have severe razor bumps. I haven't gotten that since switching to safety razor shaving. I would try to get a week out of the cartridges and toward the end of the week it would give me bumps and burns. I would have to take a day off. Since switching to safety razors I haven't had much in the way of burn past day 2. Day one... I started with my Fat Boy on 9. Not the best idea.
I had wet shaved with cartridges since high school. Used canned goop till I was 19. I'll be 45 soon. I have gone two winters with a beard but eventually I get sick of it and shave it off. I have started a beard and gotten a couple weeks in three or four more times and could not stand it. Now that I can shave with less irritation consistently (since I switched off Gillette Fusion's) I can shave daily. Safety Razors have plugged me back into the ritual of the routine.
The key is, if one *can learn*. Not everyone can. Nor can everyone learn to pilot an aircraft, drive a race car, learn calculus, and so on. My point was that if you've spent time trying to learn, whether online or from a relative or friend, and are continuing to have unsolvable issues (like being able to shave daily if needed) after a certain period of time then maybe you should try something else. Dual blades were created from demand for an easier way to shave than DE just as DE shaving was created from the need for an easier shave than with a straight.Quote:
Originally Posted by IronHammer
And again, I'm not talking about the OP but the whole issue in general.
Every 3 days, my job doesn't require me to be clean shaven every day
I'd call my skin sensitive based on the number of rashes I get and the frequency in which I have skin issues due to applying something topically. With that said, I can shave every day without problems. Sometimes my brother might comment right after my shave that my face looks raw, but it feels fine and looks normal again within 10 minutes. I haven't tried, but I would imagine I can shave twice a day without problems.
What really starts to irritate my face is doing multiple passes. I do three passes because I like shaving, and having a smooth face in all directions makes me happy. Often times after lathering up for my third pass, my face will start to sting a bit. It isn't my technique because there isn't any sting when I apply an alum block. It happens with almost all my soaps. So I bet my face would be happy with just 1-2 passes.
I try to shave every other day to minimize the occurrence of ingrown hairs. I used to think I had sensitive skin but, after five years of DE shaving, I now think that my skin has 'toughened up' enough to handle at least a one pass shave every day. Unfortunately my curly beard hairs still make ingrowns a problem. I doubt that technique is the issue here, but rather, it is a matter of aftercare and I can't let too much time pass between shaves or the new growth will wreak havoc.
I can and do shave two times per day. In the morning when I rise, and when I get back from work before supper.
In the morning I use a Yuma razor with Astra or Shark blades. In the evening I use a GEM Feather Weight with CVS blades. Morning shave is a three pass shave, evening is simply a one pass ATG shave.
Pre-shave and Post-shave is always done. Skipping these steps is not a good idea for me, and proper lather hydration is also a must.
I have sensative skin when it comes to lotions and creams, but I have no issues with shaving two times per day. I believe it is because I have learned proper technique and proper skin care. The only soap I seem to have issues with is Arko stick, but I believe it is more a hydration issue and I am working on that one. Only time will tell.
This is my observation for me. When I used carts, I could only shave every other day. I knew nothing about proper pre and post shave, and the 'one size fits all' razors also added to the problem - not to mention canned goop!
Hope this helps!
Regards,
Paul
I would say it is not a skill issue with me, my shaves would be inconsistant to say the least. Besides, its DE shaving, not heart surgery. I work with my hands for a living, pretty sure it's not that. Besides, I can wear a turtleneck sweater and get ingrown hairs.