Shaving Daily Expectations and Realities

Daily shaving is something I did much more recently but find "my" skin hasn't shown comfort in the process. I usually will use a mild but efficient cutting razor and put in something very sharp but smooth edged which is a Kai de blade for me. I then perform a multi pass shave, against the grain of my beard, then more aggressive across the grain and then other direction (more mild) across the grain as a final third pass. Some areas do get "touch ups" but easily a 3+ pass shave.The post shave comfort and level of consistency across stubble is much easier to get and more pleasant in the process when I have 3-5 days beard.

I plan to experiment with using more aggressive (Muhle r41 2013 with Kai and BBS-1 w/ Voskhod) razors instead of the mild razor (RR Mj90 with Kai) and shave first daily shave with one against the grain pass, but only that and leave it. The hope would be for more use in the facial products daily but some control and consistency of comfort I can get from a shave. If the skin still doesn't react favorably or noticeably better, then I can choose to just shave less frequently each week.

Can you gentlemen share experience with choosing to shave more or less frequently compared to your previous routine.

Shaving has always been either a daily (sometimes more than once) or not at all for ages experience. I've never been a fan of "aggressive" razors and have always used what many call mild but I just find efficient. Usually it is a two pass and touchup PDG+ near perfect shave except when I am learning a new razor, doing stupid stuff like using 70 year old blades in a near 100 year old razor or following "Here, hold my beer..."

Fortunately for me, I am able to shave daily, both face and head, without any issues, but I it did take me a few years to learn the concept of light/gentle touch or not applying too much pressure. Initially, because of my dark and coarse beard, I was always using a bit too much pressure as I could feel and see my whiskers after my third pass, so I performed touch-ups to try to reduce them. However, it always left me with irritation in some areas, and I learned that allowing the skin to 'settle' after my three passes with touch-ups, using light pressure, resulted in very good and close shaves. I have never been able to get completely BBS, as it is not possible with my beard and facial features and I don't see the need any longer as my shaves are extremely close and very presentable.
The thing that helped me the most was finding a more 'aggressive/efficient' razor to help me achieve this. The majority of the razors I had used were either a tad mild or overly aggressive, for me to achieve these results, or for some reason, they just did not do well with my skin. They were just not as comfortable as the two that I use now. Fortunately, the Weber DLCs and the Blackbird SBs have been my favourite razors, with the latter being more efficient and my preferred shaver, for now.
Also, I have used, probably, most of the DEs and SEs available, from the mildest (Feather AS-D1) to the most aggressive (R41 2011) and the majority of SEs, and for me, the two I have mentioned work the best for me.
The other thing that has been a true elixir has been unrefined shea butter, which always soothes my skin, especially, if I have any irritation, no matter how severe it may be, and I am able to shave, the next day.

Good luck, Zac.

I shave every day, and select the razor and blade combination to suit. I looked at online reviews and then chose my razors - first a Merkur 34C, and then an Edwin Jagger DE89 and Gillette Slim. As for blades, I tried a bunch of different ones, wrote down my observations for each, and thereafter used blades that worked best. In short, I chose my shaving gear to fit my shaving frequency rather than the other way around.

Zac, PM sent.

I usually shave 4–6 times a week. I like very efficient razors, the Blackbird being my current favorite.

My most enjoyable shaves are the ones after skipping a day. Those always feel like I can “do no wrong,” whereas with daily shaves I need to pay a little more attention, so as to not irritate the skin.

I shave 6 days a week, 2 passes with touch up or 3 passes. Shaving is a very important ritual for me. Overtime, I have realized the key to comfortable daily shaving is to stay away from alcohol after shaves, using soaps and or after shaves which excel at keeping my face moisturized without feeling greasy (which can be uncomfortable in itself). Most importantly, using razors and blades that don't require much buffing to achieve super close shave.

I shave 6 days a week, 2 passes with touch up or 3 passes. Shaving is a very important ritual for me. Overtime, I have realized the key to comfortable daily shaving is to stay away from alcohol after shaves, using soaps and or after shaves which excel at keeping my face moisturized without feeling greasy (which can be uncomfortable in itself). Most importantly, using razors and blades that don't require much buffing to achieve super close shave.

You know, I shave everyday except either Saturday or Sunday and usually always use an alcohol based splash after some Thayer's witch hazel. I have pretty dry skin to begin with, but I've never really had a problem, even during winter, up until about last week. Even after using my best soaps I would get a dry post shave feel. I realized I need to start exploring some alcohol free options, but I don't like using balms that much. I have used Chatillon Lux toners before and liked those. What aftershaves do you like to use? Any suggestions?

I shave 6 days a week, 2 passes with touch up or 3 passes. Shaving is a very important ritual for me. Overtime, I have realized the key to comfortable daily shaving is to stay away from alcohol after shaves,  using soaps and or after shaves which excel at keeping my face moisturized without feeling greasy (which can be uncomfortable in itself). Most importantly, using razors and blades that don't require much buffing to achieve super close shave.

You know, I shave everyday except either Saturday or Sunday and usually always use an alcohol based splash after some Thayer's witch hazel. I have pretty dry skin to begin with, but I've never really had a problem, even during winter, up until about last week. Even after using my best soaps I would get a dry post shave feel. I realized I need to start exploring some alcohol free options, but I don't like using balms that much. I have used Chatillon Lux toners before and liked those. What aftershaves do you like to use? Any suggestions?

Alcohol is an awesome degreaser, so just imagine what it does to skin. Every time one applies alcohol based splashes, one is basically stripping the skin of it's natural oils. Of course, this is my personal opinion, not an advice or a recommendation for anyone


http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advic...facts.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2596158/

You know, I shave everyday except either Saturday or Sunday and usually always use an alcohol based splash after some Thayer's witch hazel. I have pretty dry skin to begin with, but I've never really had a problem, even during winter, up until about last week. Even after using my best soaps I would get a dry post shave feel. I realized I need to start exploring some alcohol free options, but I don't like using balms that much. I have used Chatillon Lux toners before and liked those. What aftershaves do you like to use? Any suggestions?

I had a laugh after reading this. These are some issues we have to experience firsthand I suppose. I always used alcohol based aftershaves, and thought others who say alcohol is bad are just being... silly? That was until I started having extremely dry and itchy face.

I had similar thoughts regarding people complaining about chronic pains all the time.. until I ‘damaged’ my back.

Among the alcohol based ones, I like the B&M reserve quite a bit though, other than that Chatillon Lux toners are great as well.