Thread: Give me a Break!

So, for the first time since I started straight razor shaving in April, I did not shave! What are you fine gentlemens thoughts on giving your skin some time to recuperate? I shaved 3 passes everyday, but after while felt like my shaves, although very smooth were not as close as they could be. So I am going to give the poor old face a rest for 2-3 days and see if this makes a difference.

Well I don't know if it makes a difference, but it's very satisfying taking off 2 or 3 days growth in one go. I particularly enjoyed taking off a months growth at the end of "Movember"

If closeness is becoming an issue, you might want to re-examine your technique or possibly, your straight may be in need of a honing.

I'd also guess that the razor needs refreshed, more than your face needs a break. But who knows...Maybe you need the break. I just went 7 for 7 and only did a wtg pass today. Just wasn't feeling it.

Ther is nothing more satisfying in shaving than taking a week(or more) worth of growth off in one pass of a straight. Especially if you have a big Sheffield chopper.

The important point here is your skin should not need to recuperate from shaving. If it does something is wrong either with your razor or your technique. If your skin is irritated it's telling you it is being damaged and you need to find out why.

You should be able to shave every day for the rest of your life and have no comfort issues.

You guys are probably right in some aspects but I believe my razors are very sharp. Some are way smoother than others, but I don't believe sharpness is an issue. Technique of course can always be improved upon, and each razor varies IME as far as pressure and slight variance in angle. My skin is not irritated, so my only question was do you guys think it improves your shave after giving your face a couple days off? It always seemed before to me that if you were shaving after having grown a beard, that your first shave was very smooth and close. Guess I should have been more clear.

Agreed, Your skin shouldn't need time to recooperate. I need to shave daily, if I'm in a hurry, which is rare, I'll go for the DE. Look into your pre shave prep, The angle of your blade while your shaving, proper skin stretching, and most of all, make sure your razor is truly shave ready. To answer your question, The answer is no, It doesn't make a difference in the quality of the shave if I take a few days off.
Of course, YMMV.

After almost 2 years of wet shaving 7 days a week and missed maybe 2 days in that time, I've cut it back to 6 days a week just because I want to. I use the off day for razor maintenance and so far for the 2 weeks I've done this I'm liking it.

I shave every other day. Not for my skin (which is hyper-sensitive), not because I have to (I no longer have a REAL job), but because I can get a slightly closer shave each time. Its not a great difference, but enough that I chose to do so. I don't think it is a technique issue and its definitely not a sharpness issue.