I'm sure everybody has experienced this. Sometimes for unknown reasons a shave seems to keep the stubble down for a lot longer than a typical shave. And the shave that lasted real long, felt just as smooth & close as any other nice shave. I've heard this can be razor or blade dependent. Anybody isolate some variables that seem to make a close shave last all day? Thanks.
Long Lasting Shave Secret?
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I've been experimenting with cold shaves the past few days, and I seem to be getting longer lasting shaves. However I don't think my technique is good enough yet to get very close shaves, even though things are getting better and better - I don't really try to go against the grain for example. I suppose you'd notice if all of a sudden you were using cold water, but perhaps you can have some temperature differences from time to time without paying too much attention?
Main thing I have noticed is that even the best blades will not be perfect through an entire pack of 100. Add that to the fact that lather will not be perfect every time, beard growth may be longer some times than others, and technique will vary somewhat. Crazy how little things make a big difference.
I too would have to think that how long a shave lasts has to do with several factors that come together for that "perfect" shave. Now trying to pin down just what those things are is another matter. Prep, blade, razor, and technique for sure play an important part, but trying to get everything together each and every time seems to be almost impossible to do every shave. I guess one just has to accept the fact that a great, long lasting shave is a bit on the rare side. A great shave is another matter, and is much easier to obtain then how long it'll last.
Somebody around here actually once wrote that use of slants stop the beard from growing faster and making the shave last longer. I'm sure they improve our sex lives too...!
Assuming a BBS shave, I can't imagine shaving technique or equipment has anything to do with it.
Variability in the growth rate of the beard--variance of a millimeter or less over 5-10 hours--is likely the phenomenon you're referring to. I do not know what variables explain a significant percentage of variance associated with growth, but seasonality, climate, health, exposure to sunlight, and age have been posited, as have adequate intake of proteins, fats, Vitamins B and C, interactions of various medications and reduced levels of stress.
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It could be any number of things really...maybe you prepped better, used a better angle, the blade had a better edge to it, who knows? I'm experiencing a really good one right now that may last until tomorrow evening. After playing tennis for almost 2 hours in 90 degree humid heat, I came home and showered, prepped well and really took my time making a great lather. Followed that with very careful skin stretching and blade angle the whole time. Maybe the attention to detail was what did it? Maybe it was the pre-shave workout and extra moisture on my face? I don't know, but it was fantastic and I'm still faceturbating this evening. 
Same here, BBS with no effort one day, takes forever the next, microstubble reappears 3 hours, or7 hours, no reason for the difference. Time, humidity, blade, temp, frame of mind seem to have zero to do with it.
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Shave after a workout is always the best for me. I think what was mentioned above has something to do with it.
At the risk of sounding simplistic, it seems to me the closer and smoother the shave the longer it will last for a given 24 hour period.
I can isolate mine: R41
Three letters. BBS.
I agree, although I believe people are saying not all BBS' are equal. In other words some believe that a particular blade or their technique on a given day will slow the growth of their beard so the shave lasts longer. To me that's untenable.
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- #13
That's my point exactly. Two shaves can booth look and feel perfect, bbs, but one of them seems to stay smooth much longer. Who knows, maybe it's just some unrelated physiological thing going on.
Proper skin stretching should leave the hair cut off at skin level when you are done. If you stretch harder you can cause the hair to stick out more and you can cut the hair off a surprising amount below skin level if you are cutting ATG. It's a significantly higher risk for ingrown hair though.
You can also try Conditioner on your beard in your shave regimen. It will soften the hair that does grow so your face still feels soft.
You can also try Conditioner on your beard in your shave regimen. It will soften the hair that does grow so your face still feels soft.
Sometimes your hair just grows faster than other time, I think. I cut my fingernails and toenails about the same length every time. I don't go for DKC (Declawed Kitten Close) nails, but take them down pretty close. Sometimes I need to cut them again in a week, other times they are fine for two or more weeks.
While I'm guessing the previous shave can influence when you will need to shave again, I think there are other independent factors at work, too.
While I'm guessing the previous shave can influence when you will need to shave again, I think there are other independent factors at work, too.
+ 1 on beard growth , if too short than not so long lasting , if too long then BBS for sure but with skin irritation ( at least for me)
Shaving Nirvana is not needing to shave as often or is that the other way round ? 
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