Maybe a reason why 3+ days growth shaves are the best for me.

[atison]

Was thinking while shaving the other night (I know, bad idea) about the reasons why I get my closest, easiest, most irritation free shaves on 3 days or greater of growth. Now, I have done every prep routine known to man which focused on hydrating the hair to make it easier to cut. A little difference was noticed with quality prep, but not enough to make any 2 day or less shave feel like a 3+ day shave in the ease that the blade cuts the hair (not just how the blade feels on the skin). There is still something else going on there.

I have heard that the difference lies in giving your skin time to heal between shaves, leaving less of a shield against the harshness of the blade. But what I notice isn't as much of a skin irritation issue as it is of how difficult it is to cut the whiskers.

My conclusion came to me the other night that it could be the fact that 3+ days growth gives the hair more time to have been bent back and forth in its follicle. Me rubbing my hand on my beard, sleeping on a pillow, drying my face off, etc. All of these things work the hair back and forth weakening the shaft. When it comes time to shave it off it is much weaker than a newly protruding shaft that has not been worked back and forth.

Not sure if I am right, or if I am, not sure what to do with it. One thought would be to incorporate some minute amount of depilatory agent to weaken the shaft more. I know using nair to remove facial hair is disasturous, but a tiny amount to simply weaken the hair might give that day 3 shave I know to be the best.

Oh, and by no means do I plan to experiment with this idea. Just throwing the thought out there.

 

[rajagra]

I've had similar thoughts. Hairs that have been growing for days are easily flexed at the base due to leverage. So during prep, maybe they get fractured low down, opening the cuticles and letting water flow in to the hair core, right at the spot where softening is needed.
Shaving products are already designed to weaken the hair, though perhaps less aggressively than they may have done in the past.

 

[celestino]

Wow, that is a long time to wait between shave, but YMMV. Enjoy the shaves.

 

[sychodelix]

I generally shave about once every 2 days. Honestly, my shaves are getting so close that someone doesn't even notice for about 2 days anyway. It gives my sensitive skin ample time to heal, and because of the slightly longer stubble, I get more effective and comfortable shaves.

 

[atison]

I only need to shave every other day as well, especially since switching to wetshaving and a DE. Combine that with an alternating schedule of working from home and going into the office and 3 days is common.

 

[Big_OC]

I shave almost every day now that I have started using Proraso Pre/Post Shave cream. I've been getting really good BBS shaves. The shaves come out the same for me whether I wait one day or three.