What's Best For 36-48 Hour Growth?

[Walter Sobchak]

I somewhat regularly, depending on how hectic life gets, will skip a morning shave (instead opting for an evening shave), or even go a full day between shaves.

Right now I have two Techs (an aluminum and a fatty), and I like them both very much. However, when I go more than 36 hours between shaves, I need at least 4-5 passes to get an acceptable shave. Maybe it's a technique thing, or maybe it's just that the Techs aren't suited for the extra growth. I don't necessarily mind doing so many passes, but it can be a bit hard on my sensitive neck...which will make me skip the next day's shave, which feeds the cycle of extended intervals between shaves.

Could some of you fine shave-pals give me input on what razor(s) would be good for the days when I'm shaving heavy growth? I have sideburns and usually a goatee, so I've been thinking about some kind of open comb (I think I read that they're nice for edging). But also in play here, I'm guessing, might be a Slant or an Adjustable.

I know the easy answer here will be 'don't skip days', or 'get up earlier and make time to shave'. Fact is, although I love my daily shave, children, work, and sleep, on any given day can trump shave time, and that's not going to change any time soon.

 

[Boba Fett]

Well, anything could be good for taking care of extra growth. I tend not to shave on the weekends, but am still managing to take care of that extra two days growth. Although I will start shaving on the weekends now.

I guess my point is that anything could work; it is mostly a matter of what you use, and how you use it. What blades are you using? Maybe a sharper blade would give you a close shave with fewer passes, leaving the neck smooth and unirritated. A razor with a heavier heard might do the same thing, but one too many passes might cause irritation.

One thing I have noticed in my month and a half of wet shaving is that experimentation is the only way to see if something works for you. Good luck with your efforts.

 

[don.putnick]

I have tough growth, and I routinely shave every 36-48 hours. What works for me is a Fatboy adjustable set on 4 with a 7 o'clock yellow blade. I can do it in 3 passes (WTG, XTG, ATG) with minimal finishing. I also use olive oil on each pass instead of shaving cream/soap.

Try the olive oil and a 7 o'clock yellow or a Feather in your Tech and see if that helps.

 

[scottish steve]

I'm not trying to get you hooked on "shaving-heroin" or anything, but a str8 goes thru any amount of stubble like butter. If I've got 3 or 4 days growth from being camping or something, I get out a straight, even if only to do one WTG pass. It makes a huge, satisfying difference. Alternatively, you're probably looking for something with a wider gap, like a Slim, Fatboy or other adjustable that you can dial up and down. It all depends on how coarse and/or long your stubble is, but a Tech is quite a mild DE; great, but mild.

 

[Nils]

I only own two razors, a HD and a Slant, so I can't compare to the Tech. But: the Slant takes care of a two or three-day-growth as if it were a daily shave with the HD. Three passes to BBS.

 

[erudolph]

For just that problem, this morning I used a no-datecode SuperSpeed and an Astra blade. 2 passes, chin buffing, DFS.

That said, I'd think the relative mildness of the Tech is going to require extra work when you have that much beard. In the Tech, I like a Feather, to counteract the small gap.

 

[BullGoose]

Either a slant or an open comb (Old or New) will take care of that extra growth without a problem.

 

[gone down south]

I alternate between a fathandled Tech (usually with a Feather) and a Merkur HD (7 O'clocks or Bics). The Tech is nice on one day's worth of growth or when my skin is banged up, but useless if I skip a day and have 48 hours+ of stubble. The Merkur can be a bit much for every day use (which I presume is because my technique is still evolving) but is a champ at mowing down the heavier beards.

 

[soapbox]

I echo the value of an open-comb when shaving a few day's growth. However, my HD or Slant does a good job on multi day growth when I pair it with a fresh, extra sharp Feather or KAI.

 

[rabidpotatochip]

I somewhat regularly, depending on how hectic life gets, will skip a morning shave (instead opting for an evening shave), or even go a full day between shaves.

Right now I have two Techs (an aluminum and a fatty), and I like them both very much. However, when I go more than 36 hours between shaves, I need at least 4-5 passes to get an acceptable shave. Maybe it's a technique thing, or maybe it's just that the Techs aren't suited for the extra growth. I don't necessarily mind doing so many passes, but it can be a bit hard on my sensitive neck...which will make me skip the next day's shave, which feeds the cycle of extended intervals between shaves.

Could some of you fine shave-pals give me input on what razor(s) would be good for the days when I'm shaving heavy growth? I have sideburns and usually a goatee, so I've been thinking about some kind of open comb (I think I read that they're nice for edging). But also in play here, I'm guessing, might be a Slant or an Adjustable.

I know the easy answer here will be 'don't skip days', or 'get up earlier and make time to shave'. Fact is, although I love my daily shave, children, work, and sleep, on any given day can trump shave time, and that's not going to change any time soon.

I enjoyed reading that part, mainly because I feel the same way.

My trick for longer than usual growth is to work a bit of conditioner into the beard in the shower. It softens the hair making things much more comfortable.

 

[MrGuy]

Sounds like a good time to try a SE. Pretty easy to find, not too expensive, you might even like it!
It might take a couple of shaves to get the right angle for you, but well worth the time.

 

[Walter Sobchak]

Excellent. Thanks for the tips. I do use the conditioner trick and it helps for sure. I'm going to hold off on a SE until I have mastered the DE. I think I'm going to keep a lookout for an open-comb New. Seems like the adjustables and slants are in such high demand right now, I'd be better off looking for a New.

Right now I am using Crystals in the Techs, but I'm still sampling blades. I've tried Dorco-300s, Derby Extras, just started with the Crystals, then I have a single Red IP to try, and a box of Astra SP which I'm looking forward to.