When do you shave?

[Gene]

A comment in another thread I saw a week or so ago made me wonder. When do most people shave?

I guess there are three basic answers:

1) Before you shower.
2) After you shower.
3) In the shower.

When I started shaving in ernest in the early 1970's I always shaved before I showered. A combination of things, really, pretty sure that's how my dad did it, and I had longer hair back then and didn't want it to start drying before I could style it (ah - to be young like that again).

When I got back into wet shaving I shaved after my shower. That seems to be the basic philosophy here on the forum, and it served me quite well.

Then, a couple of ears ago I shaved in the shower one day. Time crunch or something. It seems to work fine - and I have been doing that pretty much full time.

Curious what others here in the group do.

[drmoss_ca]

Whenever I feel like it is probably the most accurate answer for me.

[pausted]

After a shower works best for me. Beard is softer I guess.

[brothers]

For me, it's a weekly routine. I take showers first thing in the morning on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Shaving routine only occurs on the other 4 days of the week. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings, followed by shave #4 about 36 hours later on Sunday evening. Then, thirty-six hours later, come Tuesday morning, shaving begins again, and on, and on, and on. . .

[fallingwickets]

im on a similar path to Gary and Chris in that shaving is done on a schedule divorced from that of showering

[Sam]

I loved shaving in the shower. Now, I mostly wear a goatee and go full beard at times. I shave about three times a week, in the morning right after a shower

[John Rose]

Back in The Olden Days, when I used disposables, it would be in the shower.

Now it's always immediately after the shower, every evening around 8-9 PM.

[EL Alamein]

I shave before my shower every morning. The exception would only be a day where I would plan to do work around the house. I'll shave first thing in the morning, dress for the work I'm doing, complete that then shower.

Before I shave I always wash my beard with soap and water as it softens the whiskers. I have tried shaving after my shower but it's not as good for me. I think my whiskers dry out before I can get lather on them and thus would need to be rewetted anyway before lathering but even that doesn't seem as good. I create my lather first in a cup, wash my face and then apply the lather to my still wet face. This works best for me.

Chris

[brothers]

About a year ago I shifted from shaving every day to 4 days a week, the days on which I don't normally take a shower. Just a few weeks ago I posted that very thing in response to the original question. Well, now it seems that I've once again changed my mind. Now I'm down to 3 shaves per week, following my shower. That means I'm only shaving after taking a shower. Not immediately afterward, but definitely after. No rush.

[Bobwhite]

In the shower with just soap. Then after I get out, I even my sideburns and clean up the rest.

[Megumy2]

Whenever I feel like it is probably the most accurate answer for me.

I agree with this one

[Leatherstockings]

I shave after showering, usually twice a week on Monday and Thursday morning. If special occasions pop up I might vary the timing to accommodate the occasion.

[nodaktim]

Years ago when I used cartridges, I tried all three, before showers, after showers and during showers. I had to skip a day or two to recover between shaves. After discovering wet shaving and this forum of fine gents, I was finallly able to shave everyday most of the time. I don't shave in the shower anymore, but usually after the shower or occasionally before showering. The shave prep is usually the same either way. As others have mentioned, the face and beard dry out again, so the shower has less of an impact and is independent of the shave.

As to the frequency of shaves, for the years I was over-the-road, maybe once or twice a week. I was home on Sunday mornings and shaved before church and tried to shave while gone, but never found a good routine. But, lately it has been every morning, except Saturday. I shaved last night and it was such a good result I don't 'need' to shave before church. But, I might just touch up anyway as I have enjoyed my shaves a lot lately.

[drmoss_ca]

Seems to me that there is less expectation that a respectable man will be clean shaven, so we adjust and shave when we want to. I enjoy my shaves, but get the best results by shaving every second day. Straight razors like a bit of stubble to work with and shave closer when there is a little beard.
So there are two aims to achieve: enjoy your shave, and look presentable in your dealings with the world. Relaxation of the latter maximises the former for me.

Chris

[CMur12]

I've found that shaves with a safety razor go better skipping a day, too.

I don't have heavy growth, so skipping a day isn't noticeable in the shadow of my beard.

- Murray

[brothers]

. . . . Now I'm down to 3 shaves per week, following my shower. That means I'm only shaving after taking a shower. Not immediately afterward, but definitely after. No rush.

After 4 years it still works best for me!