The Handlebar Club Forum

I thought bearwolf's musings from the Let's see your moustache thread deserved a new topic - shaving is always an interesting topic....

Well, I live in Norway and, while it is hard to make a general rule, it seems to me that the average is to shave 2-3 times a week. Of course if you work in sales, finance or are otherwise some kind of business executive, you will most likely shave every day. For some guys, constant stubble seems to be part of their look and they don't even shave for special occasions. It is not unusual to see a guy (usually in his 20's or 30's) dressed up in a suit with 2-3 day's beard growth. It also seems to me that men over 50 are more likely to shave every day than men under 40... I'm guessing that's because society still demanded it when they first started shaving.

I shave between 1-3 times a week myself and always for special occasions. I use a straight razor - have done so for a few years now - but cheat with a safety razor when close to my moustache.

One thing that is really super with a straight razor is that you can easily shave off a week's growth without getting a gummed up razor... although shaving my neck on the side opposite my shaving hand was a sweaty, nerve-racking experience at the start

Getting a shave was a lot cheaper back then, as was getting a haircut. It was expected that a man would get his hair cut every couple of weeks or so. Stubble was frowned upon, two generations ago would be horrified by the scruffy look on professionals. Men did shave at home, but since they got their hair cut so often they could have had the barber do it at the same time. Labourers may have been unshaven more often, but they would still shave for Sunday or what have you.

I tend to shave every day or every other day, and I usually leave it on the weekend. My straight razor needs a good sharpening right now, but a cut-throat that's honed would have been used every day. The wealthy would have sets of two to seven razors to give the blade a rest between shaves which isn't strictly necessary but made them last longer between sharpenings.

I don't even trust regular manual razors. I use an electric shaver daily. It's very safe around the edges of my moustache.

You Norsemen are just all rugged and all, what with not shaving daily! Actually, there are plenty of guys here who are generally stubbly in their styling. Unfortunately, many people think it just looks scruffy and careless.

I'm a daily shaver (straight razor). I feel unkempt if I don't shave each day.

smedstad you were quiet right to put this as a seprate topic. I usually shave everyday with a double edge safety razor but lately have been tinkering with growing my beard back so I've been not shaving for a week then changing my mind, shaving for a couple of days then not shaving for a few. Right now Im in the not shaving stage so I'm looking fairly scruffy right now. Years ago b.i. (before the internet) I tried shaving with a straight razor but had terrible results. Now with the internet and so many places to get information about straight razor shaving I might have another go at trying it. That is unless I decide to let my beard grow back <wink>.

I was just scanning the forum and noticed that this topic has a lot of views but few replies. I for one am interested in hearing about other guy's habits/rituals/culture regarding shaving...

So I'm going to try to bump this topic back to life

My face does not grow hair well on my cheeks and such. So I am able to keep it down to shaving 3 days a week max.

I consider myself lucky, it saves some $$$ on the new blades.

I usually shave around twice a week, unless I have a special function where I'd need to be clean shaven. Like Kellum, I don't get much growth on the cheeks, so a couple days growth isn't super noticeable. I've been putting a lot of consideration into investing in wet-shaving supplies - I can't speak for the rest of the world, but the amount charged here for razor cartridges is completely absurd.

Harv. Switch to a straight razor and save yourself the money.

Not to mention that it's cool think that shaving becomes a dance with death - at least at first - that's why I switched to a straight razor! And once you get the hang of it, it is quick and easy - though I did sweat a good deal the first few times I had that blade at my throat

And just remember to keep breathing as you shave. Not kidding here. Don't hold your breath.

Also, invest in a styptic pencil.

An electric works fine for me. I have sensitive skin, so gave up blades as a teen. Electric is faster and cheaper. I shave daily so I don't look scruffy to others, but if others don't shave daily I don't judge that. Just looking for my own advantage in a neat look. Now that my hair is longer, about 6 inches since I stopped cutting it last June, I want to avoid the wild man look. My beard doesn't grow in thick except on my chin, which has about 50% gray now, so I don't bother with either. If my beard did grow in thick and not curly I would gladly grow out a short beard. I figure it's just God's way of steering me toward an awesome handlebar moustache. Destiny.

I was fairly hirsute from my teens but as I disliked the daily shaving ritual I nursed a beard of various lengths and styles for several decades. Thinking about it I only suffered a beard break here and there due to either the insistence of whatever young lady was the focus of my attention at the time or if I encountered a freak trimming mishap!

However, after suffering some persistent 'isn't it time you got your beard trimmed again' type nagging from my better half some years ago I did just that, chopped it all off - BUT left the handlebar which up until that time had been lurking amongst the rest of the whiskers! Hey presto as if by magic the nagging stopped - as did most other household conversation for a day or two while she got over the shock! I think you have to bear in mind that my wife had never seen me sans beard before

Since that time I have grown to really enjoy and appreciate my time alone in the morning shaving. Whether it be a wet shave or dry those few minutes provide some valuable quiet waking up time away from the chattering children (and spouse).

Agreed. For my total enjoyment of quiet, I gave up the irritating buzz of the electric razor thirty years ago. I simply enjoy my morning shave with a badger brush and blade.