Ask five men if they should shave every day and each one will have a different answer.

Depending on their personal hygiene preferences and profession, some will say yes; others will say no.

Daily shaving is a comforting ritual for some (typically those engaged in wet shaving) and an annoying inconvenience for others.

Regardless of which side of the fence you are on, here are some reasons why you should and shouldn’t shave every day.

3 Reasons Why You Should Shave Every Day

1. Your Job. Most men who shave every day do so for professional reasons. Many professions require men to be cleanly shaven, especially those in customer-facing roles. Although in today’s business casual workplace, these rules might be more lax than they were twenty years ago, the “clean-shaven” look is neat and professional.
2. Aesthetics. Aesthetics is another reason why you might shave every day. Cam Wolf of GQ reminds us there’s only one Ryan Gosling. He is one of the few who can successfully pull off the “stubble” look.
3. Your Partner. Furthermore, men who are unsure of whether or not to shave should consider their romantic partners. Who wants to kiss someone with a cheek that feels like sandpaper?

3 Reasons Why You Should NOT Shave Every Day

1. You Might Look Younger. We have two words: George Clooney. Clooney looks 20 years younger because of his stubble. Although many of us might like to be, we are not all George Clooney. However, if you are a gifted soul who can successfully pull off the stubble look, it might take years off your face.
2. Sensitive Skin. The good news is there are other positive reasons to ditch the daily shaving grind, and the biggest reason is your skin. Sensitive skin requires more facial TLC. It’s important to have a detailed routine and proper products to keep your skin free of blemishes. After all, daily shaving—unless done perfectly each time—can cause skin irritation, skin damage, and other blemishes.
3. Healing Time. Giving your skin a day or two to heal in between shaving sessions can help keep skin healthy, smooth, clear, and well nourished.

The Shaving Verdict

Of course, there are advantages to shaving every day and not shaving every day. For some, shaving every day isn’t a choice while others appreciate how skipping daily shaving sessions helps skin remain healthy and clear.

The choice is clearly personal preference. What isn’t up for debate is proper shaving technique. Regardless of shaving frequency, proper shaving results in fewer skin blemishes.

How to Choose the Right Shaving Frequency

Finding the right shaving frequency requires some trial and error. Shavers need to figure out what works best for their schedules and their skin.

For some, shaving every evening is preferable to the morning scramble. Others believe that the fresh morning shave sets the right tone for the day.

Here are some considerations for determining the right shave frequency:

Sensitive Skin

Specific conditions like eczema or psoriasis respond better to an every-other-day shaving schedule. This results in less irritation, fewer blemishes, and also allows sufficient time for medicine to remedy the areas of discomfort.

Professional Considerations

Generally, if you have a “chair” within or close to the “C-Suite”, then you are likely required to be cleanly shaven. Depending on your hair growth it is possible to shave the night before and still maintain a clean appearance the next day.

Shaving Products

Using the right products makes daily shaving less arduous. Make sure you use a sharp blade and you work up a sufficient lather with a good shaving cream or soap. Stay away from alcohol-based aftershaves and the everyday shave will be that much easier. Your skin will also thank you.

I didn’t shave everyday until I started wet shaving

Before I started shaving with a safety razor, the most frequently I would shave was maybe three times a week. In most cases, I would only shave once or twice a week.

The problem I had was that a daily shave with a cartridge razor would cause razor bumps and razor burn.

Once I finally started shaving with a safety razor, I became much better at customizing my DAILY shave–emphasis on daily.

When I shave daily with a safety razor, I typically only take a single pass. Doing so, causes less irritation and still gets me the close shave I am looking for in my daily routine.

If I skip a day, I take two to three passes if the hair is especially long.

Using the safety razor allows me to more fully customize how I shave my face. One important difference in how I shave with a cartridge razor vs. my safety razor. In order to get the customized shave I desire, I need to spend more time pampering and preparing my face for the shave.

I also didn’t enjoy shaving everyday until I started wet shaving with a safety razor.

Shaving is now a much more enjoyable experience now that I’m wet shaving.

Conclusion

Regardless of whether you choose to shave every day, every other day, or every few days, finding the right shaving routine is critical for achieving your desired look.