

I like wet shaving. I wouldn’t be Mantic’s partner in Sharpologist if I didn’t. But I also like sleep, and I don’t get enough of it. I time my morning alarm to the minute, so I can cram in every last second of sleep before arriving at work the moment I need to. Not surprisingly, this messes with the relaxation of a morning shave.

Sure, I could get up earlier so I could enjoy the ritual, but the reality is that even three years into this journey, I still fight razor burn on my neck, and if I rush, it’s a five-alarm fire. I could go back to a cartridge razor and canned goo … oh, who am I kidding? That’ll never happen.



Instead, on many days, I shave at night. There are a few reasons it’s a good idea for me:

First of all, as a parent of a young child, evenings (after she goes to bed) are far less hectic than mornings. It’s one of the only times of the day I get to myself, and I can take as long as I need to get it right. I can experiment with different soaps and creams and aftershaves, because they’ll be off my face before I go to work the next morning. I can also perfect my craft, because even if I cut my face to shreds trying an advanced technique, I’ll be healed by 8 a.m.

Of course, one might think that you’ll grow stubble while you sleep. I’m sure this is true to a certain extent, but I’m under the impression that hair grows more slowly when you’re sleeping and/or relaxed. I believe this to be true. Maybe because I’m more likely to get that “BBS” shave at night, I actually wake up mostly stubble-free. I certainly look fine all day at work. If you have a super hairy face, your mileage may vary.

Finally, when I’m relaxed and shaving at the end of the day, I do a better job. My face isn’t raw when I head out the door. I sleep better after the shaving routine. Obviously, any razor burn I encounter is tamped down by the next morning.

Is evening shaving for everyone? Probably not, and for certain occasions, it’s not right for me, either. But many nights it is. Give it a try and let me know what you think.