Thread: 1 month later....

Wow.... so long? Hmmm..... as a beginner who hasn't even bought a razor yet, this sort of makes me rethink the benefit of using a straight razor. 1.) It will cost several hundred dollars to get a decent set of equipment. 2.) Even with a good razor and peripherals, some small mistake or oversight might nullify any benefit vs. store bough safety razors. 3.) I shave in the morning before going to work, time is precious.

45 minutes is not uncommon for a beginner. Don't worry about that. You will become faster with practice without needing to think about it.

If you have a good edge you might want to practice on getting the right angle and direction as well as stretching your skin in a good way.

Originally Posted by GrumpyCat

Wow.... so long? Hmmm..... as a beginner who hasn't even bought a razor yet, this sort of makes me rethink the benefit of using a straight razor. 1.) It will cost several hundred dollars to get a decent set of equipment. 2.) Even with a good razor and peripherals, some small mistake or oversight might nullify any benefit vs. store bough safety razors. 3.) I shave in the morning before going to work, time is precious.

If time is precious in the morning I would recommend shaving in the evening to start with. After a while you will be quick enough to shave in the morning. Or if time is short in the evening as well a weekend shave might be a better option. But with a little practice a morning shave wont be a problem

Saving time is definitely *not* one of the benefits of straight razor shaving. For me I love the fact that I'm shaving with an implement that I maintain myself (honing and stropping) instead of a disposable piece of plastic. I love the act of creating lather from a tiny bit of soap or cream and re-using the same brush(es) for years. And most of all I love the super close and comfortable shaves I get from a straight. Yes, it takes a few minutes longer but it has become a soothing ritual for me and I can't imagine life without it!