Thread: My own worst enemy for learning to use a straight razor

I'm a fan of shaving at night as well, but not because I sleep in until 20 min before work or I can barely spell my name without at least 10 oz of coffee in me.

It helps me sleep. Good smells and a meditative routine help get my overactive night owl brain to shut up.

Plus, "Men who love their job shave in the morning. Those that love their wives shave at night."

Originally Posted by dinnermint

I'm a fan of shaving at night as well, but not because I sleep in until 20 min before work or I can barely spell my name without at least 10 oz of coffee in me.

It helps me sleep. Good smells and a meditative routine help get my overactive night owl brain to shut up.

Plus, "Men who love their job shave in the morning. Those that love their wives shave at night."

Aloha!

I typically use Lavender scented soap and aftershave and balm for shaving at night. I have read many times that Lavender is a natural sedative aroma and helps with relaxation and calming nerves. So when I shave at night, I always try to use the Lavender. It seems to work for relaxation, whether it is psychological or physiological. Not sure which it is, but it works for me.

And you are correct. Shaving at night is a very nice thing to do for SWMBO.

-Zip

When I started I shaved with a straight at night. Just a WTG. Then in the morning I cleaned up with a multiblade. As I got better with the straight I added in XTG and ATG at night and a morning cleanup with a DE. Finally I didn't need the morning clean up so I switched back to straight shaving in the morning. After about a week of morning shaving, I switched back to night shaving. It is how I unwind before bed. And with a 3 pass straight shave at night I don't get a five o'clock shadow until about 6pm the next day (and have black hair).

Ultimately, find what works for you and do it.

I think you are way overthinking this whole thing.

You are trying to copy ways that some people with more time than you have have developed for themselves after years of practice.

At least for myself if I go to work and my cheek isn't BBS, no one else cares. Make your first goal a DFS.

Put your razor on a high shelf out of reach of your 4 year old. She could go into the kitchen and turn a burner on and get into trouble a heck of a lot quicker than cutting herself with your razor. If you have trained her to stay away from the stove you can do that with your razor.

Scuttles, hot towels, stropping after the shave are all great but not necessary.

Concentrate and spend your time with while the blade is near your skin. {Maybe think of if that lather wasn't perfect I can see the difference}

Don't watch any movies that show someone getting their throat cut with a straight.

Have fun, relax, and don't expect perfection. [At least for now!]

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Please remember that this isn't any kind of a 'Race'! Slow and Steady Wins Every-time!

And I would add, routine, doing the steps in the same way each time.

I shave in the morning. I chose the path of adding the the extra few minutes to my morning routine.

Two passes and call it good. I'd rather skip breakfast than to skip my morning shave, and on occasion, I have.

That's why Whataburger sells breakfast taquitos.

Sooo glad I went ahead and tried the night shave!!

I resisted for a while for whatever reason. My hair, and beard grow fast, but my beard isn't heavy, so I have always been able to "get away with it" in the past without looking unshaven. It just seemed odd to plan on shaving at night though, so until this thread I never actually decided to make my shave time then, but I think I'm hooked.

There was a guy that suggested shaving at night when I first started shaving/posting here, and made a thread mentioning not having the time, and I wish I had listened to him.

I had this huge mindshift because I knew I didn't have to be ANYWHERE, which allowed me my best shave to date with a straight razor. Everything was relaxed for a change, instead of tense, and at times (especially when the girl wants to be in there) almost chaotic.

I eventually got to everything except the adams apple, and area right around it, and most of my face was actually decent, as far as closeness. Of course its all WTG, but I did throw in a little XTG in the end in a couple spots that needed it. Which I never felt I had the time to try before.

I really didn't want to try the night time slot, but I'm glad I stopped being hard headed.

The difference is Day and Night.

Pun intended

I always shaved at night even when I used multi blade cartridges, I wanted to be fully awake and do a good job with it. It is one less thing to worry about in the morning. I'm glad it worked for you

Originally Posted by Jwtruth45

Sooo glad I went ahead and tried the night shave!!

I resisted for a while for whatever reason. My hair, and beard grow fast, but my beard isn't heavy, so I have always been able to "get away with it" in the past without looking unshaven. It just seemed odd to plan on shaving at night though, so until this thread I never actually decided to make my shave time then, but I think I'm hooked.

There was a guy that suggested shaving at night when I first started shaving/posting here, and made a thread mentioning not having the time, and I wish I had listened to him.

I had this huge mindshift because I knew I didn't have to be ANYWHERE, which allowed me my best shave to date with a straight razor. Everything was relaxed for a change, instead of tense, and at times (especially when the girl wants to be in there) almost chaotic.

I eventually got to everything except the adams apple, and area right around it, and most of my face was actually decent, as far as closeness. Of course its all WTG, but I did throw in a little XTG in the end in a couple spots that needed it. Which I never felt I had the time to try before.

I really didn't want to try the night time slot, but I'm glad I stopped being hard headed.

The difference is Day and Night.

Pun intended

Excellent! Chuffed you tried it & that it's better for you [emoji6][emoji1360]


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I usually cut some time off the shave my doing a little multitasking. For instance many times I prep my face by lathering while I take a shower. this helps with a good prep as well as saving any extra time in that regard which can be significant as a good prep can take as long as the shave itself. I also only do 2 pass shaves these days as its really all I need to do a good job. Just look at your routine and see what extra steps you do that may not be all that needed and cut them out of a rushed routine. Save the time for the shave itself. The shaving part should take as long as your comfortable with and should not be rushed. you will get faster and better at it in time. Good Luck.