OK, I have to shave every day (required by work) and some days I just dont have time for a straight razor shave. What do all of you do if you dont have time for a straight shave? What equipment do you use?
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OK, I have to shave every day (required by work) and some days I just dont have time for a straight razor shave. What do all of you do if you dont have time for a straight shave? What equipment do you use?
I just do two quick passes with my $5 Gillette Tech DE, with Derby blades. Fortunately straights shave so well that I can shave the night before and still look decent for the work day.
I never compromise. I once did a 10 min. straight shave from start to finish in a rush. No nicks and no burn. No desire to try it again either. :o
X
I use Vulfix cream, a Gillette Slim Adjustable, and a Derby blade when I'm in a rush and don't have time for a proper shave.
For me, the thing that seems to take the most time is lather and caring for the blade. I manage to shave in 15 minutes in spite of that. How long does it take you to shave with a disposable? Are you using canned shaving cream? If you are, you can use it with a str8, it'll save you a a minute or so. If it's good enough for the disposable, it's good enough for the str8. Don't make it too much of a ritual when you don't have time for it.
Since I keep my razors in the bathroom, I coat them with vaseline before I put them away. If I stored my razors somewhere dry (Like my dresser in my bedroom), it would save me a couple of minutes.
Another thing that saves me time; as soon as I get out of the shower, I smear moisturizer all over my face (Lubriderm, unscented, good stuff and cheap). When my razor's ready (i.e. stropped) and I have the brush lathered up, I just rinse my face with hot water and apply the shaving soap.
There's no reason why you couldn't shave in under 15 minutes. Is 15 minutes too long?
Am I the only one thinking this???
Get up earlier.
:roflmao
No but seriousley, if I think I might not have time the next morning, I do it before I go to bed. The str8 shave is that close that after 8 hours it looks like I used to immediately after a mach 3 shave.
Si
Prep and going for BBS take a large chunk of the time. Shorten your prep a bit (only apply the towel once, for example), and just do one pass and some minimal touch-up. You won't win any awards but you'll still be better shaven than most straight guys at the office, and you can get your shave done in under 10 minutes. If you overlap some of the other morning duties with the prep phase this is effectively less.
If I'm *really* pressed for time and only have a minute total, then I'll splash water on my face and do one quick pass with the feather. This works with a sufficiently sharp straight as well (at least half hollow - you're really gonna need the stiffness) but it's hell on the blade. At least with a feather you can just jack in another one later.
Several options:
1) get up earlier.
2) only a single WTG pass.
3) shave before going to bed.
I always do (3)
I was a little flippant earlier - sorry if that offended anyone - but I have been thinking about this today.
Night before - strop the blade before going to bed and let it lie somewhere nice and cool and dry overnight to stop the edge deteriorating too much.
If you are having a hot shower in the morning, there is your hot water prep. Put some pre-shave oil on your face before starting to dry off to give it time to sink in. Put the brush in to warm before the shower, and your brush is already nice and warm. By the time you are dried off, you will be able to lather up, go run to wherever you left you razor because you know you wll forget it, and give it a few more passes on the strop - but no need for a full set. Have a single WTG pass that takes as much time as your old disposable shave did. OK its only one pass, but that will still be better then everyone elses.
I reckon that the prep is pasasable, and you are not taking any more time shaving then you used to with the electric/disposable/chuck norris roudhouse to the chin that you used to use?
Just my (second) thoughts.
Si
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunsi
These were the first things that occurred to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunsi
I guess I'm already a little obsessive about straight razor shaving, though. I've been doing it for less than a month and I'm already thinking about the best ways to have a straight available when I travel (I hate checking bags).
If I'm pressed for time I'll just use a DE. I still get a great shave. Its true the time savings isn't that great between the straight and a DE if all the other prep is done but I don't want to be using a straight while watching the clock or being pressured to hurry up. Thats a violation of one of my axiom's of straight shaving and a recipe for an unfortunate incident.
IMHO, if you're in a real hurry, don't do any more than you really have to. I'm a newb at straights, but used a DE for many years. I used to shave (passibly) with canned foam in under 5 minutes.....at this moment I'm on a business trip useing a Sensor and Edge Active brushless. It's better than foam for me, fast (I have less than 10 minutes to the bathroom in the morning in the hotel with the 2 other guys I'm in the room with) and much safer.
I shower at night so the first morning I did a WTG, xtg and every morning since I have just done a xtg and an Atg following with my toner/WH. Close enough to last the day, fast and so far irritation free.
A DE shave for me is good for almost 2 days so I generally shave at night at home with that or the straights.
In other words, If you can't/don't wish to shave the night before (unrushed) how about a switch in method for those quick shaves and leave the more involved ones for the weekend or the evening.
Good luck with that:confused: . There's no way to travel (by plane, at least) with a str8 in your carry-on. If you want to travel with your razor, you need to check it, or mail it and hope it arrives when you do.Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveS
It won't be a problem if you go by car, bus, train, or steamship. But that's another thread entirely.
I have to wear SCBA and Respirators at work and shaving the night before still gives me a proper seal. Heck sometimes i can still get a seal after 3 days.
I have to admit I also thought get up earlier. I however understand that sometimes that is just not an option. I can tell you when I am in a hurry I strop before I jump in the shower, fill the sink with hot water and put brush in then shower. After shower put shaving cream on brush and make lather on face. One pass with grain rinse off and ready to go. Total time after shower <10 min. It would take me almmost that with a mock3.
I'm in a rush all the time. Its getting in the shower that slows me down. I'm already up for 30 minutes. I use a DE and find significant time reduction when using a DE.
If I want that straight experience I choose that day to grow a goatee. I'll shave it off within a few days though.
I'm done in under 5 minutes with either of those choices.
when traveling i find fedex or ups works fine just pack up a razor or two and a spare strop and send it to your hotel but i would recommend contacting the hotel first so they hold it for you at the front desk. this when you arrive and check in you can get you package. if you are lucky you can get your boss to pick up the shipping.Quote:
Originally Posted by joesixpack