Getting the hang of it, but question about time

[xJesse]

Just sharing that I'm pretty much a SR neophyte, but have been keeping with the practice. Just yesterday, after about a month of trying, I finally got a shave with but a couple of nicks and smooth enough that my wife's eyes actually opened a bit (she's generally less than interested in this pursuit.)

My question here is that it took about 17 minutes to get an adequate shave, but I persevered for the ultimate smoothness which cost a time chunk totalling about 28-30 minutes. What is generally the time spent for the community here getting both an adequate and smooth shave?

I'm shooting for 10 minutes total for an adequate shave and 15 for excellent shave (total time = getting the shaving cream ready, stropping, shaving, cleaning the brush and bowl.)

[Lazarus]

I am still spending about 15 minutes a day but I find it hard to stop at "adequate" when "excellent" is just a few more minutes away. I would urge you to take your time. Hurrying is a good way to cut yourself. Just focus on developing technique that gets you a comfortable shave. Faster will come with time. Making it a goal will be counterproductive.

I hope this is helpful.

[porridgeorange]

I shave at night as a wind down from my workdays. So in my case I shoot for longer as opposed to shorter shaves...nice, slow, relaxing shaves that's what I'm into!

[detroyt]

I feel like 30 minutes is totally normal for someone just learning to shave with a straight razor. Speed will come with time and practice, as long as your enjoying yourself and the lifestyle and getting satisfactory results then your doing okay.

[tonycraigo]

Sometimes speed is not a virtue.

You've heard the one where the young bull says: "let's run down there and hang out with one of those cows" and the old bull says: "let's walk down and hang out with them all".



Take your time, enjoy.

[AFDavis11]

A 15 minute shave is abnormal and robs you of the 15 minutes of fun the rest of us usually enjoy. But, its your time to do as you please. I'm sure the wife has some chores you could do the other 15 minutes, maybe wash dishes or something . . . consider the alternatives if you know what I mean ;-)

[bharner]

I can get it done in 15 minutes but that's for an adequate shave (and the 5 minutes my brush spends soaking don't count). I can get a nice to great shave in 20-25 minutes.

[swimlikehell]

It takes me about 30-40 min from shower to cleaning the sink, I can get a constant BBS shave in this time. I could probably go faster, but what is the point in shaving if you are not going all the way and anyway isn't one of the main reason we do this for the experience. Take your time and enjoy yourself.

[tfrod]

I get an adequate shave in about 10 mintues, which is usually a two pass shave. Anything longer is to try an get a closer shave.

[xJesse]

Sound advice, thanks. Just that waking up for work conundrum which robs me of idle time :/ I'm still shaving at night to get to the 10 minute mark so I can switch to shaving in the morning... but then I end up spending the extra time for the excellent shave. It's hard to stop when you get into the groove. Probably just keep going 25 minutes and shaving at night