Thread: What's your routine?

Just seen this and had to make the first post. Thanks Birnando for getting this done!

I'm a daily head shaver, 99% of the time I use a Merkur Slant, or Weber. I have used a Feather SS and a straight razor but time seems an issue. I can shave my head in about 6 minutes with a DE and be BBS. A straight razor takes me 30-45 minutes.

I usually take a shower, lather up and start with ATG pass at the sides and back of the head, then the top. Rinse and re-lather and do XTG passes starting at the back of the head and working toward the sides. Rinse and do touchups as needed. I usually hold my DE with the pointer and middle finger ahead of the razor head and the thumb trails. This makes for stubble finders, and something to make sure I keep the angle.
I usually use a Splash, but this time of year I move for my RazorRock AS wax. Headblade sometimes also in Matte, no glossy flash reflector for me

So what's your routine?

I'm an every other day shaver except when I have had a bad shave day then I may wait an extra day or two. I'm still very much a noob and my shaves can be hit or miss especially on days that I'm just not "feeling it" (like yesterday, the shave at the start seemed smoother than the shave before but by the end I had more nicks and cuts. Really disappointing, but that is another topic). I have never tried a DE, but rather made the leap from cartridge to str8 almost in one bound.

However when I do shave I normally prep with a hot shower while my brush, mug and soap are doing their thing waiting on me. I normally strop before I get into the shower. After the shower, I normally but not always work up an uberlather, lather up both my face and head and start on my face. My face I do a WTG pass, lather, do a ATG pass and then touch-ups. Maybe 20-25 min. Then I re-lather my head and start on it. My first pass is ATG on the top and XTG on the sides and back. Re-lather. then I strop my razor again before doing my second pass on my head. Second pass is ATG all over using mainly guillotine type stokes where feasible and buffing when not. Then I do my touch-ups, whether it be rough spots, missed spots, one mole I have to watch out for, or my ear hair. The head takes about 40-50 min. By the time I'm done I'm BBS. Then I clean up my den, Splash on a little aftershave or rub on some aftershave balm and I'm good to go.

First off,
A BIG thanks for getting this sub-f going.
My routine during the work week is a bit more rushed with fewer passes. I shave my face and head daily 96.34% of the time. I've been taking a couple days off of head shaving about every third week just for some "healing" time. Currently working with my DE trying to get that down. I'm not one for cuts because it takes too long to heal, I need to look "professional" at work and I HATE the downtime away from shaving, (that last one....what a change in my perspective from I HATE SHAVING).
I do most of my shaving in the shower for the purpose of ease. I know, you've all said it, the shave will be that much better if I take it to the sink and I do when I have the time but only my face. I'm messy and I don't want to have to clean the bathroom every morning. I soak my brush and wet the soap while I shower then go to work making lather. Lather head and face, start the DE 2 -3 pass shave depending on time. Then go to my head and start with the DE. Relather and use a HeadBlade Sport down to BBS. Today I used a bit of Cremo Creme with my Col Conk to make Uberlather. Very Nice!

Originally Posted by Ggoongreen

I do most of my shaving in the shower for the purpose of ease. I know, you've all said it, the shave will be that much better if I take it to the sink and I do when I have the time but only my face. I'm messy and I don't want to have to clean the bathroom every morning. I soak my brush and wet the soap while I shower then go to work making lather. Lather head and face, start the DE 2 -3 pass shave depending on time. Then go to my head and start with the DE. Relather and use a HeadBlade Sport down to BBS. Today I used a bit of Cremo Creme with my Col Conk to make Uberlather. Very Nice!

I use to shave in the shower with a DE, so I wouldn't rule it out. All the steam kept the lather pretty well hydrated. Made for a great shave IMO. I stopped because I like using my straight razors too and took it to the sink. Straight razor in the shower, exposed body parts, no thanks....

Originally Posted by Trimmy72

I use to shave in the shower with a DE, so I wouldn't rule it out. All the steam kept the lather pretty well hydrated. Made for a great shave IMO. I stopped because I like using my straight razors too and took it to the sink. Straight razor in the shower, exposed body parts, no thanks....

OUCH! I've seen the censored "cut of the day". No need to even develop the mental picture. NO WAY does my straight get near the shower. I'm leery of the damn thing just sitting in my hand. Even when using the loupe to check it I'm nervous about that blade being too close. My daily carry knife is kept sharp enough that I cut myself when I first got it, just set the blade against my skin when I closed it and the blood started flowing. So I'm very, very careful with the straight. Even after a noob like me is stropping it.
Happy shaving!
G

Don't really have a routine yet. I just started shaving (face and head) with a straight razor and have only shaved my head 4 times now. So far it has been a Saturday thing and will probably stay that way. I have very little to actually shave up top. I do use a different razor to shave my head with, at least for right now. Looking forward to learning more about it.

Thanks for everyone taking the time to share their knowledge!
Anthony

This thread brings to mind a post a few years ago of the guy who got out of the shower, went to shave at the sink and dropped his blade VERY close to his pubis.

Since then I have always kept a towel between my person and the sink.

Thanks to everyone who made this thread possible.

I have been shaving with a straight for roughly two years now. Just recently I started making my first honing attemps and at the same time shaving my head with a straight.
I have been shaving my head with for about 15 years now and when I started shaving my face with a straight I started using my grandfathers DE for the head, befor that I was strictly cartridge user. ��

My shaving routine consist of taking a quick morning shower and then straight to sink to lather (face and head)up using my van der hagen brush and a sandalwood soap from Art Of Shaving. I shave my head in a simple front to back direction using short strokes using my Chisholm Keenesta razor. (Cheap razor i picked up for $10 or so) I then re lather and do a cross grain strokes on top and side of my head. I am still working on the techique on the back of my head and at this time with the grain is the only direction I dare in that area.

I then switch razors. For my face I use my Red Point. ( both razors are hollow ground spikes). O yeah, I forgot I strop my razor after I lather up, 50 laps on leather(illinois strop co). On my face I do two passes and this produces very good results for me. I shave my face strictly every work day (4-5 times a week) and my head I do every three days.

At this point keeping the head shaving razor sharp is proving to be the the task at hand that gives me most trouble. I have to touch it up every two shaves using a pasted linen strop. After I am done shaving I strop both my razors 20 laps on linen.

I then wash my shaved areas with ice cold water and apply Wich Hazel. After it drys up a good splash of bay rum on everything. Hmmmm , perfect start to a day. Then off to make a good breakfast but that is another thread all together!

Awesome thread. I'll probably be taking the dive into head shaving with a SR this summer, and this is really great info.

I'll start by saying that I am at 99%+ straight razor shaving for my face. I will on occasion when traveling use a DE for convenience on my face.

However, I find that the skin around the side of my head and on top is stretched so well that I can very quickly and efficiently take a cartridge and get a comfortable close shave of my head with simple bath soap as a lubricant while in the shower. Where a cart might last a few days on my face before becoming unusable, on my head one can truly last for months. I don't know why that is but it saves me lots of time and effort on my head. Again, my face is pampered with self-honed straight edges, Tabac, Mike's or Proraso Red and Green soaps and CF cream but not necessary for my head.