Thread: How much time for a straight razor shave?

It takes me 15-20 minutes for 2 passes and touch up work, maybe less if I just took a hot shower and the beard is soft

I must be doing something wrong.

to lather, strop 25 laps, WTG pass , strop 20 laps, another WTG pass (all I can do) I take about 5 or 6 mins .

WTH are you guys doing that takes so long???

OBTW I shave Commando most days so this IS taking my time.

Now, I know that ATG takes a little longer, I've done it. (disaster, every hair bumps)

But 20 or 30 mins more?

Easy-peasy:

I can eat my food in 5 min when in a hurry or when I don't care or I can take time to enjoy it for 30+ minutes (when I have company - can be hours, of course adding drinks and chat, etc.)

I enjoy shaving a lot. I don't have to shave - my wife likes me with stubble, and at work I only need to shave inrequently for some meetings (certainly not ALL meetings). At this point, I would rather not shave at all than have to rush and finish in 5 minutes. Having said this, sometimes I do finish very quickly the actual shaving part but then take my time for the other "rituals"

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by gratewhitehuntr

But 20 or 30 mins more?

The WTG passes are easy and fast. If I'm in a hurry I'll do two WTG passes myself and it takes me about 7 minutes. The time consuming bits that drive my "long shave" time up to 15-17 minutes include the extra prep needed for going ATG as well as the actual ATG passes (very careful and time-consuming, especially around the chin) and any touch-ups and blade buffing.

Edit: Just to clarify - ATG passes using only water are *not* something you want to rush.

Yeah, I agree. The ATG pass is the time consumer for me too.

James.

Freakin' forever. Like 40 minutes all told. 2 hot towels, thorough face washing, prep, stropping, two passes and cleanup (especially painstaking around the chin and jawline). Down from 45 when I started but beyond that I don't see a lot of movement here. Hats off to you each-pass-takes-3-to-5-minutes guys.

I tend to shave at night when I can put it down to chill time. No way can I manage this while rushing out the door to work with a half-eaten bagel in one hand a jug of coffee in the other.

My goal is for straight-shaving to evolve from a hobby into just a habit but let's say I ain't there yet.

Just to be sure I did two passes WTG this morning while watching the time. From the time I put hot towel to face, through stropping, lathering, 2 passes, and cleaning and stowing the razor was 8 minutes. So it seems it's mostly the ATG work that's slow, but if I've got the time then it's worth it for the closer shave.

Originally Posted by mparker762

Just to be sure I did two passes WTG this morning while watching the time. From the time I put hot towel to face, through stropping, lathering, 2 passes, and cleaning and stowing the razor was 8 minutes. So it seems it's mostly the ATG work that's slow, but if I've got the time then it's worth it for the closer shave.

I don't whether to laugh, cry, or demand a video.

I guess it gives hope. I mean, my WTG pass is quick enough and getting quicker. But prep itself together with stropping takes me around 8 minutes, and the ATG pass (I don't do a x-grain pass) takes a good ten minutes, what with all the fooling around the chin and jawline.

Have you always been this quick? I mean once you were past the first learning curve?

Oh well, I'm learning.

The ATG pass is the slow one primarily because of the chin and jawline. And if you're only going WTG then you don't need the elaborate prep, just one hot towel and lather up before you strop, and give the lather a quick refresh before you shave.

It's not a particularly close shave though it's fine for the office. I prefer doing some cross-grain work in places, but this adds a minute or two to the time.

Did a slightly different routine this morning. I did the full prep, but then did one careful pass that was WTG on cheeks, ATG on lower neck, and XTG on upper neck, jaw, and chin. Then I relathered my upper neck on each side under my ears (my really troublesome areas) and shaved them again ATG. Prep was 5 minutes, and the shave was 4 minutes and another minute for clean-up (rinsing, wiping, and final stropping), so total elapsed time was 10 minutes, somewhat longer than yesterday but a much better result - the better prep really pays off once the razor hits the face, though I'm not sure that the same result couldn't have been reached with a bit less prep.