Thread: How fast is it possible to shave with a str8?

Originally Posted by jigane

bobH yeah I only use the canned goo because its the fastest and I get no irritation with my mach3s. I have a dovo 5/8s and have had it for about 10 years and I know it can only do 1 pass and then you need to reapply whatever product you have on that area, with the mach3s you can make about 5-6 passes without noticing it though (at most applying more water).

I was really wondering about your experience with a straight razor when all you mentioned at first was Mach3 and canned goo. Now you say you have had a straight razor for 10 years so does that mean you have used it almost everyday for 10 years? If that is the case my guess is that you should not have any trouble starting with a lathered face doing a single full pass in one direction in 2-3 minutes give or take. Your total actual shaving time blade on skin would depend on how many full passes you do. The number of passes total would depend on when you are satisfied with your shaving effort. Some do 2, some 3 and a few do 4 passes.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

I was really wondering about your experience with a straight razor when all you mentioned at first was Mach3 and canned goo. Now you say you have had a straight razor for 10 years so does that mean you have used it almost everyday for 10 years? If that is the case my guess is that you should not have any trouble starting with a lathered face doing a single full pass in one direction in 2-3 minutes give or take. Your total actual shaving time blade on skin would depend on how many full passes you do. The number of passes total would depend on when you are satisfied with your shaving effort. Some do 2, some 3 and a few do 4 passes.

Bob

No I used it off and on for about 1 year. Mostly for my head. I haver maybe used it 2-3 times in the last 8 years or so. For fun mostly.
So I'm new in the game again so to speak. But now armed with a kamisori instead.

Regarding the passes... hehehe I only thought I did 2 with the mach 3, you know, you never think about it when your doing it. But when I actually counted it, it was more like 10 for any given area.

My usual routine is to just feel when its good enough and the parts that are not up to spec gets more passes. Sometimes if I'm picky I take a shower and while showering I determine the places that are subpar, the 99% done places, and do a water only touchup there while showering.

Originally Posted by jigane

No I used it off and on for about 1 year. Mostly for my head. I haver maybe used it 2-3 times in the last 8 years or so. For fun mostly.
So I'm new in the game again so to speak. But now armed with a kamisori instead.

Regarding the passes... hehehe I only thought I did 2 with the mach 3, you know, you never think about it when your doing it. But when I actually counted it, it was more like 10 for any given area.

My usual routine is to just feel when its good enough and the parts that are not up to spec gets more passes. Sometimes if I'm picky I take a shower and while showering I determine the places that are subpar, the 99% done places, and do a water only touchup there while showering.

From the forums library First straight razor shave - Straight Razor Place Library . Basically how a straight razor is supposed to be used and it explains what a pass actually is and the different types. Have a squint at the video of how to shave with a straight razor and that should visually illustrate it for you. Have fun using a straight razor or kamisori while you showering.

Bob

I dont think I'm going to use the kamisori while showering heheh I just don't feel that lucky. (I can shave my head blidfolded though with the dovo, but its so much easier)

Yeah i know what a pass is technically. I call it a pass when I go over a certain area I already shaved one more time. Then its a new pass. But unlike straight shaving these happen randomly depending on felt condition since there is no penalty for doing so. As long as the gel/skin is slippery. Some parts of my face may only get 3 passes and some 12. Depending difficulty/curvature of the area. And how hard I can press the mach 3 against my face.

I have forgotten how the dovo works (and I never liked it that much) so I'm starting form zero with the kamisori.

I'm at 15-20 minutes to prep and shave my face with a straight and my head with a DE. I've never timed the face shave alone, but probably less than 5 min.

Originally Posted by jigane

And I'm not talking about lathering up and all preshave stages, I mean the actual shave stage, for a "pro" or long time user of straights that is.

About 2-3 minutes, depends on how sharp the razor is. Prep takes another 3 mins, mostly for the hot towel. Using a corked Feather eliminates most of the prep time, just lather up (or smear on some Cremo-Creme) and go.

Originally Posted by mparker762

About 2-3 minutes, depends on how sharp the razor is. Prep takes another 3 mins, mostly for the hot towel. Using a corked Feather eliminates most of the prep time, just lather up (or smear on some Cremo-Creme) and go.

i see i see!

Do you do multiple passes? or only 1? or more when needed?

(shrug) I shave till I'm done. Any part of my face that isn't good enough gets a second pass, which depends on how sharp the blade is. First pass is mostly across the grain, the second pass, such as it is, is against the grain. The two passes are interleaved, I shave an area, check, and hit it again if it isn't good enough. I usually reuse the lather from the blade for the second pass.

It takes awhile to get quick, and I don't recommend worrying about it. It took 30 mins when I started, was down to about 10 mins after a year, then hovered at around 7 mins for a few years. It happened long after I ceased worrying about it.

I will usually take my time, (10-15 minutes) but twice in the past week have been told by my better half about a ticking clock after I was already prepped...
Both times I shaved in under 5 minutes but I didn't like either shave becasue of missed spots

World record is under 1 minute. Try 18 seconds, guy would look like a blender attacked him.