Thread: Timing Your Shaves

Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

What I'm saying is that before straight razors became nostalgic instruments, your everyday shaver likely wouldn't have taken as much pride in the chore as we enthusiasts do today.

You're so right. Without the marketing genius of King Gillette, we'd have nothing to compare a straight razor shave to.

Originally Posted by uthed

In 1567 England, by orders of the local Duke, a serf had the tip of his tounge removed with his dullish razor for this blasphemy. Thank gawd we're not in 16th century England, right?!

As Mel Brooks said in the wonderful HotW .........

It's good to be the King .....

I'm with Hal; the longer the better. I really enjoy my shaves and don't have to do them first thing in the mornig, which really helps.

I take about 15-20 minutes I guess, though I never timed it. The razor makes a difference for me too. I can shave much quicker with my TI 7/8 than say a 5/8 DD or Dovo. I know why they call them choppers now. Man do I love that razor.

You undersand me, though, right uthed?

Let's say, for instance, that in one hundred years they invent some sort of lazer technology that will shave your entire face in a quarter of a second. Efficient, yes - but all the ritual and potential enjoyment is moot.

To these future people, shaving with the disposable razors we find in drug stores today will be an exotic experience - and who knows, there might even be a DisposablePlace.com website in their era.

Essentially, for something to become fashionable it first has to go out of fashion.

Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

I've been waiting two or three days in between shaves.

But at around the fifth shave I got myself a brush and some shaving soap (I had been using regular "canned-cream") and everything seemed to fall into place. It was as though I wasn't "faking it" any longer,

So I ask you: how long does it take you to complete your shaves now? And how long did it take when you were first starting out?

hope I'm not out of line with my suggestions here, newbie that I am

1) I'd recommend some witch hazel solution from the pharmacy, there's even organic witch hazel if you prefer. after your shave, rinse with cold water several times. then apply the witch hazel, wait a few minutes before applying your smell good juice.

2) My wife still accuses me of faking it fr time to time

3) it took me over 2 1/2 hours for the total shave my first time. cut my lip pretty good and was very careful the next time, but I've got the entire process down to 20 minutes now.

I enjoy the shaving, but I'm usually on a time schedule so morning shaving isn't a time I can spend lots of time with. I'm very careful but I usually do just 2 lathers.

What is this "witch hazel" sorcery of yours, FUD? I believe I've heard of it before.

Originally Posted by halwilson

Well now that you mentioned the Guiness Book of Records, have you seen this? Don't try this at home....

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/.../100074_bb.ram

Hal

I could never understand that. The guy supposedly did 4.5 shaves a minute, but you see him working at a pace where he couldn't finish two. In fact, seeing all the swipes that are required, it doesn'r seem anybody could.

I'm in Hal's camp. I intentionally moved my shave to the evening so I wouldn't have any time pressure and I don't know how long it takes. I don't care. I can enjoy it and experiment if I want. But because it's the night before it has to be as clean and close as possible to last through my work day. I do a 3 pass shave with a touch up and the touchup takes as long as the rest of the shave. I'm really fussy and I won't leave the mirrior until my entire face is clean to the touch. I use a special razor for touch ups- an injector with a Feather strr8 blade. It's just a good way to get all the stragglers I miss with the str8.

I can get faster shaves if I want. I can do DE shaves with my eyes closed in 10-15 minutes, without using a finishing razor, and they're at least as close as a str8, and it's still enjoyable. I can do a speed shave in under five minutes. I go to a clean face using a gel and two passes of a motorized M3P and a quick clean up with the injector/feather. It's totally clean and fairly close, but no fun. If I have to shave in the morning, it will be with a DE. If I oversleep or something like that I'll do the speed shave in the morning.

Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

What is this "witch hazel" sorcery of yours, FUD? I believe I've heard of it before.

It's hamamelis water, or a tea made from the bark and leaves of the Hamamelis virginnia plant. Basically it's a pretty good cure all. it's one of the few non-chemicalized treatments still utilized in it's (mostly) original herbal method inside of hospitals and medical facilities. Usually today if it doesn't have a patent on it, doctors don't use it, but you can't argue with something that cures bad breath, hemmeroids, and insect bites in one swig .

here's a web def for you .
Hamamelis virginiana MEDICINAL: Witch Hazel is used externally for insect bites, burns, bleeding wounds, hemorrhoids, and varicose veins. Internally it will stop bleeding from internal organs, treats bronchitis, flu, and coughs as well as promotes healing of stomach ulcers. It is often used as a mouthwash for conditions of the mouth and throat, and for bleeding gums. Native Americans used witch hazel in sunflower oil as a massage oil for sore muscles, and used witch hazel as a natural deodorant

Sounds cool - but how does your typical straight razor user put it to good use? Do you smear it on your face or something?