Thread: Reducing Shave time

While I enjoy the long, relaxing routine of a straight shave, there are some mornings I just don't have the time and I need to decide if I want a one-pass straight shave or a multi-pass DE. I prefer the former. So I was thinking that if I could reduce the "overhead" of my routine, then I could probably fit in a two-pass straight shave. "Overhead" for me means:


- Wipe off the oil/vaseline
- Pre-shave strop
- Create lather in my bowl
< Lather my face and shave with N passes > Not the overhead!
- Styptic / Alum bar my face
- Clean up my bowl and brush
- Post-shave strop
- Vaseline my blade
- Aftershave


So one thing I'm trying is to see if I truly need to vaseline/oil my blade if I use it every couple days. I'm also going to try stropping only before or after. Here is what I'm going to try on these faster days:

- Create lather in my bowl
< Lather my face and shave with N passes > Not the overhead!
- Styptic / Alum bar my face
- Clean up my bowl and brush
- Post-shave strop (could defer to later if necessary)
- Aftershave



I might try face lathering on these days as well. That's my next step of reducing time.

So do you guys have different routines for your "spa days" (if applicable) versus your daily routine days?

I do have a fast routine, that is just a shave, no fluff, it takes 10 minutes from filling the sink to splashing on A/S


Fill sink splash hot water on the soap dump the brush in the water at the same time..
Start loading the brush,
Lather a wet face
Strop the razor while the lather sets up
Shave
Relather touch up pass
Cold Water Rinse
Splash
Clean up dry off and outta there

I went through a "speed shaving" phase which really helped my technique although my face may have paid a price for it. With a face like mine, that's not much of a problem.

All I ever do is splash water, lather, shave, cold water splash, balm and go.

Average time: 8 minutes, start to finish.
Record time: 2 minutes and 40 seconds.

I've eliminated all the stuff that didn't seem to make any difference and now just go minimal.

Confucius say: haste make waste.

When I'm in a hurry I just use a DE.

I also would like to cut down shaving time on working days. Unfortunately, a 1 pass straight shave is almost like no shave at all - in every respect. And turning to a DE is not very appealing.

The funny thing is that I do not want to deliberately lengthen the time on days when I do have time... I just want to have a fix routine that I always do. I'm working on that...

What I do is face lathering and doing no other prep whatsoever, just let the quite runny lather sit on my face while I strop pre-shave and this way I hit two birds - time-wise. I use MWF soap and a mixed hair brush /boar and badger/, which I've found a nice combo. I still use a bowl, firstly to soak the brush and also for adding water to the lather.

So lathering, stropping, re-lathering, one pass, lather, strop, another pass, rinse, alum, clean up, cold rinse, stopping. 20 min. min. That's very tight for me, but I do not wish to hurry any more than that.

It's really no hurry at all, just eliminating the stuff that seems to help but, in the end, has no real effect. I've tried straight shaving every which way from Sunday, from hot towels to pre-shave oils. If you want to do all that, then go for it. If you want to shave well and quickly in five minutes, a one pass ATG does the job. I think the time it seems to take keeps people away from straight shaving. It shouldn't. There are quicker ways to do things and still enjoy the whole process.

It still takes me a very long time to shave from start to finish showering till the end of the shave clean up it takes me about an hour, but you know what in the end I love it it gives me some me time and it's relaxing. I also shave at night so it cuts down on you know having to run off to work! As well I have only been straight shaving for about 4 months now I think I'm on my 60the shave. For me the time is worth it!

to me its not about making a fast shave.. i started shaving like this to learn to enjoy shaving. i have to shave everyday for work and it was becoming a hassle so i figured a SRS would make it become more relaxing. well now that i have started not only has it become relaxing but it has become quite addicting.. i don't think i ever plan on finding ways to make it faster.. will just work on planning my days to give me enough time to shave...

My current "fast with a straight" works around cold water shaving (JimmyHAD's system) and using a Feather SS or one if the clones.

Between the minimal pre and post razor work (unpack it for pre, dunk it in alcohol for post) and the fact that you can get a DFS in one pass and a BBS in 2 or 2 and touch up and my shave time can now fit in a normal every day "get up and go to work" cycle.
Finish is warm/hot rinse and iced towel followed by the sauce of the day.

Weekends and slow start days and its probably something that Glen Restored/Honed for me and I try to stretch this out a bit...SWMBO now knows: "razor in hand = no talking to the man"

I think you already got plenty of answers here. So I'll anwer a different part.

There's no need to keep your razor oiled or vaselined if you're using it every few days. I have razors that sit for weeks (sometimes months)between shaves, and are no worse for wear. All my razors were polished prior to honing, which does leave them with a very thin invisible coating of protectant behind. The only razors that I've seen rust or corrosion start on or get worse, was razors that never got polished. Anyhow, I guess that might save you a few minutes.