An Electric Tale/LFMF

So, like many, I do not have the option of not shaving. My job does not afford me the option of coming into work with scruff, and I can't really get away with skipping mornings. If I do, by lunch-time it is brutally obvious that I didn't shave. As such, I keep an electric razor in my car in the event that I run out of time in the morning to shave normally. This contingency is rarely used and is, indeed, a contingency option, as executing on this will inevitably result in discomfort.

If you haven't yet figured out where this story is going, one morning, not too long ago, I did find myself short on time and, on my commute in to work, I observed my day's growth in the rear-view-mirror and sighed. I dug through the center console, found my electric shaver, gritted my teeth, and began the grizzly work of making myself at least halfway presentable while joining the hundreds of others on the road driving and doing something else (eating breakfast, talking on the phone, drinking coffee, putting on makeup, etc). Well, by lunchtime, sure enough, my jawline was burning and I couldn't even touch my neck. By the time I was driving home, the angry red, swollen bumps were beginning to appear. The next morning, now with plenty of time for my shave routine, I stood with my brush in one hand, looked at myself in the mirror and nearly openly wept at the task before me. Even with only one pass, the lather was coming away more pink than white. It was butchery in the first degree.

This continued for about three or four days before salvation came by way of some saved up vacation time. A solid 2 weeks off. I warned SWMBO that I would not be shaving for a couple of days while I let my abused face heal. After nearly four days of growth and care, I took an especially hot shower, stropped up my trusty Columbia 5/8, lathered gratuitously, turned on some music and had my first enjoyable shave in about a week.

In the end, take heed and learn from my fail (LFMF)!

That was my shave routine everyday for a couple of years, would not have had time to learn straight shaving with a new baby and being out for 11 hours a day. Its different now though.

So now you'll leave a brush, cream, water and straight in your console?

You know, you could buy one of the vintage Gillette DE travel razors for just such an occasion. It comes in a little case that's about the size of a key fob and holds the head of the razor, the handle (which unscrews from the head) and has a loop for holding a blade or two. Throw that and a couple of these little bottles in your pocket, one filled with shave cream and one filled with your aftershave or balm of choice.

You could just head to the bathroom, splash your face with some water a couple of times, lather up with your fingertips, shave and apply your aftershave/balm and be done in a couple of minutes and no one would be the wiser, assuming you have a bathroom you can go and lock the door in. Even if you did a single pass, it would certainly save your face some irritation.

Obviously, this isn't the ideal shave, but it could do in a pinch. I, much like the majority of folks here, prefer to enjoy my shave and relax, but the thought has crossed my mind to try this. It would most certainly beat out using the electric razor, and give you a shave that could pass until you got home.