What if you need to shave as fast as possible?

I prefer warm shaves. I heat the scuttle with water in the micro-wave. Then I create a lather in the scuttle with Mitchell's wool fat. While the later is warming up I use Noxema cleanser and sometimes add Castle Forbes pre-shave. Then I shave. This will take be 10 to 15 minutes in most cases. What if I don't have 15 minutes?

I'd appreciate some input on a cream or soap that I can run into the bathroom, apply, shave and go. During a shave like this I want it to be as fast as possible except for the time my razor is near my face. Simple and fast. However, just to gain speed I don't want it to be an uncomfortable shave.

Thanks for any help.

Jack

I still have a Schick Quattro lying about with the last new cartridge installed. Start to finish, scalp and face, I can be clean shaven in less than 10 minutes standing at a sink using canned goo. Hell, I could probably do it in that time using liquid hand soap for lather.

Buy some Nivea Shave Cream. It is good product, you can squeeze it into your hands and avoid using a brush, and it provides a decent glide to my DE.

I still go with the straight razor routine, but take it to one pass against the grain, rinse and go. I tend to be an evening shaver to avoid these kind of things. Cream in a tube can be super fast too. A quick dap in your hand, a tiny amount of water and spread it on your face, a quick go with a wet brush and bingo.

For a comfortable shave, you should remember that face prep is one of the most important factors. It takes some 4 minutes for your stubble to absorb as much water as they can hold, and neglecting this fact makes for a less smooth shave. So, if you are really in a hurry, shave after your morning shower. When your stubble is already soaked, the soap is mainly for glide and to hinder the stubble to dry out while in the process. I can do a 5 minute, 1-pass shave in the morning, if I have to.

My fastest shave possible would be a quick prep, Arko (or any shave stick), face lather, Schick Injector razor. I could probably do a passable shave under 10mins if I had to.

That's why I have DE's.

Speed and straights don't end up well.

DEs. I am normally straight razor only but the military makes that tough sometimes. I am also a couple weeks into cold water shaves and I won't go back to a warm shave.... not even for luxury. I have a dirty bird scuttle that will probably never get used again.

Any brush-less cream would be your best option, really, as that would eliminate any time generating lather.

One pass shaves...I timed myself once on a one pass shave 3min. 41 sec. now that doesn't include making lather. Total time carefully spent was making lather and one pass was probably a generous 10 min.

A fast straight razor shave is an oxymoron .

Here is what you do... Grab some gauze, lots,,, Tape can be handy too. Lots of it. You might need a wet towel and a couple dry ones. Some antiseptic, blood coagulant,,,,Set it all on the sink. ....Look at it ( 2 minutes) then go to work :<0)

A faster shave is certainly possible but you have to make up your mind. Do you want a fast shave or to pamper yourself?

Plus 1 for bigspendur, slow is smooth and smooth is fast with a straight...unless you want to spend more time cleaning the cuts on your face than shaving it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack0458

I prefer warm shaves. I heat the scuttle with water in the micro-wave. Then I create a lather in the scuttle with Mitchell's wool fat. While the later is warming up I use Noxema cleanser and sometimes add Castle Forbes pre-shave. Then I shave. This will take be 10 to 15 minutes in most cases. What if I don't have 15 minutes?

I'd appreciate some input on a cream or soap that I can run into the bathroom, apply, shave and go. During a shave like this I want it to be as fast as possible except for the time my razor is near my face. Simple and fast. However, just to gain speed I don't want it to be an uncomfortable shave.

Thanks for any help.

Jack

---

10 to 15 minutes really isnt that long, if i was in that much of a rush i would either just leave it until later or break out the schick quattro (from 2 yrs ago when i started using straights, i still have a few carts left)

Gentlemen,

The morning shave is a distinct pleasure for me and I refuse to short change it.

I spend time preparing my face, and I spend time shaving it — because you never know when Hollywood comes calling.

If short on time, I will wake up earlier and shave with the double edge razor. The DE takes less time for me than the straight razor, but even then, I refuse to rush. I take my time and enjoy my shave — because some things are sacred.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

That's why I have DE's.

Speed and straights don't end up well.

---

Exactly the same for me. I have only two safety razors just for the cases I am in a hurry.

Interesting question, never having been pressed for time since retiring. Definitely would not use a straight as said previously straights and speed are not a good mix. Likely use my Merkur slant with a Feather blade and do 1 multi directional pass. Might even try it using a brushless cream too, as suggested previously. Can't see why the whole evolution should take longer than 3 minutes. Just a guess but really don't want to try it. Bad memories of rushed shaves while half in the bag from the night before.

Bob

I like my Gillette Tech for the occasional "oh crap got to run" shave. It's so gentle I can _almost_ use it carelessly and still get a fine shave.

I've never quite had to skip the lathering stage, but may experiment with a fast hand-lather, just for drill. But I should heed Celestino and just buy a brushless cream to keep on hand.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 32t

A faster shave is certainly possible but you have to make up your mind. Do you want a fast shave or to pamper yourself?

---

To me, this is the whole point of wet shaving with a SR. The "me time" has often been mentioned as a major point of our pastime.

The self-indulgence of a not cheap hobby gives us the satisfaction of being pampered and groomed. When so much of our life is spent doing for others (spouse, kids, boss, etc.) this time is for personal reflection and hopefully a very real sense of accomplishment. We gladly display our face and aftershave to all we contact during the day. Our aura is one of a well groomed man. The people who know what we do have a grudging respect for going back to our forefather's practice of appearing civilized and clean by use of a potentially deadly tool.

Yes, it does take time to SR shave. If you don't have time in the morning then shave at night. Many of us do.

JMO

Agree with Obie. 👍

I refuse to rush a shave.
Traditional shaving is supposed to be a pleasure - not a rushed chore.

If I know beforehand (e.g. a 3 am start), I may shave with a straight (traditional or Feather DX) the evening before and might only do a two pass refresher in the morning.

If that is not possible, I use my safety razor in the morning.
I find that using my safety razor for a three pass shave will take approximately half the time of a straight shave.

To save time without distracting from the shave itself, I use shaving stick or cream - without scuttle - rather than soap and still get a pleasant enough shave, even though I know that I shall miss my straight shave later.

A shaving stick may also serve as a substitute for beard prep as rubbing the stick on wet facial skin and then face-lathering has a similar effect.
No shaving gel or foam in cans in my bathroom.


Needing my time in the morning to get ready for the day, I gave up system razors and shaving gel/foam in cans long enough ago to see no reason to rush a morning shave just to end up with the wrong start.



B

http://youtu.be/0yhzewZYwkENot that I'm recommending it, but look at this.
http://youtu.be/0yhzewZYwkE

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Xyphoid

Not that I'm recommending it, but look at this.
http://youtu.be/0yhzewZYwkE

---

Now that is an awesome video, reminds me of SRP member Wullie's famous, "Manliest Shave"!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Xyphoid

Not that I'm recommending it, but look at this.

---

I am glad you said that and so did the fellow doing the shave. The trouble with vids like this and "Manliest Shave" are beginners thinking that is the way to do it, go for speed. Add to that a lot of beginners come to straight razor shaving with unreal expectations and really are interested because it is a "Badazz" thing to do. Not that the vids aren't interesting but so is watching trick shooting but not really relevant to everyday routine.

Bob

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BobH

I am glad you said that and so did the fellow doing the shave. The trouble with vids like this and "Manliest Shave" are beginners thinking that is the way to do it, go for speed. Add to that a lot of beginners come to straight razor shaving with unreal expectations and really are interested because it is a "Badazz" thing to do. Not that the vids aren't interesting but so is watching trick shooting but not really relevant to everyday routine.

Bob

---

Agreed - I still don't think I'd ever try to take a beard off all at once with a straight, unless it had been steaming under a hot towel for 15 minutes already thoroughly lathered up once...there is another video, haven't been able to find it for the life of me, who showed this idiot deciding to try shaving with a straight razor, he literally had no idea what he was doing, RSO straight fresh out of the box, huge thing, mixing up the passes, and then he cut himself doing an ATG pass on his throat, right at the Adam's Apple, and the next video cut was him in the emergency ward...this guy was a real goon, I'm sure by now he is on the list of Darwin Award Winners...

Quite, BobH. Speed is a function of skill, and skill is the result of practice. No point in speed for the sake of it.

That said, what I liked about the video (and the reason I posted it here) was that it demonstrated how - (BIG CAVEAT COMING ) if you are practiced - it is perfectly possible to get a reasonable shave in under 5 minutes, or even under 3, without reckless rushing, which is what the OP wanted to know. So it all comes back down to practice.

Yes, certainly should be easily possible to do a one pas WTG shave in that 3 to 5 minute time frame if you are proficient with a straight razor. Still, if I had to do a quick shave including getting the razor ready, lathering up and doing a one pass shave the DE and brushless cream would still be what I would try. That eliminates the stropping and making lather with a brush. Oth if you start with the face lathered it is probably a tie between a straight and a DE for time needed. Both are quick enough.

Bob

My shave just now.


Stropping 20 linen 20 leather=30 seconds.

Making lather and applying= 30 seconds

2 pass shave 45 seconds/pass=1 minute 30 seconds

dry razor/clean sink and brush=1 minute

Good enough shave to make my boss happy and to me that is what matters. No cuts or irritation.

I understand that beginning learning a skill is slower and takes time but to me these times are normal everyday expectations not trick shaving.

With all the time the guy in the 1 minute shave video saved with his quick shave he probably has a spare 5 seconds to comb his hair.:p

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

With all the time the guy in the 1 minute shave video saved with his quick shave he probably has a spare 5 seconds to comb his hair.:p

---

Well it was still about 5 mins long, but the actual shave itself was pretty quick, and it looked like he did a reasonable job.

Confucius say: Man who shave too fast also eat too fast and drive too fast and talk to fast and wife say he ***censored***too fast.

True enough, Ed. It looked like a decent shave. I was just making a joke about hairstyles.

If I tried to speed shave with a straight I'd end up looking like one of the walkers from the Walking Dead.

If I were going to try and go a week giving one word answers on threads I'd start with this thread: "Don't".

I mean we all occasionally wind up in a rush, but shaving with a SR is not a way to make up time. Others have said it all. Finger/face lather with a good shave cream; use a DE (or your old cartridge razor); go lightly one pass; and don't worry. You'll make it through the day without being criticized for a less than perfect shave. Using a DE (which admittedly I first used 50 years ago), I can get up, shower, shave get dressed in a suit and tie and leave the house in 20 minutes. Cut time from your other stuff, but be careful shaving.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Confucius say: Man who shave too fast also eat too fast and drive too fast and talk to fast and wife say he ***censored***too fast.

---

I suppose the ***censored*** refers to doing the dishes?


B

This is my shave of the day in a hurry ...

http://s11.postimg.org/okp3h0tz7/DSC00851.jpg

Good day all!

If I don't have half an hour for a shave, I don't shave.

And I'll be damned if I ever shave to please a boss.