Ceremony and routine

[lifechooser]

I wasn't quite sure how to title this thread, I'm open to suggestions.

As a noob, I'm only just getting into the 'zen' of shaving. My shave time has gone from a minute with a cartridge in the shower, to about 15 with a learning hand and a boar brush.

I've read some threads about how long a shave takes, and it seems the answer is surprisingly long. Much of that time must be spent on the ceremony, rituals, quirks and unnecessaries that many of you must have.

So what are they? Own up! Do you have to lay your kit out in a certain way, shave in a set order, or are there other things you have to do to make your shave proper or relaxing? What are your little shaving quirks?

Richard

 

[Luc]

The right answer is what works for you. Time also varies depending on how people time it (it's around X minutes) or the shave starts from when the blade touch my face and ends when I'm shaved (still need to apply a post-shave product), etc.

I don't have anything special, I just take out all my products before I start, soak the brush, shower, shave, clean up the mess I did and it's over.

 

[Useless shaver]

The whole thing takes me about 25 minutes, from splashing water on to my face up to rinsing my brush.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

15 minutes from reaching for the brush to walking out of the bathroom.

 

[Brew Swain]

Firstly, welcome.

I have not really had chance to nail down my routine yet. I do know that my weekday ablutions take 45 minutes. That includes a good hot shower and a three pass shave with some touch up. The weekends may be longer, but who's counting? It's the weekend. I have certainly added more product to the process, but in a manly way you understand.

 

[Shave_Rat]

I actually start the night before, usually, picking out which razor, blade, brush, soap/cream I'll use the next day. If it's a new blade, I'll load it into the razor that night, if the soap is at the bottom of the shelf under stuff, I'll move it to the counter.

Morning ritual... fill the lather mug with hot water, with the brush in it, and the sink partway with the mug in the sink, get it all nice and warm while the shower thing happens, and depending on the soap, put water on the top of the puck as well to soften it.

After the shower, refill the sink partway, load the soaked brush, build lather in the mug and on the face, let it sit a minute or two while sipping coffee and enjoying the lather (often this step is repeated with each re-lathering), make the usual 3 passes and touch up, then it's clean up while the ASB absorbs in, then it's the AS splash and done.

I've managed 10 minutes start to finish if I need to get out the door, and on weekends when I really want to just slack, closer to an hour, especially if I pulled out one of the straight razors to use that morning.

 

[Toothpick]

i did actually time my shave once and it was 23 minutes. i started the clock, then gathered all the tools and didn't stop the clock until everything was put away and the sink was clean again. There is no "it's supposed to only take you X amount of time". if you shave in 5 minutes or 5 hours congrats either way! my routine consists of looking at all my hardware and software, then i'll pick out the basics, razor, AS, soap/cream, blade, brush. if i feel like using the alum i'll grab that, then just set it in the bathroom on the counter and go to work. i pretty much just use whatever im in the mood for that day. no set schedule or routine. somedays i just don't feel like shaving at all.

 

[Vlad]

Part of my 'ceremony' is picking out my soap and brush. I might even give a few a sniff to help me decide. But after I shower, the shave itself doesn't take me more than 15 minutes, even if I use a brush scuttle.

I can do it in 5 minutes, but I try to force myself to slow down--usually it's thinking about work that makes me rush for some reason, even if I know I have plenty of time to get ready. On the weekends I slow it down even more by adding another pass, just to relax.

 

[Vlad]

somedays i just don't feel like shaving at all.

I don't understand this. Anyone know what this guy is talking about?

 

[framos242]

What ever time works for you as long as you don't rush a good shave....

 

[zethreal]

Mine takes about 20 minutes, aside from "waiting" times, where I'm doing other things...

I never rush for mine. I'm happy with 20 minutes, but I could get it done much faster if I needed to. This is my "me time" and use it to relax and think about the day ahead. I have a few rituals that I could get rid of. I check the blade and razor for any obvious issues ( I don't take a fine tooth comb to it every day ), I lay everything out so everything is in the "right" spot and I make sure everything goes into its right place when I'm done. The whole thing is usually pretty much choreographed by now, aside from the 'touch up' pass and putting on my aftershave. If I had a bad day & have some weepers, I'll leave the alum on for a few minutes extra. If not, I'll just leave it on for a minute or two and throw on some aftershave.

My roommate laughs at me for how long it takes - until I ask her how long it takes for her to do her makeup and hair. Then I usually just get a nasty look, but she drops the subject.

 

[dcobranchi]

Part of my 'ceremony' is picking out my soap and brush. I might even give a few a sniff to help me decide.

A genuine "surreptitious brush sniffer."

 

[Shave_Rat]

A genuine "surreptitious brush sniffer."

Is it actually "surreptitious" if you post in a public forum on the Net that you do it?

 

[BlackBard]

The right answer is what works for you. Time also varies depending on how people time it (it's around X minutes) or the shave starts from when the blade touch my face and ends when I'm shaved (still need to apply a post-shave product), etc.

I don't have anything special, I just take out all my products before I start, soak the brush, shower, shave, clean up the mess I did and it's over.

+1 (except for the "soak the brush" part). The whole process takes me about 12 - 15 minutes.

 

[sychodelix]

I usually average about 25 minutes or so, but sometimes a little more or less. Maybe you should set a timer and note your steps' because 5 minutes seems very, very fast for a shave. There must be some shortcuts happening, or this would be near impossible.

What razor are you using and what products?

Edit: Ohhh' you said 15 minutes! Yeah, that's doable. Still pretty quick for a new guy though. Not bad.

 

[Shave_Rat]

I usually average about 25 minutes or so, but sometimes a little more or less. Maybe you should set a timer and note your steps' because 5 minutes seems very, very fast for a shave. There must be some shortcuts happening, or this would be near impossible.

What razor are you using and what products?

I have timed myself once and using a pretty fool proof cream instead of soap, and just giving the razor a good rinse at the end, I can do a 2 pass SAS in about 5 minutes.

 

[sychodelix]

I guess I'm just too picky about my shaves. Besides when I was first learning, I nearly always went for DFS. Any less, and I don't feel shaved.

 

[BlackBard]

I have timed myself once and using a pretty fool proof cream instead of soap, and just giving the razor a good rinse at the end, I can do a 2 pass SAS in about 5 minutes.

You don't rinse the razor during the shave? What happens to the accumulating lather?

 

[Toonr]

I don't have a set routine, aside from picking a soap/cream, then filling the sink to warm the bowl and soak my brush while I shower. After the shower, I'll sometimes use some pre-shave oil, and then proceed to make some lather. This sometimes takes longer than other times, depending on me, and my choice of soap or cream that morning. I haven't settled on one particular blade yet, so some mornings can take longer than others, depending on how well the blade is working (and my own technique that particular morning). Sometimes I have to reapply more lather... all sorts of variables. On average however, my whole process takes around 25-30 minutes, including my shower.

 

[Shave_Rat]

You don't rinse the razor during the shave? What happens to the accumulating lather?

Sorry, I mean no more cleanup on the razor other than a good rinse. I'm one that usually pulls the blade and does a full soft toothbrush wash with soap after each shave, then dries all the pieces before putting the blade back in and putting the razor into the stand. I rinse it as usual during the shave as needed.