Shaving in the shower for ~35 years

[Ron Scott]

When I was about 22 I noticed a buddy had a small mirror in his shower on the top shelf of a corner caddy and next to his shave gear: "Only way to go, man."

That was it for me. Started the next morning and never looked back.

It's not for everyone but it works for me for a few reasons:

1. No sink area mess. Keep the essentials--razor, brush, soaps, oils--all on one shower shelf. And don't worry about cleaning up around your sink.
2. Fully hydrated shave prep by default.
3. Efficiency: I interleave my showering tasks with shaving tasks and get it all done in less than 20 minutes.
4. A REAL rinse with no soap left behind my ears or wherever. And I rinse as I please between passes.
5. No need to be extra careful with the lather on my face and neck. If some goes flying it doesn't end up on the bathroom floor.
6. I clean my brush fully and easily and shake off the excess water unabashedly.

Funny thing is, when I'm at a hotel and shave at a sink I have to compensate for all sorts of things. The lather is drier, I get soapy water up my arms, have to clean the soap out of my ears and nose with a washcloth, need half an hour for the shower-and-shave, and so on. It makes me laugh when I realize how addicted I've become to shower shaving and take that simplicity for granted.

 

[ateace]

When I was about 22 I noticed a buddy had a small mirror in his shower on the top shelf of a corner caddy and next to his shave gear: "Only way to go, man."

That was it for me. Started the next morning and never looked back.

It's not for everyone but it works for me for a few reasons:

1. No sink area mess. Keep the essentials--razor, brush, soaps, oils--all on one shower shelf. And don't worry about cleaning up around your sink.
2. Fully hydrated shave prep by default.
3. Efficiency: I interleave my showering tasks with shaving tasks and get it all done in less than 20 minutes.
4. A REAL rinse with no soap left behind my ears or wherever. And I rinse as I please between passes.
5. No need to be extra careful with the lather on my face and neck. If some goes flying it doesn't end up on the bathroom floor.
6. I clean my brush fully and easily and shake off the excess water unabashedly.

Funny thing is, when I'm at a hotel and shave at a sink I have to compensate for all sorts of things. The lather is drier, I get soapy water up my arms, have to clean the soap out of my ears and nose with a washcloth, need half an hour for the shower-and-shave, and so on. It makes me laugh when I realize how addicted I've become to shower shaving and take that simplicity for granted.

Very well put and matches my situation almost exactly - about 25 years shower shaving for me.

I don't use a DE when I travel and I can use a Sensor in the shower without a mirror. Not as nice as a full DE shave, but it gets the job done.

 

[engblom]

I have been shaving in shower for 10+ years without mirror even. Recently I have been a bit shaving with soaps (even making own soaps), that I of course have to try

Shaving in the shower works well if you have been long time enough to get warm and if you avoid to get any soap on your face. You need a little fat layer there. Recently I have been putting a few drips of grape-seed oil in my palm and then rubbing it into the face before shaving in the shower. If the skin is squeeky clean (as after soap), shaving in the shower does not work well.

 

[CatSaddler]

I assume you guys are not using straights...

 

[engblom]

I assume you guys are not using straights...

I shaved some time with something at least the same dangerous. It was the plastic Wilkinson Classic DE. As it was made out of plast it was easy to remove the safety bar and let the blade fully expured to the skin. No, I was not using any mirror even then.

If you would try, I am sure you would be able to shave with a straight in the shower. I do not recommend it for somebody that just begun wet shaving, but after some time you surely know the shape of you face and the muscle memory does the shaving.

 

[Fourcooks]

I always shaved in the shower before I started DE shaving. Perhaps I should revisit the shower shave.

 

[duderubble]

The problem with a straight in the shower is the significant loss that could occur if you dropped the razor.

 

[striker6]

Agreed... Shower shaving is much better for all the reasons you stated... I travel a lot for work and ran into the same 'sink' problems. I pick up this travel mirror and it solved the problem!

 

[DrAwkward]

The problem with a straight in the shower is the significant loss that could occur if you dropped the razor.

Good point. Nonetheless, I have used a straight in the shower 2 or 3 times without losing any appendages. Moreover, I will do it again (although not very often since my skills with a straight are severely limited).
I have been shaving in the shower for more than 10 years. I used to use a combo of an M3 cart plus a Panasonic wet/dry electric (with Aveeno canned goo). Then I switched to cart only, then I added a brush + proper shaving soap. Finally, of course, I switched to DE.
For all of the reasons listed by OP Ron Scott, I vastly prefer shaving in the shower. Lately, I have been turning off the shower during the actual shaving part to save water ...

 

[Mandina]

I headshave in the shower, and also turn off the water while shaving to save water (having filled a cheap plastic bowl with water to rinse the razor). What I do find awkward, as someone mentions above, is that I need to towel dry my body first or else I feel uncomfortable and chilled. Another adjustment: I need to use a drier brush than normal due to the humidity in the shower area.

 

[Atalk]

Shower-Shavin' since the beginning...and I support Ron's message

 

[wimbouman]

Where else?

 

[Howie]

It's not for everyone but it works for me for a few reasons:

1. No sink area mess. Keep the essentials--razor, brush, soaps, oils--all on one shower shelf. And don't worry about cleaning up around your sink.
2. Fully hydrated shave prep by default.
3. Efficiency: I interleave my showering tasks with shaving tasks and get it all done in less than 20 minutes.
4. A REAL rinse with no soap left behind my ears or wherever. And I rinse as I please between passes.
5. No need to be extra careful with the lather on my face and neck. If some goes flying it doesn't end up on the bathroom floor.
6. I clean my brush fully and easily and shake off the excess water unabashedly.

7. Let's not forget a COLOSSAL WASTE of HOT water.

Well, in the end, it's YOUR hot water..... I assume you pay for it as well...

 

[ironfist]

I need to try shaving in the shower, see how it goes

 

[sarimento1]

Did it (shower shaving) for 15 years, usually canned foam and the Trac II.
I felt it was a 'time saver' of 5 minutes in the morning routine when time was critical.
There was bathroom (6 min), shower (8 min), dress (10 min), take out trash and/or dog (6 min), commute (45 min), breakfast at office (15 min), then prep at office for the day (start time 7am).
Ah, now, at least for me, those days are long past!
I don't regret, but neither do I look back!
You guys who still do, enjoy!!

 

[4freek]

+1 on the shavewell mirror,
I've gone through a few different mirrors and that one is the best I've had so far.
It travels well too, so hotel shaves are just like home,

 

[chrisknight]

Wow... The thought never crossed my mind. I might try this.

 

[The Dean]

7. Let's not forget a COLOSSAL WASTE of HOT water.

Well, in the end, it's YOUR hot water..... I assume you pay for it as well...

I would guess I use more hot water at the sink. I admit I have no way to measure this. Then again, I understand this might be particular to me.

1. I have a showerhead with a trickle flow adjustment, Some turn their water off completely, but I like a dribble coming from the head to rinse the razor. I find it far easier than swishing it around in still water. And occasionally the mirror fogs and it's easy to stick it under the water to clear it.

2. If I don't shave in the shower, I actually prefer to shave before my shower. That means I have to use a LOT of water to hydrate my face. I either have to take two showers (one before and one after), or run a lot of water on the initial shave. (My sink faucet takes a while before the water gets really hot.)

Yes, I probably could find a way to compromise if saving water, and specifically hot water, was a huge issue. But I do a pretty good job of conserving in other areas of water usage. My shave is one place I feel free to splurge a bit.

 

[Face Bannon]

I was a shower shaver for years -- started in a crowded college dorm with one bathroom on the hall, continued through military with gang latrines, and in the field (tent cities) it was easier to shave in the shower than find a place to lather up.

But I used no mirror and no lather. Just did it by feel and constant hot water rinse. It works fine.

 

[dieselfuel79]

Ever since I threw out my old shower mirror (it was actually a reflective mirror like paper that peeled off the frame...) I haven't shaved in the shower. I should really look into getting an actual shower mirror. Always had great shaves in the shower. Constant steam and hydration.