I couldnt believe it when I saw the results of the recent B&B poll showing only 8% of us shave in the shower. I dislike immensely bending over a sink to shave, having to manage a separate pre-shave/hydrating ordeal and a messy cleanup; so I don't do it.
I shave and shower together, first thing in the morning, in a single, daily regime. These jobs are done together, interleaving tasks for one with the other. I go in like Boxcar Willie and come out like Don Draper...or something like that... Let me try to convince you too!
Its a straightforward ritual:
I soak my brush in warm water and then start to shower, washing my face twice with glycerin-based soap, the second time just washing the beard area, leaving the soap on to work its slick magic while I shampoo. I then leave the soap and shampoo on while I body wash, after which I rinse quickly and treat my hair with a small dab of conditioner. Then its onto a quick beard rub with Jojoba oil and lathering up the brush for a 2-3 pass shave. After the first pass I rinse my conditioned hair and face, and I rinse my face after each subsequent pass, leaving it a little wet as I face lather. (I build up a slightly dry lather on the brush itself and use face water to richen the lather as I work it into the beard.) Following the final pass I rinse thoroughly, clean my brush and grab a terry robe.
Ive shaved in the shower for 35 years. It's a very efficient use of time and inefficient use of water. But I love it and almost never deviate from this routine.
If youre thinking about making the move, here are some thoughts.
1. Keep an immaculate bath. Its easy to do and makes me feel greatevery day. I clean the shower tiles and glass doors twice a week and the entire bath every Sunday morning.
2. Eschew shower clutter. I have 2 residences: On Long Island I have my own bath and use a 2-shelf shower caddy. In the city I share the place with a beautiful woman (married 27 years on Friday!). My face and body soaps share a small dish and I have ample room for that, the razor, brush stand, shave soap, and Jojoba on my assigned corner shelf. Bed Bath and Beyond sells a deep but space-conscious, 3.5 wide salsa bowl perfect for shave soap.
3. Buy a shave mirror you can both hang to shave and rinse under warm shower water. (Sections cups suck...) If youre looking at a Shave Well get the smaller one. Rub a tiny amount of soap over the mirror after warming it up, leaving the mirror clear, and you'll only have to warm it once.
4. Don't separate the jobs of showering and shaving; interleave them. You're in there with one goal, not 2--to come out squeaky clean, ready to start the day.
5. Start the actual shave toward the end of the routine and your beard will be soft by default. Shower shavers know beard softening is the sine qua non of the business, and nothing beats hydrating in the shower, period!
6. Face lather: You don't need a bowl service for 4 in there. And you dont need to whip your brush up like a vanilla Carvel cone to get the job done; the water on your face both hydrates and aids in lathering. Keep it simple.
7. Don't rush! I get a very leisurely shower-'n-shave in 20 minutes and that's starting from scratch. I don't stand around in there and contemplate my navel but I don't zip through it either.
8. Don't worry about leaving your precious razors and brushes in the shower area. So long as the curtain or doors are open a bit the humidity returns to house levels in half an hour and nothing gets damaged. My brushes dry just as quickly in there as they do next to the sink.
9. Finish with COLD water. For the final rinse; just do it.
10. Apply your alum, witch hazel and aftershave OUT of the shower, at the sink, while you're drying out for your talc application. You don't want to drop a $45 bottle of Floid on the shower floor!
11. I don't brush my teeth in the shower, but I can't blame those who do. Just don't forget what a toilet is for...you don't want to spoil the aroma of that Tabac or MWF.
I'd love to hear some tips from other shower-shavers out there. Never too old to learn something new
I shave and shower together, first thing in the morning, in a single, daily regime. These jobs are done together, interleaving tasks for one with the other. I go in like Boxcar Willie and come out like Don Draper...or something like that... Let me try to convince you too!
Its a straightforward ritual:
I soak my brush in warm water and then start to shower, washing my face twice with glycerin-based soap, the second time just washing the beard area, leaving the soap on to work its slick magic while I shampoo. I then leave the soap and shampoo on while I body wash, after which I rinse quickly and treat my hair with a small dab of conditioner. Then its onto a quick beard rub with Jojoba oil and lathering up the brush for a 2-3 pass shave. After the first pass I rinse my conditioned hair and face, and I rinse my face after each subsequent pass, leaving it a little wet as I face lather. (I build up a slightly dry lather on the brush itself and use face water to richen the lather as I work it into the beard.) Following the final pass I rinse thoroughly, clean my brush and grab a terry robe.
Ive shaved in the shower for 35 years. It's a very efficient use of time and inefficient use of water. But I love it and almost never deviate from this routine.
If youre thinking about making the move, here are some thoughts.
1. Keep an immaculate bath. Its easy to do and makes me feel greatevery day. I clean the shower tiles and glass doors twice a week and the entire bath every Sunday morning.
2. Eschew shower clutter. I have 2 residences: On Long Island I have my own bath and use a 2-shelf shower caddy. In the city I share the place with a beautiful woman (married 27 years on Friday!). My face and body soaps share a small dish and I have ample room for that, the razor, brush stand, shave soap, and Jojoba on my assigned corner shelf. Bed Bath and Beyond sells a deep but space-conscious, 3.5 wide salsa bowl perfect for shave soap.
3. Buy a shave mirror you can both hang to shave and rinse under warm shower water. (Sections cups suck...) If youre looking at a Shave Well get the smaller one. Rub a tiny amount of soap over the mirror after warming it up, leaving the mirror clear, and you'll only have to warm it once.
4. Don't separate the jobs of showering and shaving; interleave them. You're in there with one goal, not 2--to come out squeaky clean, ready to start the day.
5. Start the actual shave toward the end of the routine and your beard will be soft by default. Shower shavers know beard softening is the sine qua non of the business, and nothing beats hydrating in the shower, period!
6. Face lather: You don't need a bowl service for 4 in there. And you dont need to whip your brush up like a vanilla Carvel cone to get the job done; the water on your face both hydrates and aids in lathering. Keep it simple.
7. Don't rush! I get a very leisurely shower-'n-shave in 20 minutes and that's starting from scratch. I don't stand around in there and contemplate my navel but I don't zip through it either.
8. Don't worry about leaving your precious razors and brushes in the shower area. So long as the curtain or doors are open a bit the humidity returns to house levels in half an hour and nothing gets damaged. My brushes dry just as quickly in there as they do next to the sink.
9. Finish with COLD water. For the final rinse; just do it.
10. Apply your alum, witch hazel and aftershave OUT of the shower, at the sink, while you're drying out for your talc application. You don't want to drop a $45 bottle of Floid on the shower floor!
11. I don't brush my teeth in the shower, but I can't blame those who do. Just don't forget what a toilet is for...you don't want to spoil the aroma of that Tabac or MWF.
I'd love to hear some tips from other shower-shavers out there. Never too old to learn something new
Still a bit hesitant, I shower in about 5 minutes but my shave usually takes 10-15. Not sure I want to drag the shower out that long. Still, I may have to give it a shot.
