Who shaves with a straight exclusively. What if you're in a rush/on business?

[Relativo]

Hi Guys!

Another question from UK!!!

I'm finally weening myself off the Mach 3.

I travel alot on business and have to look presentable/clean shaven most days and am often in a hotel etc.

I enjoy straight shaving- my technique is not perfect, but leaves a 98% (soe days less) presentable appearance. Normally takes me 30-60 minutes to shave including prep and post shave.

I don't really want to go back to my Mach 3 eventhough it IS more convenient when away on business or in a hurry.

Is there anyone here who's worked out a routine for travelling with a straight/ shaving expeditiously when on business?

What about travelling with your razors?

Carry on for flights is a no-no so check-in is a must.

Some of the places I go to it's not always poss to have a the luxury of full beard prep. How did people manage in the old days?

What if you're away and one of your blades fails? Do you take a spare? A stone?

Sorry for all the questions.

Any thoughts/advice?

It is a bit of a hobby for me but also I like the tradition of it. I don't want it to be something I do just when I've got a morning free or hours free in the evening, I'd like straights to be my main shaving method.

 

[English]

I shave with a straight every day and a wtg/atg shave takes me ten minutes after my morning shower. It's just a matter of familiarity and routine.
For travelling, you can buy a stick of soap or a tube of shaving cream
http://www.gentlemans-shop.com/acatalog/taylor-sandalwood-shaving-stick.html#a118
and a travel brush.
http://www.gentlemans-shop.com/acatalog/GB_Kent_Travel_Shaving_Brush.html#a15
You can even buy a travel straight razor.
http://www.revisor-solingen.de/html/raritaten_der_woche_galerie_44.html
The main problem is the strop. You can strop on the inside of a waist belt or you can buy paddel strops which comes in a case. The paddel is usually two sided with chromium oxide on the one side and fine leather on the other. e.g.
http://www.belowstairs.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Shaving___Barbers_67.html
Certainly good for a week and for some it's good for months.

Or ofcourse you can always get some twin blade throwaways and look forward to getting back home. These are really good with DOVO blades that actually do a half respectable job.
http://www.moderngent.com/avid/avid_razor.php
Happy travelling.

 

[northpaw]

Last time I did much travelling, I took a strop with me. Personally I wouldn't bother with a hone unless I'd be gone for weeks, though a barber's hone for touch-ups wouldn't take up much space.

Since you have to check your razors when flying, I'd take one or two that were dependable workhorses, certainly not anything that looked nice/expensive. Fortunately none of my razors look nice or expensive.

As far as being in a rush, I usually make it a point not to be. Getting up an extra half-hour early shouldn't be a problem.

However, if for whatever reason my time was limited, I'd make do with a fast, one-pass shave. I just tested myself, and I got a great shave in about 8 minutes, like this:

1. Soaked brush in hot water, washed face quickly and splashed 10-15 times. About 2 minutes.
2. Face lathered with Proraso Green soap. About 2 minutes.
3. Shaved WTG, doing a few repeat strokes and a small bit of XTG on the chin and cheeks. About 2 minutes.
4. Rinsed face, rinsed and shook brush, dried razor, splashed on aftershave. About 2 minutes.

As you can see, I tried for a rushed version but still included a fairly thorough prep, etc. Had I been fresh out of the shower, I could have skimped on some of that. The shave I was going for was a little better than just "presentable", too, so I probably could have done the whole thing in under 5 minutes if I'd needed to.

Like someone said before in a similar thread somewhere, if I really don't have 5-10 minutes to spare, then I ain't shaving.

 

[mdunn]

This is what I took last medium length trip:

View attachment 72503

With a bit of practice you get get the shave done in like 10 mins, it wont be super close - but its definately more than presentable

 

[richmondesi]

Personally, I can shower, shave, and be out of the house in 20 minutes including everything when rushed (result = DFS or SAS at worst).

When I travel, I either pack my straight and a practice strop (or use the complimentary newspaper). But if I don't want to pack my bags, I'll just use a Bic Sensitive and deal with it

 

[Bertilak]

First, I think the time it takes you to shave will come down to a more reasonable level.

Second, I can cut my time nearly in half by settling for a "socially acceptable shave" and not hunting down and killing every little rough spot.

Third, my job allows me to work from home and involves very little travel so I have not been in a position where I will need to shave away from home. If I ever do need to travel I think I will take my GEM Junior SE with me and *maybe* even some canned gel.

I'd rather not worry about my delicate straight razor, carry a strop, and a brush, and try to securely package the soap I use (MWF in a fragile dish with loose fitting top).

 

[Relativo]

Interesting to hear different people's approaches. Looks like I might not be able to chuck that M3 out yet

 

[richmondesi]

Interesting to hear different people's approaches. Looks like I might not be able to chuck that M3 out yet

You can if you're willing to check your bag

I'm just not sometimes.

 

[Bayamontate]

You can if you're willing to check your bag

I'm just not sometimes.

Exactly, I've lost str8, colognes and every other possible accessory after I checked a bag. I traveled with a shavette (no blades) for a while but TSA is breaking balls over that too.

 

[Seraphim]

I always travel with two inexpensive straights, and an inexpensive strop and brush.

Why suffer when on the road?

 

[jadam318]

Forget the M3. Go ahead and chuck it. I travel with a DE. If you can shave with a straight you can shave with a DE. There is no need for a strop, you don't have to worry about hurting an expensive blade, and you can still wet shave on the road. I also carry a shaving stick and just face lather. That way you don't have to worry about hauling around a mug. Get a tube for your brush, a cheap DE razor (I've bought about five for less than $5 at thrift stores in usable condition), and a pack of Feather blades. The only thing I'm unsure about is having the DE blades in a carry-on. I usually check a bag with my razor gear in it.

I know none of that helps you straight shave while you travel, but it gives you a great excuse to own/try a few DE razors. Then you can converse with all of those guys over in that section of B&B. As far as time goes, I can DE shave in about half the time it takes me to straight shave with similar results.

 

[lax1mxr]

+1 on the DE. Although I have taken straights on vacation. You don't always get the optimum set-up for a straight. And if your like me and you cant fall asleep in a hotel until about 30 minutes before your wakeup call, you need to save a couple of minutes. I also use a gillette flare tip superspeed. This is a very non-agressive shaver...it helps save my face in case of non-optimum coniditions.

 

[Bayamontate]

Now that airlines are starting to charge a fee (anywhere from $15 to $35) to check in a bag, traveling with str8s, or anything that uses a blade for that matter can become an expensive proposition. I, as a matter of principle, will not pay to check in a bag. Airline service continues to decline while fares and fees increase. Getting through security is an odessey, the flying experience really sucks.

 

[gone down south]

Now that airlines are starting to charge a fee (anywhere from $15 to $35) to check in a bag, traveling with str8s, or anything that uses a blade for that matter can become an expensive proposition. I, as a matter of principle, will not pay to check in a bag. Airline service continues to decline while fares and fees increase. Getting through security is an odessey, the flying experience really sucks.

I don't have a problem paying service fees for things like checking bags or getting meals on the plane. The alternative is having these charges buried in the base fare, meaning you pay for it whether or not you use the service. I like picking or not picking my services a la carte depending on my mood and needs that specific flights ($25 for a checked bag, $35 for an exit row seat, $6 for the seatback Dish network service, etc.)

Anyways, airfares are at or close to all time lows these days, (you can fly cross-country in the US for under $400 round trip with all taxes included; I just flew Philly to San Jose, CA one-way for $150 all-in.) You get what you pay for!

 

[richmondesi]

Now that airlines are starting to charge a fee (anywhere from $15 to $35) to check in a bag, traveling with str8s, or anything that uses a blade for that matter can become an expensive proposition. I, as a matter of principle, will not pay to check in a bag. Airline service continues to decline while fares and fees increase. Getting through security is an odessey, the flying experience really sucks.

For me, it's more about the lost baggage and time of waiting that makes me not want to check bags. I agree with Jason Werth here about paying for my services

 

[leighton]

I shave in under 10 minutes all the time. If I really rushed it and used goop, I can do it in under 4.

 

[professorchaos]

I'm rarely so rushed I cannot find 10 or 15 minutes to shave. As for airport security, I typically carry on little more than a book and an IPod. Simply will not to take the steps required to carry on luggage. Given what a pain in the *** security can be, a small fee to check a bag is one I'll pay. But if it gets much worse, it will become cheaper and easier to FedEx clothes and toiletries prior to a trip. Probably safer and easier too.

 

[richmondesi]

i'm rarely so rushed i cannot find 10 or 15 minutes to shave. As for airport security, i typically carry on little more than a book and an ipod. Simply will not to take the steps required to carry on luggage. Given what a pain in the *** security can be, a small fee to check a bag is one i'll pay. but if it gets much worse, it will become cheaper and easier to fedex clothes and toiletries prior to a trip. Probably safer and easier too.

+1

 

[joshmpdx]

Traveling with a straight is a great luxury!

there is an entire market for travel shaving supplies for this entire purpose! shave sticks, travel brushes, travel strops, soap containers... SCS has a travel section on her site, and her AS samples are great as travel containers.

depending on how long your trips are i would take at least 2 razors.

take a look at Tony Millers travel strops. he also has a vegan strop which can be rolled up (unlike leather.)

there are also a handful of folks making high end dopp bags for the straight enthusiast.

i love the Valobra stick, and if your a MWF fan you'll no doubt like it as well. i don't think i could even envision a travel shave without an Omega shave soap tub, an item i picked up for $6.

 

[gugi]

I think I just received my travel strop from Jimboroo, it's light and soft and looks like it will be perfect.
But shavette or feather type of razor could work for travel if it's something you prefer better than a DE and those are safe to carry on. There are also brushless creams that work pretty decently, at least for me.