It can done be quickly but what’s the point if you’ve got to rush it
Yep a good shave needs time and most of all four passes: first with the grain, that’s for the colleagues, second two at right angles to the grain, that’s for your lover, and the fourth one against the grain, for personal satisfaction.
OTOH if you know what you’re doing a quick and dirty shave is just as good as an electric one and you don’t have to deal with batteries. If a short buzz cut is all you want do that.
The whole setup is a bit of a bother if you’re new but basic guidelines:
Shower. Well you don’t 100% need to but dry skin and shaving don’t mix well so do it before.
A whisk and bowl, a cheap synthetic whisk is just fine the natural hair ones are a bugger to deal with anyway (have to take care to dry them properly etc), 5-10 bucks for the whisk, 25ct for the bowl in the euro store they came in a 4-pack, really tiny stainless ones. The rest I use for mise en place.
Shaving cream/soap. Don’t think you’ll get away with using those self-foaming gels in a can they clog the razor, don’t glide well, and I’ve never come across one that’s nice to the skin. Comes in bar or tube form, some are better at gliding some smell better if you’re lucky you get both, I’d put the palmolive shaving cream on #1 as “what to get when you don’t know what you want”: Glides very well, dirt cheap, forgiving when whisking, like a bit over a buck a tube.
The actual foam: This is going to take some trial+error, you want extra water in it but don’t make it a soup, you want fine bubbles and proper shaving cream/soap will make them have standing power (though if you’re in a pinch you can use regular soap, no biggie). It should be nice and sloppy, with two 'c’s. If in doubt, whisk more. Apply, then let soak, make coffee or something. Oh, some people don’t use a bowl to whisk but do it directly on the skin. IMO they’re madmen, it’s like brewing tea in your mouth, but you do you.
The razor. Lots could be said about geometry, about different comb sizes, ultra-fancy blade change mechanisms, long story short buy a Merkur 23C, 30-40 bucks, chrome-plated zinc and brass. Good weight, excellent general-purpose geometry, inexpensive, literally unchanged for a hundred years. You might be tempted to cheap out and get a Wilkinson they sell cheap plastic holders that take standard razor blades but trust me the only reason why they’re selling them is to make people believe standard razor blades suck.
The blades. Feather is the creme de la creme and might be just a bit too sharp for some, and also comparatively pricey. Russian manufacturers generally are good but given the situation let’s boycott them, many western producers have spotty quality, that leaves BIC. Yes, the guys who also make lighters, ballpoint pens and surfboards. Bonus: Carton/wax paper packaging, if you re-wrap used blades and put them back in the carton you can toss them in the bin, no worries. How long a blade lasts depends on many factors, the biggest of which is your personal preference. But even if you buy feather blades and use a new one every day you’ll still end up spending less money than using a cartridge system.
Shaving: See the very top. Be aware of the grain, flip the razor over to wear the blades evenly, occasionally rinse it in the sink, you’ll figure it out. Avoid being silly: Don’t move the thing sideways over the skin that’s how you cut yourself. The geometry of the razor will tell you the right angle, just let it lead. Always make sure there’s good gliding going on, never tolerate resistance. Make funny faces to get skin into places where it’s easier to shave, make it taught, etc. It’s an ancient, secret art, traditionally transmitted from father to son, with a break in tradition you’ll have to rediscover it for yourself.
Cold (not ice cold) rinse. A very good way to wake up.
Aftershave, a deeply personal matter. Generally speaking you want an astringent to stop any bleeding (also micro bleeds you can’t see) and a disinfectant and something nice for the skin, my personal recipe is first alumina alum, rinse, then a bog-standard random face wash from the discounter, says aloe vera. The alum will burn worse than an aftershave with alcohol could ever burn but once you rinse it’s over and I don’t want to sit there with a slightly burning face for half the morning. As said: Deeply personal matter. Use whisky if you want I don’t care.
The cherry on top is that this whole ritual is to save someone the hassle of “having to deal with batteries”. The horror!
I’m not doubting that it’s a more rewarding experience, but it always cracks me up when proponents of an obviously more laborious process in anything also feel the need to act like it’s easier too.
It’s like baking your own bread, making your own pickles, building your own wooden furniture, or making any number of dishes “from scratch”. Sure it’s probably better in the end, but that’s after buying a bunch of stuff, going through a significantly longer and more tricky process, and often after making mistakes and building an entire new skill set.
For most people, all it will become is a lesson in why they preferred the original path of convenience in the first place.
The cherry on top is that this whole ritual is to save someone the hassle of “having to deal with batteries”. The horror!
You missed the “a quick and dirty [wet] shave is just as good as an electric one” part, didn’t you. In both cases I’m partly scratchy by noon and fully scratchy come evening. A good wet shave will be about as good in the evening as a quick or electric one is once I get to work.
For most people, all it will become is a lesson in why they preferred the original path of convenience in the first place.
If the convenient path gives you a result you’re happy with then take it. There’s a reason I put “personal satisfaction” as a step after “for your lover”.
I don’t even shave that often. But when I do, I do it properly. I also don’t make Ragout Bolognese that often but when I do, I do it properly. If that offends you then I can’t help you, either.
You missed the “a quick and dirty [wet] shave is just as good as an electric one” part, didn’t you.
I didn’t miss it, I just didn’t feel it was worth it to point out how obviously wrong it was.
Sure they might give equivalent results, but one is significantly faster, easier, and less hassle than the other.
I’ve done both kinds of shave and there’s no arguing that a wet shave gives the superior results…but pretending that it’s not a lot more fuss and effort is just ridiculous.
We use a quick-pickle recipe, we can make six to eight big jars in under two hours. Even using mediocre cucumbers, they’re WAYYYY better than anything you can buy in stores. You get jars of slices, spears, little pickles if ya want… Pickle diversity! Way less money, too.
The rest of the things you’ve listed I agree with.
All of the other things require so much more effort and time for similar results.
Pickles take not much time and effort and are insanely better and less expensive than picking up a jar at the store.
I never claimed it’s faster or easier, I’m just saying it doesn’t take anywhere near as much time or effort to make infinitely better pickles than to make bread, shave using a safety razor, MAKING FURNITURE?! etc.
I don’t know why you’re so defensive, it’s just… I love good pickles, and they’re easy to make. It’s not in the same world as the other stuff ya listed.
I use Merkur shaver with Cremo cream. Here’s my process:
turn faucet on until hot water running. Wet face. Apply cream. Shave. Rinse and dry
It literally isn’t different from shaving with a cartridge except a better shave, more pleasant, and cheaper. OK, it probably takes 10 seconds extra to change the blade vs popping cartridge, but that’s it
I shaved with an electric for a couple years, bad shaves and bad skin
You’re completely right, I described shaving with the extra steps of figuring out what to buy and why to buy it as well as showering and making coffee. I even briefly touched on cooking.
I mentioned this elsewhere but unless you have sensitive skin you should be able to use a safety razor pretty much like a 3 or 5 blade, ie without a ton of prep. Pretty much wet your face, apply cream (although I haven’t tried it with the cheap foam stuff bc I stopped using those awhile ago), and go to town.
If you want to make it a whole thing it will probably get you a super close shave in the end, but if your goal is just to shave before work it should work fine in the same amount of time as the multi-blades. I’ve never had much luck with an electric-- I’ve got pretty thick hair and electrics inevitably pull at some of my hairs instead of cutting (I’ve never tried a high end electric though), so discovering safety razors was great for me.
Thanks for sharing the instructions with folks here. As I said above, I’ve been a traditional wet shaver for two and a half years, so I pretty much know all this. However, wet shaving takes a lot of time for me and for various physical reasons and limitations, I cannot spend a long time shaving. I’ve learned how to speed up the process, but this means sloppier technique and it shows on my skin. At this point I want to give my skin a break by having a short stubble rather than going for BBS (that stands for BaBy Smooth) every single time. 😄 I don’t mean to scare people away from traditional wet shaving, I’m just speaking for myself, who happens to have some motor function problems etc. If you’re fairly “normal”, there should be no reason not to try traditional wet shaving. It’s a treat and something to look forward to every single time.
Face. I’m not any slower either (when not counting soaking while making coffee as shaving time) and you’re paying a lot more than I do: 13.5ct per blade. Cheapest are like 8ct, most expensive ones 35ct. They’re not blunting faster either (at least decent ones don’t ask me about the bargain bin stuff).
Also literally no plastic waste in the whole setup in case you care about such things.
Yep a good shave needs time and most of all four passes: first with the grain, that’s for the colleagues, second two at right angles to the grain, that’s for your lover, and the fourth one against the grain, for personal satisfaction.
OTOH if you know what you’re doing a quick and dirty shave is just as good as an electric one and you don’t have to deal with batteries. If a short buzz cut is all you want do that.
The whole setup is a bit of a bother if you’re new but basic guidelines:
That sounds like shaving with extra steps.
Right?
The cherry on top is that this whole ritual is to save someone the hassle of “having to deal with batteries”. The horror!
I’m not doubting that it’s a more rewarding experience, but it always cracks me up when proponents of an obviously more laborious process in anything also feel the need to act like it’s easier too.
It’s like baking your own bread, making your own pickles, building your own wooden furniture, or making any number of dishes “from scratch”. Sure it’s probably better in the end, but that’s after buying a bunch of stuff, going through a significantly longer and more tricky process, and often after making mistakes and building an entire new skill set.
For most people, all it will become is a lesson in why they preferred the original path of convenience in the first place.
You missed the “a quick and dirty [wet] shave is just as good as an electric one” part, didn’t you. In both cases I’m partly scratchy by noon and fully scratchy come evening. A good wet shave will be about as good in the evening as a quick or electric one is once I get to work.
If the convenient path gives you a result you’re happy with then take it. There’s a reason I put “personal satisfaction” as a step after “for your lover”.
I don’t even shave that often. But when I do, I do it properly. I also don’t make Ragout Bolognese that often but when I do, I do it properly. If that offends you then I can’t help you, either.
A rare sighting of a gentleman in the wild!
Personally, I will start this when I retire. Right now, I do go to a straight razor shave once a month. Just because it’s nice. Personal care.
I didn’t miss it, I just didn’t feel it was worth it to point out how obviously wrong it was.
Sure they might give equivalent results, but one is significantly faster, easier, and less hassle than the other.
I’ve done both kinds of shave and there’s no arguing that a wet shave gives the superior results…but pretending that it’s not a lot more fuss and effort is just ridiculous.
I’m here to defend pickles!
We use a quick-pickle recipe, we can make six to eight big jars in under two hours. Even using mediocre cucumbers, they’re WAYYYY better than anything you can buy in stores. You get jars of slices, spears, little pickles if ya want… Pickle diversity! Way less money, too.
The rest of the things you’ve listed I agree with.
Yes! I’ve been growing some hot peppers recently and throwing some of those in with the pickles is amazing if you’re into spice.
Once more, with feeling…
I’m not saying it’s not more rewarding, better quality, etc.
But it’s not easier than just buying a damn jar of pickles when you’re at the store.
I make them and buy them, I garden my own cucumbers specifically to make them. I’ve made quick ones, slow ones, garlic ones, spicy ones…it’s not hard…
…but I’m not going to pretend it’s faster or easier than buying a jar from the fucking supermarket.
Because it’s not.
Jeez dude
All of the other things require so much more effort and time for similar results.
Pickles take not much time and effort and are insanely better and less expensive than picking up a jar at the store.
I never claimed it’s faster or easier, I’m just saying it doesn’t take anywhere near as much time or effort to make infinitely better pickles than to make bread, shave using a safety razor, MAKING FURNITURE?! etc.
I don’t know why you’re so defensive, it’s just… I love good pickles, and they’re easy to make. It’s not in the same world as the other stuff ya listed.
I use Merkur shaver with Cremo cream. Here’s my process:
turn faucet on until hot water running. Wet face. Apply cream. Shave. Rinse and dry
It literally isn’t different from shaving with a cartridge except a better shave, more pleasant, and cheaper. OK, it probably takes 10 seconds extra to change the blade vs popping cartridge, but that’s it
I shaved with an electric for a couple years, bad shaves and bad skin
You’re completely right, I described shaving with the extra steps of figuring out what to buy and why to buy it as well as showering and making coffee. I even briefly touched on cooking.
I mentioned this elsewhere but unless you have sensitive skin you should be able to use a safety razor pretty much like a 3 or 5 blade, ie without a ton of prep. Pretty much wet your face, apply cream (although I haven’t tried it with the cheap foam stuff bc I stopped using those awhile ago), and go to town.
If you want to make it a whole thing it will probably get you a super close shave in the end, but if your goal is just to shave before work it should work fine in the same amount of time as the multi-blades. I’ve never had much luck with an electric-- I’ve got pretty thick hair and electrics inevitably pull at some of my hairs instead of cutting (I’ve never tried a high end electric though), so discovering safety razors was great for me.
Thanks for sharing the instructions with folks here. As I said above, I’ve been a traditional wet shaver for two and a half years, so I pretty much know all this. However, wet shaving takes a lot of time for me and for various physical reasons and limitations, I cannot spend a long time shaving. I’ve learned how to speed up the process, but this means sloppier technique and it shows on my skin. At this point I want to give my skin a break by having a short stubble rather than going for BBS (that stands for BaBy Smooth) every single time. 😄 I don’t mean to scare people away from traditional wet shaving, I’m just speaking for myself, who happens to have some motor function problems etc. If you’re fairly “normal”, there should be no reason not to try traditional wet shaving. It’s a treat and something to look forward to every single time.
Is this for shaving the head? Cuz shaving the face is simple: can of shaving cream and a Mach 3. Done in 7 minutes tops
Face. I’m not any slower either (when not counting soaking while making coffee as shaving time) and you’re paying a lot more than I do: 13.5ct per blade. Cheapest are like 8ct, most expensive ones 35ct. They’re not blunting faster either (at least decent ones don’t ask me about the bargain bin stuff).
Also literally no plastic waste in the whole setup in case you care about such things.
Gotcha, you’re right about the costs. All of those shavers are expensive. Shaving every few days helps keep costs down, but yeah so pricey.