How long does 1 pass take you?

**roboboticus** · 07-08-2010, 02:00 PM

I've been at it for a few months now with a DE (coming from the cartridge world) and I'm making progress, BUT I'm frustrated by how long it takes me to shave. Not prep and lathering, but actual shaving. It consistently takes me 10 minutes for one full pass, from the moment the razor touches my face to the moment I finish rinsing off. Add in prep and lathering, and the fact that I'm usually doing two or three passes, and I can be in the bathroom for 45 minutes, which is more time than I care to spend, even though I am loving the ritual of this whole thing. I know it's largely because I'm still honing my technique (angle, pressure, etc.), and the fact that I'm still searching for the right blade might contribute some too.

Anyway, out of curiosity, how long does it take YOU?

**luvmysuper** · 07-08-2010, 02:32 PM

With the caveat that I want to take a long time.
I'm not trying to rush.
I like spending about 30 minutes on my morning routine with a DE and about 45 minutes with a straight.

**dpmtherrien** · 07-08-2010, 03:15 PM

Rushing is not a good thing when shaving, however if one is rushed for whatever the reason, then just doing a single pass WTG should at least give a presentable shave.

**Go West Young Man** · 07-08-2010, 03:40 PM

It shouldn't take more than a minute or so to complete a pass unless you're purposely going slowly to enjoy the experience. Assuming each stroke takes 1 second, I figure 10 strokes on each cheek, mustache, beard, chin, neck, comes to 60 strokes. Giving you the benefit of the doubt, we can double that and still be done in 2 minutes.

This, of course, comes with practice and requires confidence in your skills. If it's taking you significantly longer, maybe you need to stop being so tentative and just go for it, you might surprise yourself?

**pauls51** · 07-08-2010, 03:50 PM

My WTG and XTG pass can be done in under 2 minutes... But my ATG will take longer.. I longer to make sure that the razor is sitting properly ATG so I minimise touch ups..

**DE Shaver** · 07-08-2010, 03:53 PM

Depends on a number of factors but usually less than 2 minutes and probably close to 1 with a DE razor. You can add a little more time for a straight razor shave. If your new to wet shaving, take all the time you need until your motor skills and confidence are up to the task.

**mkc1mjb** · 07-08-2010, 04:04 PM

My shave time has reduced drastically since I first started shaving with a DE last year. With that said, I spend about 2 minutes on the first pass.

**Alacrity59** · 07-08-2010, 04:14 PM

Somewhere around a minute, probably less.

**roboboticus** · 07-08-2010, 04:55 PM

That's good to hear. I have been moving slowly and carefully, probably too much so. I rarely nick myself, it's more that I'm trying to minimize irritation (though I still get some). But then I take so long that my lather starts to dry, which both dries my skin and provides less protection. I'll try picking up the pace

Thanks for the feedback!

**Vinlander** · 07-08-2010, 05:19 PM

I used a cartridge razor for about 20 years but recently switched to a DE. With the DE, I spend about 2 minutes per pass. It probably helps that the razor I use (Muhle) is pretty forgiving, so I can go fairly quickly. After about 2 weeks, I have yet to cut myself! (Hopefully I didn't just jinx myself.) I use Derby blades and either Cella or Kiss My Face cream.

**Ruck** · 07-08-2010, 05:51 PM

definitely less that 2 minutes per pass, especially if the lather is good. I've found that especially lately, the more glide there is, the faster the first pass goes- not because I try to make it faster - but with more comfort, less pulling, and overall better feeling, it just... does.

Is it crazy slow regardless of blade age and later setup?

**luvmysuper** · 07-08-2010, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by roboboticus

That's good to hear. I have been moving slowly and carefully, probably too much so. I rarely nick myself, it's more that I'm trying to minimize irritation (though I still get some). But then I take so long that my lather starts to dry, which both dries my skin and provides less protection. I'll try picking up the pace

Thanks for the feedback!

Also to remember - Nothing says you can't put more lather on.
If you shave one side and by the time your done the other side is a little dry, just get a little water on the brush and put some more lather on.

**Drubbing** · 07-08-2010, 06:05 PM

2 mins. Maybe 5 if you're new. If you're taking 10, it appears you're still very tentative and lacking confidence using the razor. Going that slow in order to avoid irritation is counter productive. Technique avoids irritation. Letting your lather dry is vastly increasing the chances of irritation happening.

Why exactly does it take so long? Are you stopping and rechecking angle and pressure after every stroke? Is there tugging?

After a few months you really should be able to have a feel for where the razor and blade are on your face, and the angle should fall very naturally.

**Dennard** · 07-08-2010, 06:18 PM

I take around two minutes per pass.

**roboboticus** · 07-08-2010, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by Drubbing

Why exactly does it take so long? Are you stopping and rechecking angle and pressure after every stroke? Is there tugging?

My face (and neck) is pretty angular, so I have to do a lot of adjusting to keep the right angle and get flat planes to work with. I'm starting to feel the angle, but I still take a lot strokes that don't cut much and leave a lot of lather behind. And a few where the angle gets too aggressive.

The neck area was really slowing me down for a while, but recently I figured out that if I stretch more I'm less prone to nick/irritate the skin, and that's helped speed things up some.

**Drubbing** · 07-08-2010, 09:28 PM

My face is Roger Ramjet-ish too, but you might be trying too hard to get flat panels to work with, it's not that crucial IMO.

I would ignore manipulating your face and just work on getting that lather cleared with each stroke. The blade guard does a fair bit of flattening for you.

I realise everyone is different, but I don't stretch any skin, just move my face left, right and back as neccessary. I think your low tolerance for irritation is simply down to lack of razor technique. Until you get that angle consigned to muscle memory, leaving lather behind and scraping with a bad angle will always leave you open to irritation.

**Uncle Erik** · 07-08-2010, 09:59 PM

About a minute, give or take. Don't lose hope; I used to take a lot longer, too. But my speed increased over time without even thinking about it. The same should happen to you, too.

**dpm802** · 07-08-2010, 10:06 PM

The actual shaving pass is usually done in around a minute, though I've never actually timed it. When everything is clicking, I can get a 3-pass shave done in well under 10 minutes, start to finish.

I probably take more time to put the lather on than I do to take it off ... I like to work the brush around and around in circles to get a good exfoliation ... usually about 20 seconds on each quadrant. Then, I let the lather soak in while I putter around, changing blades or whatever. Right before I apply the blade, I'll add a little water to the brush and give it another few strokes on my face, to moisten up any lather that may have dried up.