Tips / Tricks for FAST shave

[charloesolo]

I've been wet shaving for about 18 months and don't want to ever go back. I have a comfortable routine using TOBS or GFT tub cream, Omega badger, 34c / Mergress. Takes about 15 minutes more or less and I get great results. On most every morning, I have the time and enjoy spending the time.

Because of my work 2-4 times a month I need to get up and get ready quickly. 4-5 minutes available to shave. Not shaving is NOT an option - I just don't / won't / can't.

On these fast days, I was using spray goo in a can and a Mach III but have begun trying the following: run water in sink, splash face / wet brush. TOBS tube cream on brush, lather on face, two quick passes. These two methods obviously aren't nearly as good as my usual method, but it's what I have time for.

Anyone else ever do a fast DE shave? Tips / Tricks?

[ateace]

I've tried to get a fast DE shave twice, both with disastrous results.

Either skip the shave entirely, or stick with the cartridge on those mornings when time is very short.

[JaDo]

You could use a brushless cream to take even less time. Sometimes I'll use a cream in a tube - like Musgo Real - without a brush. Just squeeze a little in my hand, smear it on my face and add a little water. Good to go. Then do a quick shave - sometimes two passes with no "relather" in between.

[JoshuaNY]

You could use a brushless cream to take even less time. Sometimes I'll use a cream in a tube - like Musgo Real - without a brush. Just squeeze a little in my hand, smear it on my face and add a little water. Good to go. Then do a quick shave - sometimes two passes with no "relather" in between.

I am assuming it is some sort of "on call" thing and you can't just wake up 10 minutes earlier, that would be my first suggestion
But a quality brushless cream would be my suggestion also. Definitley save you a few minutes. You could also just got for 1 pass that day

[PugslyCat]

There's no shame in using canned goo with your DE razor, nor with the occaisional use of a cartridge shaving system.

[FL shaver]

Five minutes to whip up a quick soap lather and do 2 passes and touchups. I've also done one pass touchups with brushless cream in the evening, but that would bother me all day if I started the day like that.

[Mike H]

Can you shave the night before?

[Pebcak]

Can you shave the night before?

+1 yes that. Why not just shave the night before? Seems like a smarted idea then trying to rush dragging an extremely sharp piece of metal across your face.

[sychodelix]

I agree. I like to night shave, and if it's close enough, you won't even notice any stubble in the morning.

[The Kiwi]

You could use a brushless cream to take even less time. Sometimes I'll use a cream in a tube - like Musgo Real - without a brush. Just squeeze a little in my hand, smear it on my face and add a little water. Good to go. Then do a quick shave - sometimes two passes with no "relather" in between.

Brushless creams have been a speed-up option since some time in the 1920s / 1930s. When I changed from my Schick Injector to a Gillette Slim, I also started using mug soaps more often, and using canned stuff less often, but creams worked well enough in a hurry (should've held onto an Injector, and increased popularity of facial hair (sideburns, and mustaches) may have been why I made the Injector to DE swap).

These days, I still go back to my Sensor and canned Barbasol when rushing a shave. The yellow-striped one is best for such purposes.

[charloesolo]

Op here...

Thanks for the interest.

Why not shave at night? As someone else said,

"Because a real Gentleman shaves, every morning"

I never know in advance when I have to get up and leave the house quickly. It is an on-call thing.

I have never tried my DE razor with spray can goo. Before I started DE shaving, I read somewhere that spray can goo wouldn't work with DE shaving, and I never tried it. Maybe I'll see how that is. I just love the brush, though...

[Pebcak]

Op here...

Thanks for the interest.

Why not shave at night? As someone else said,

"Because a real Gentleman shaves, every morning"

I'm pretty sure Marcos grandfather would be ok with you shaving at night and I'll even go so far as to say I bet he'd change that saying if he was pulling night shifts. Don't be so literal.

[celestino]

DE shaving and speed = bad, very bad results!

[sir-nix-alot]

Can you shave the night before?

This is what I am thinking. Or wake up 10 minutes earlier.

[Luc]

I would say what was mentioned up here. Going quickly isn't really an option. Get up earlier, do 1 pass, shave at night.

[ackvil]

If you shave at night most likely the most you will need in the a.m. is just one pass or touch ups.

[rajagra]

If you are responding to a call-out, and really only have 4-5 minutes to shave, just do one pass. As long as you shaved the day before you will be presentable.
Spend 3 minutes on prep and the rest shaving.
Multitask. E.g. if you are going to brush your teeth, treat that as prep time, keeping the face wet or lathered up while you brush.

[PugslyCat]

As the OP says...

Why not shave at night? As someone else said, "Because a real Gentleman shaves, every morning"

I never know in advance when I have to get up and leave the house quickly. It is an on-call thing.

I have worked those kinds of jobs in the past. The cell phone (pager in my day) goes off and you gotta go, maybe for an extended period of time.

I have never tried my DE razor with spray can goo. Before I started DE shaving, I read somewhere that spray can goo wouldn't work with DE shaving, and I never tried it. Maybe I'll see how that is. I just love the brush, though...

I would question that source. Canned goo hit the market in the late 1940's and dominated by the late 1950's. Guys shaving at that time were mostly using the traditional shaving instruments we favor here with canned goo until carts and disposables took major market share in the 1970's.

Back in the spring there was a thread about shaving with canned foam. I tried it and it was OK, but the Barbasol I tried didn't lubricate like good lather from soap. One of the things that helped was to spray a dollop into a bowl floating in warm water and appy the gently warmed foam with my brush. If time is of the essence, though, forget warming it and just brush it on. If you are really trying to save time you may just have to slap it on with your hand like the old days. It's whatever works for you.

[njfitz]

I've been wet shaving for about 18 months and don't want to ever go back. I have a comfortable routine using TOBS or GFT tub cream, Omega badger, 34c / Mergress. Takes about 15 minutes more or less and I get great results. On most every morning, I have the time and enjoy spending the time.

Because of my work 2-4 times a month I need to get up and get ready quickly. 4-5 minutes available to shave. Not shaving is NOT an option - I just don't / won't / can't.

On these fast days, I was using spray goo in a can and a Mach III but have begun trying the following: run water in sink, splash face / wet brush. TOBS tube cream on brush, lather on face, two quick passes. These two methods obviously aren't nearly as good as my usual method, but it's what I have time for.

Anyone else ever do a fast DE shave? Tips / Tricks?

Shave before going to bed that's what I do, takes the pressure off you during those hectic mornings and you get a great shave.

[infotech]

Another vote for shaving at night, if you can get a good enough shave. At night you can take the time to throw in an extra pass or two to get that truly BBS shave that will last a long time. Your skill has to be good so you don't tear your face up in the process.

If you have to shave in five minutes, chances are that's a one pass shave and it isn't going to be very good.