How fast can someone get a good Str8 shave?

**Hawkins** · 11-30-2007, 03:20 PM

Okay, I realize shaving with a straight is not intended as a "speedy" endeavor. However, I'm curious how long it takes in comparison to a DE shave? Currently it takes me 5-6 passes with my Merkur HD to get BBS. I'm "keenly" interested in making the jump to shaving with a straight, but can't imagine taking much more time shaving in the morning. Am hoping that perhaps I could get good enough (in time) with a straight to only need a couple of passes to get the shave I'm looking for and thus be done in about the same (if not a little less) time? Or am I really going to have to forgo another 30 minutes of sleep each day

Thanks!

**murchmb** · 11-30-2007, 03:24 PM

It will all depend on you, your razor, and your technique. A straight shave takes me probably 1 1/2 times longer than with a DE. I still consider myself a beginner (but not a newbie) after being at it somewhat regularly for over a year. I only do it at night when I have the time to enjoy it. With a 18 mo baby running around in the morning, I'm not at a point in my life where a morning straight shave is practical.

**shadow** · 11-30-2007, 07:29 PM

I've been doing it for about two weeks, maybe, and I can get a reasonable shave in about 20-30 minutes. I may be a freak though, it's been said before.

**2Sharp** · 12-01-2007, 03:00 AM

Being new at this endeavor I take about 10 more minutes than with a DE. I've been lucky so far with few nicks because of careful strokes and paying attention.

bj

**bjrn** · 12-01-2007, 04:51 AM

Originally Posted by Hawkins

Currently it takes me 5-6 passes with my Merkur HD to get BBS.

Five or six passes?

With a properly honed straight I can get BBS in two passes, then again I don't need 5-6 passes with a DE either...

**crankymoose** · 12-01-2007, 05:28 AM

Originally Posted by Hawkins

Okay, I realize shaving with a straight is not intended as a "speedy" endeavor. However, I'm curious how long it takes in comparison to a DE shave? Currently it takes me 5-6 passes with my Merkur HD to get BBS. I'm "keenly" interested in making the jump to shaving with a straight, but can't imagine taking much more time shaving in the morning. Am hoping that perhaps I could get good enough (in time) with a straight to only need a couple of passes to get the shave I'm looking for and thus be done in about the same (if not a little less) time? Or am I really going to have to forgo another 30 minutes of sleep each day

Thanks!

From my experience with the straights my shave time is about 10 minutes longer then with DE, other things to consider are with a straight the general consensus is no more then 2 passes or you may get some razor burn, also if the skin is properly stretched correctly 2 passes is sufficent, Occasionally for one reason or another I will shave with one of my DE (slim or vision) and even with them I rarely have to do more then 3 passes at most to get BBS and my hair growth is coarse enough that I was dulling disposables (mach 3 etc all) in usually 2 shaves. Also with a straight there are at least 2 more variables that will impact your shave quality and perhaps number of passes you either want to do or even can do, those being how well the razor was honed and how well it was stropped, and the angle you are using the razor impacts how well a shave you will get as well, there is more of a learning curve with getting a bbs consistently with the straights but nothing you can't do if you want to. enjoy.

**sphughes** · 12-01-2007, 06:51 AM

It is interesting to see the responses to this. It takes me about 5 minutes, tops. I don't rush and I don't do multiple passes (don't need them.) 5 minutes from the time the brush lathers my face until the ASB gets applied. Maybe I settle for less perfection, but I don't think so.....

-Scott

**Hawkins** · 12-01-2007, 07:38 AM

All:
Thanks for the helpful responses. I think I'm pretty well sold on trying a straight in the near future

There's just something about the idea of keeping my face shaved with a blade that I own and maintain that's irresistable to me.

**bjrn** · 12-01-2007, 07:59 AM

I just shaved and timed myself for the first time ever. I noticed that if I shaved a bit faster than usual I could easily do two passes and be in and out of the bathroom in ten minutes. That's with a really short prep of just rubbing hot water into my face, taking out a soap and making lathering (~1 minute), put lather on face and strop perhaps 40 laps, shave one pass (under 2 minutes), rince off face and put on new lather, shave another pass (again under 2 minutes), rincing my face and putting on AS.

I just checked the clock every now and again, and didn't check when I started (and I was interrupted between my two passes), but I think perhaps 8 minutes would be a fair estimate of the time it took me. Not completely BBS everywhere but a pretty decent shave. And normally I take about 15 to 20 minutes.

**mparker762** · 12-01-2007, 08:55 AM

The longer you've been doing it the faster it will go. Lynn has a video on youtube somewhere where he does a 2-pass shave with lots of commentary in something like 8 minutes (and that includes stropping time). A 2-pass shave with stropping and cleanup generally takes me about 15 minutes.

Some commenters above have mentioned that you shouldn't do more than 2 passes with a straight or you'll get burn. That isn't true, at least not if your razor is sharp and your technique good. The reason most straight shavers seem to do 1 or 2 passes is because that's generally all you need. I was a 3 1/2 pass shaver with a DE, but straights seem to get the job done much more efficiently.

**Magruder** · 12-01-2007, 10:10 AM

I've been using a straight almost exclusively for about two months, and I'm taking an appallingly long time each morning because I'm still trying to figure out what angle of approach to use on some parts of my face and neck.

About 45 minutes each morning. With a DE it's 20-25 minutes.

I've been expecting this to start going faster as I gain experience. So far my skill and my results are improving, but it still takes just as long.

You can tell I enjoy it, though, if I devote this much time to it for weeks on end.

**EL Alamein** · 12-01-2007, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by mparker762

The longer you've been doing it the faster it will go. Lynn has a video on youtube somewhere where he does a 2-pass shave with lots of commentary in something like 8 minutes (and that includes stropping time). A 2-pass shave with stropping and cleanup generally takes me about 15 minutes.

Some commenters above have mentioned that you shouldn't do more than 2 passes with a straight or you'll get burn. That isn't true, at least not if your razor is sharp and your technique good. The reason most straight shavers seem to do 1 or 2 passes is because that's generally all you need. I was a 3 1/2 pass shaver with a DE, but straights seem to get the job done much more efficiently.

+1

Chris

**razercat** · 12-01-2007, 03:10 PM

About 15-20 minutes with a straight.

Eddie

**kestrel** · 12-02-2007, 06:43 AM

Hawkins

About 20 - 30 minutes for me, but then my shave routine includes brewing a pot of coffee and boiling a kettle (our hot water heater just yaks

)

The extra effort in the morning will have some nice side effects - for me it made time to think, and as my morning routine became more important to me, it also came to include a leisurely breakfast.

I like mornings a whole lot better than I used to.

Best Regards

Graham

**FloppyShoes** · 12-02-2007, 08:03 PM

5 minutes once I'm stropped and lathered (That's 2 passes and the rare touchup) When I started it was more like 20 min, then a half hour before the bleeding stopped.

**ScottS** · 12-03-2007, 06:19 AM

Without stropping, 5-10 minutes. Faster than with a DE.

**Buzz** · 12-03-2007, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by Hawkins

Am hoping that perhaps I could get good enough (in time) with a straight to only need a couple of passes to get the shave I'm looking for and thus be done in about the same (if not a little less) time? Or am I really going to have to forgo another 30 minutes of sleep each day

Thanks!

Taking your DE time and adding 10 minutes seems about right.

My typical working day 2 pass DE shave is 5-6 minutes.

I timed myself this morning.

14 minutes for a my usual straight shave. This time includes: Stropping and building lather from soap. WTG and XTG passes with a straight, plus a quick ATG clean up pass with a DE. Dry the straight razor and strop it a few times.

This method gives me consistently closer and more comfortable shaves than I was getting with a DE alone.

I can do an ATG pass with the straight, but only when I have the time to go slowly and concentrate. This is reserved for mornings when time is not a factor.

**JasonK** · 12-04-2007, 04:58 AM

I take about 10 minutes to get a decent 2 pass shave. I don't take the time for a third pass unless it's the weekend and I have extra time to be careful and thus avoid irritation. Course, a 2 passer is usually enough anyway

.

**razercat** · 12-08-2007, 06:45 PM

about 20-30 min.

Eddie

**Straight up** · 12-11-2007, 08:14 PM

Put me down for about 10mins (2 passes) to get BBS. I like to strop while the suds are on my face & working on the beard. If it takes any longer its because of a longer preparation time.