Week 1: Shaving takes me 25 minutes - is that normal?

**DCGuy03** · 05-31-2009, 01:17 PM

Hi all,

I'm at the end of week #1 wet shaving, and I'm definitely hooked! But It has been taking me about 25 minutes to go through the whole shaving process. I've been really taking my time, which I don't mind doing while learning.

But I'm wondering if this is normal? Does the time go down to a more reasonable 15 min or so w/ experience?

Also, for any Merkur Vision owners out there - what setting should I put this razor on?
I've been going easy so far...using the setting between the "O" and the "N." Is this too restrictive/too agressive? I've gotten a few very minor knicks but I'm guessing that this is common during the learning process.

Thanks!

**jpkunst** · 05-31-2009, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by DCGuy03

Does the time go down to a more reasonable 15 min or so w/ experience?

Yes.

**moonshine44** · 05-31-2009, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by DCGuy03

Hi all,

I'm at the end of week #1 wet shaving, and I'm definitely hooked! But It has been taking me about 25 minutes to go through the whole shaving process. I've been really taking my time, which I don't mind doing while learning.

But I'm wondering if this is normal?

Yep. And if you decide to do an all out, hot towel, hot lather, extra lather, three pass shave, it can take 45 minutes easily. And that 45 minutes will be some of the most hedonistically enjoyable time you'll ever spend...

**SavantStrike** · 05-31-2009, 02:01 PM

You can get it down to a manageable 10-15 minutes, or stretch it out as long as you want. It'll get there

**treebeard** · 05-31-2009, 02:02 PM

You'll easily be able to 'shave' 10 minutes off of that time as your technique improves.

**Emmett** · 05-31-2009, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by treebeard

You'll easily be able to 'shave' 10 minutes off of that time as your technique improves.

I see what you did there...

**mammoo** · 05-31-2009, 02:12 PM

As everyone has said you will certainly speed up as you become more used to using a DE. The important thing for now is to not rush this and just wait for it to come naturally.

**Alaskan Eagle** · 05-31-2009, 03:32 PM

The time goes down but I find that I really enjoy the time. No wife, no stress, just me a brush, some nice soap (Tabac today) and a sharp object to drag across my face...

**cfriend** · 05-31-2009, 03:36 PM

+1 on all accounts. I've been wet shaving over two months now, and *can* get a good shave in 10 minutes, but most days I *choose* to get a GREAT shave in 30-45. It's all about enjoying the experience, for me. If you can enjoy it quicker than I can, do it!

**andrewinman** · 05-31-2009, 04:25 PM

Thats perfectly fine...actually my shaving time(actual cutting) is around 30 minutes. I would say your doing ok.

**heyjaffy** · 05-31-2009, 04:41 PM

As with the others, I *could* shave in about 10-15 minutes if I really wanted to (vs. 5 - 10 that I used to take prior to wet shaving), but I've found the shaving routine to be a new, pleasurable, de-stresser. This is the only part of my day (with a wife and two small kids) that I get to spend on myself, for myself, taking care of myself - why go faster?

**Luc** · 05-31-2009, 04:53 PM

+1 with the above, with time you might go faster or not, depends how you want this. I would suggest not to rush anything. I used to take 25-30 minutes also (even longer with a straight). Now I'm around 10-15 mins with a DE... So yes time will improve!

**Boba Fett** · 05-31-2009, 05:59 PM

As everyone else has already said, it can be faster if you want it to be. Whether you want to shave in 10 minutes, or even an hour, there is really only one thing you need to do:

ENJOY THE SHAVE!!

**nikkuchan** · 05-31-2009, 06:15 PM

If you're concerned about how long it's taking, maybe you should try doing other things while you prep. Since I shave in the shower, I usually throw some preshave on my face, put my brush in my bowl to soak, throw some water on my soap, then wash myself. When I'm done, I'm all ready to shave, with no time spent waiting. The actual shaving takes like 10~15 minutes, but building the lather and brushing it on my face is my favorite part so I take a little more time with that.

**professorchaos** · 05-31-2009, 06:18 PM

Wait until you try a straight razor! That first shave takes a long, long nerve wracking time.

**Walter Sobchak** · 05-31-2009, 06:30 PM

+1 to all they have said.

On work days, I get the brush soaking before I'm in the shower, take about a 4 minute shower, get out, whip lather, do some brush work, and make 3 or 4 passes. The entire thing, start to finish, from soaking the brush to applying aftershave and putting away the supplies is about 20 minutes.

Tonight I spent a good 45 minutes start to finish. Shaved half my face with a Red Tip and the other half with a Sheraton...I can't figure out which I love more.

I typically spend another 4 hours total rubbing my face and mentally grading my shave periodically throughout the day.

Also, I'm here to tell you it's OK to faceturbate in public. It is. I do it in the car on my way to work all the time. SWMBO thinks it's a little weird, though. I had a great shave tonight and I'm doing it right now.

**Tommy_C** · 05-31-2009, 06:37 PM

I'm about eight months into wetshaving, and my shaves still take 25 minutes. I could be faster, I guess, but I see no reason to even try. After all, shaving has become one of the most enjoyable parts of my day. Why would I WANT that to end any faster!?

**strat1117** · 05-31-2009, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by SavantStrike

You can get it down to a manageable 10-15 minutes, or stretch it out as long as you want. It'll get there

Exactly. Just be patient. As you become more comfortable with the equipment, you will gain more confidence, your technique will improve and, as a result, your shaves will take less time. Of course, that is all well and good on weekdays when you are rushing off to work or the like. On weekends I try to stretch out my shaves to 30 minutes or more, just because it's so much fun!!!

Enjoy!