How to Shave Fast with these 7 Easy Tricks
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Part of the joy of classic wet shaving with a classic D-E razor is that we can take our time and make a little everyday ritual and enjoy a little everyday ritual while making a perfect shave out of it. However, some of us have children to deliver to school and a train to catch!
Here are 7 tricks to get a quick & easy shave for men. With these techniques, you can get down to approx. 3 minutes from the time you take out the shaving brush until your good razor is back on the shelf.
This is why Classic Wet Shaving is so Fast
Initially, it may seem that a cartridge razor with many blades and shaving gel in a canister saves time, but in reality, shaving with a traditional safety razor and brush can be at least as fast.
- A safety razor is completely clean of hair and foam by a quick dip in the sink. Multi-blade razors usually need to be rinsed, pounded, etc. many times during a shave.
- A safety razor can shave longer hair without the need for trimming with scissors or a machine first.
- A safety razor is gentle enough that you can take many, fast, overlapping passes without getting a rash.
- The shaving brush lifts the hair so that the actual shaving is easier and faster.
- Shaving lather created by a shaving brush stays soft and smooth throughout the shave, while canned shaving foam quickly begins to dry out and in some cases needs to be reapplied.
1. Prepare
Organize the equipment you are going to use in order, from right to left or vice versa, depending on which hand you are using. Clear away everything else that does not need to stand out and fill the sink with water while (for example), drying your hair. For this guide we will use:
- Shaving brush
- Shaving cream in a bowl
- Razor
- Aftershave cream
- Clean towel
2. Use Shaving Cream in a Bowl
Shaving cream in a bowl is the fastest option with a shaving brush. The large opening allows you to spread a thin film of cream over the entire tip of the bristles, which is much faster to lather up than one from a tube. Since the cream is liquid, it also takes marginally less time to lather than even the best shaving soap in solid form. Rotate a moistened brush in the bowl along its axis, then you will not spill over the edge.
Option: If you are using shaving cream in a tube. You can make foam in record time by taking a little cream right in your hands, applying it to your face, and then lathering with a damp shave brush. You remove the cream from your hands by dipping them in the sink.
3. Lather up Right on your Face
You will always get the fullest lather in a separate shaving cup. However, the best traditional shave creams are oily enough to lather up, right on the skin. Be sure to use plenty of water on your brush and apply some pressure while lathering in a circular motion. Do not be shy – a good shaving brush can withstand quite a lot of pressure.
On some YouTube videos, people lather up for multiple minutes. It is of course cozy and provides superior full-bodied lather, but you do not have time to do it when you are in a hurry. As soon as the lather feels smooth, it is ready for shaving – it does not have to be so thick to give acceptable lubrication.
4. A Good Shaving Brush Saves Time
Some shaving brushes prioritize comfort over speed, others have a stiffer “backbone” and denser bristles that allow you to make lather in less time. Silvertip and Silvertip Fiber bristles make rich lather faster than the softer Pure Badger and Black Fiber do. Since each hair on these brushes is thinner, the bristles become denser and the air bubbles in the lather are smaller and more evenly distributed. Nice to keep in mind when choosing a shaving brush!
5. Shave with several short Strokes
You get a closer and quicker shave with many partially overlapping strokes than with a few, long strokes with the razor.
Traditional safety razors are so gentle that most people can shave the same area several times without risking irritation, and the many passes allow you to automatically adjust the angle of the razor to the contours of the face. The razor also shaves on both sides so you can take two passes before you have to rinse the razor in the sink.
Note: Do not shave faster than you are comfortable with. As you gain experience with your razor, you can gradually increase the pace without getting small cuts. Use a razor with a closed comb and gentle razor blades if in doubt.
6. Shave in a Fixed Order
You lose time if you start wondering where you have already shaved. Instead, take all areas in a fixed order so you are 100 percent sure that everything will be shaved.
Try to take the cheeks first, then around the mouth, along the jaw, and finally the neck. This way you always have a soap-free area that you can use to tighten the skin with the other hand if necessary. Naturally, skip the areas that you are saving for a mustache or beard!
7. Use Aftershave as a Face Cream
No matter how you shave, it is difficult to get smooth skin without an aftershave, so this is a step we do not skip. If we are running late (and if our skin can tolerate it), we don’t disinfect the skin with aftershave/ alum and instead go straight to the aftershave balm. If you have oily skin or live in warm areas, you can use only the aftershave or alum block and skip the aftershave balm.
By using a mild cream or balm with good moisturizing properties, you can apply it on the whole face, and also on your dome if you shave your head. For most of us, this saves a lot of time because we have to use some kind of moisturizer anyway. For use on the entire face, you may want to choose an aftershave balm without too strong an odor.