How close do you shave?

[Potatoes]

Hey all, my first post! I've been lurking here for a while and quite new to razor shaving my head. Tthere's loads of great tips and advice, but one thing I've not read people talk about is how close they shave their head. I've seen vids on youtube and even folks here claiming they can completely shave in 5 minutes or less, I haven't been shaving for long but each time it takes at least 20 mins
Usually I can get most of it off pretty quick but then spend ages getting it really close, hard to explain but you know when you've shaved your head you can run your hand over it, it seems fairly smooth but if you pinch or grip your head you can feel the really short hairs still there and usually it's in patches. So I'm wondering whether most peeps give the it quick shave and call it good or whether they cut it as close as possible.
I shave my head at night and by the morning it's grown anyway so I'm thinking whether there's any point shaving it right down to the bone.

[Larry]

When I'm using my headblade I can shave in about 5 minutes which takes it right to the bone but I prefer taking my time using my doubled edged razor which gets it very smooth and needless to say, takes me quite a bit longer.

[jamesh75]

I use the Headblade and shave in the shower.  I can shave my head and face in about 7 minutes, and that is taking my time.  That includes feeling for missed spots and going back over any.  I use a Gillete Sensor 3 disposable on my face and around the ears.  The Headblade is hard to get around the ears.  When I'm done, my head is as smooth as can be, for a few hours anyway.

I know some people shave once with the grain, then a second time against it.  I just do one time against and that works very well for me.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Please don't stress about this, your technique will improve, the time to shave will come down, and you can work, as we all do, in pursuit of the perfect shave.  Every head is different, you will, like the rest of us, find out what works best in terms of razor, gel or creme and aftershave products.  Then, you'll achieve the baby butt smooth--if that's what you like.  Look around, there's plenty of advice--but SBG Rule #1, after shaving it off--of course--is ENJOY the freedom. Welcome.  

[Mikekoz13]

AAbout 6 minutes for head and face.......you'll trim that time as you get more experienced.

[ycartt]

I shave my head in the shower with headslick and a mach III turbo.  It adds about an additional 5 to 7 minutes to my shower routine.  I always shave twice daily except Saturdays (give my dome the day off).  Go first against the grain, rinse, reapply headslick, shave against grain again, rinse with cold water...voila.  My hair does grow back so by bed time its a 5:00 shadow.

[dawgfan]

A lot of guys here, including myself at one time, will shave with the grain, and then against.  I seem to get a closer shave by only shaving against the grain.  That's what I do now.

[ycartt]

I used to do first pass with grain then second pass against grain.  Found I didn't get as good of a shave and oftentimes ended up with more irritation.  So I do both passes against the grain with the 2nd pass more fore cleaning up missed spots.

[Arnie]

Welcome Potatoes!

Whatever method works for you...the more you do it, the easier and automatic it gets!

[shaved]

I use astandard disposable razor and if in shower takes 5-10 min if done with shave cream etc 10-15 min,
but i shave it every night and again in morning if i am going out. But i like it a smooth as i can get, hate the rough feel

[1longrange]

I am new at this as well. I use a Headbade and cleanup around the ears with a fusion. When I started it took about 20 min. in the shower, now only 3 weeks sly and I am down to 15 min. It adds about 10 to 15 min to my daily start. But I have also found that the head is getting smoother as I figure out what is the best technique to get my cranial vaunt smooth. I shave in all directions 'cause I like it smooth, after shaving, I scrub the head with an exfoliate, rinse with cold water, toss on some Clear Head, and finish with Glossy Head Lube. My wife  :@`who loves the "Sly Look" by the way said that my cranial vaunt  is getting more and more shiny each day.   

[fcb2001]

when i use the straight razor, im smotth for about 12-16 hours, when i use the headblade sport im smooth for about 10 hours

[Ming the Merciless]

No more than five minutes from lather-up to rinse-off (3X/wk).  And I use a real antique single-blade razor.  Not a straight, however; I'm not that a Luddite.

[ldrider51]

Technique and "speed" improves with time. Since I switched to the M5 Magnum from the Headblade, it's taking me a bit longer, but I'm getting better.

My total time in the shower to shave head, face, and bathe is about 15 minutes, majority of which is spent on getting my headbone smooth as a baby's butt.

[usmcpelon]

I'm learning guys, it only been 3 weeks today since my first head shave.  The problem here, it that I have the barbershop at work and the barbers do a great job at making sure their is no hair left on my scalp.  They use hot towel while someone else is getting shaved.  They us a moisturizing soap to lather you up and shave against the grain once and they feel the scalp to make sure it's all gone.  I like the feeling of smooth bald skin but by the afternoon, I am beginning to heat the stubble feeling.  I can't believe I ma saying that, I hate it the first time and here I am loving it.  Sound like I am at mcdonalds.