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How could anyone get a good shave in less then 20 minutes by MarkusToe on 30 Jan, 2013 03:23
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Do you have any tips for a good quick shave? It takes so long for me to get all the hair - maybe I should get a headblade?
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#1 by Crusher0209 on 30 Jan, 2013 03:41
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Practice and a sharp razor will help reduce time but it will take time to improve
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#2 by kalbo on 30 Jan, 2013 03:49
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I'm with Crusher when he said practice. During the early years of my shaved headed life, it takes me at least 45min to get a really smooth shave but with constant practice, I can shave smooth in less than 15minutes. Don't rush it. Enjoy the journey.
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#3 by Frontier Guy on 30 Jan, 2013 03:50
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I've used the HeadBlade Sport since I started eight months ago and am quite a fan of it.
Even so, when I started it took me quite a while to shave. After a few weeks the time lessened significantly because I had better skills and I knew the irregularities of my scalp. Now I can shampoo, exfoliate and shave in 6 or 7 minutes.
Give it time and it will become very natural. Also, as you are still new to the Sly Life don't let any occasional naysayers derail your confidence. It really is an enhancing look on you. -
#4 by isleepinthebuff on 30 Jan, 2013 04:06
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I doesn't take me long at all! Practice will make perfect
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#5 by MarkusToe on 30 Jan, 2013 04:08
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Now I can shampoo, exfoliate and shave in 6 or 7 minutes.
what's the shampoo for if you don't have any hair?
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#6 by Lynchy on 30 Jan, 2013 04:41
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It still takes me 10 - 15, rushing can be dangerous lol!
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#7 by Frontier Guy on 30 Jan, 2013 04:48
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Now I can shampoo, exfoliate and shave in 6 or 7 minutes.
what's the shampoo for if you don't have any hair?
I've got two GIANT bottles from my pre-shave days, so I use it as "Step #1" to break down the oil on my scalp (I've always had really oily skin).
And though you didn't ask ...
Then I use a light exfoliant (HeadShed) just because I like it (and have always used a scrub on my face - oily skin again). Massage on a few drops of oil (which I'll probably discontinue when I run out). Then HeadSlick and shave.
I'm Bald By Choice so I need to shave the entire surface ... and even with all of that I'm done in 8 minutes max (if I'm sleepy; a minute or two less if my coffee has kicked in). -
#8 by -Doug- on 30 Jan, 2013 06:14
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Like the others have said...practice, practice, practice. With time will come speed. I shave in the shower and my total time in the shower is 10-15 minutes.
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#9 by benlen on 30 Jan, 2013 06:39
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Agreed with the others. It took me at least 45 minutes in the beginning, but I think I've "shaved" the time down to about 30 minutes in the last month, with about ten minutes dedicated to touch up work (I'm a real perfectionist).
The back of the head is always the most difficult. I do two passes on the back of my head to make sure I don't miss a row of grass haha.
One thing I can say with absolute certainty is that you don't need to press the blade as hard as you might think. Once I learned this, I made made, multiple passes that were significantly lighter than one pass pressing the blade down heavily. Got less nicks that way and it didn't feel as if I was pulling those little hairs out of my head. -
#10 by MarkusToe on 30 Jan, 2013 09:33
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The back of the head is always the most difficult. I do two passes on the back of my head to make sure I don't miss a row of grass haha.
yeah, I can relate to that, it feels like the hair in the back is much thicker then the rest and today I got a little rash in the back of my head, where the neck starts - any tips how to deal with that? -
#11 by Viking on 30 Jan, 2013 09:56
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I have to echo what others have said and that practice combined with good equipment is your friend. I'm not a full time sly, a lot of the time I will just buzz it as it is faster (however slying it is becoming more common as I do prefer the look). This morning as it is my day off I went for the sly experience and I'd say it took no more than 10 mins. Like I say I'm still learning the skill but I'm guessing maybe having buzzed my head for 10 years now maybe that has developed a technique and muscle memory.
I don't have a fancy routine or fancy equipment. I use a Gillette ProGlide that became redundant when I grew my beard!!
- Fill sink with hot water
- Splash the water on my head and give it a rub
- Foam up my dome (no fancy product just normal shave foam)
- Take the razor and starting at my forehead go back in strokes against the grain (tbh there isn't much up there to cause resistance anymore!)
- I'll then work round the horse shoe going with the grain (this take the most out but I still feel stubble)
- Foam up the dome again and repeat the process but this time going against the grain and this gets me smooth.
- Jump in the shower but keep the razor to hand to sort out the couple of patches I'll have missed (using soap as lube)
- After drying I'll slap on a bit of moisturiser (for the ladies!
)
I found that how you hold the razor is key, the ProGlide has a hinged neck to it, I hold it between 2 fingers just before the hinge and having a finger infront of the razor head so I can feel the rough spots and follow them.
Fortunatly I havn't experienced any soreness but I dunno if that is just because my head is hardened to irritation after a decade of buzzing it, but I'd say it'll get better in time!! -
#12 by Dr-photo on 30 Jan, 2013 10:42
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went sly again last night after two months of hairyness. clippered no guard, probably 4mins. In the shower with plain soap at the end of the shower so the hair softens in the water and steam, probably 6 mins. slightly annoyed I missed two penny sized patches, but not visible and too late to be bothered. Using a triple flexi head disposable razor(I like them/they arent expensive and last as long as quattro blades and are kinder to my skin). No cuts, cant wait to get in the shower tonight and do a proper job again in about 6 mins
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#13 by bella on 30 Jan, 2013 11:58
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yeah, I can relate to that, it feels like the hair in the back is much thicker then the rest and today I got a little rash in the back of my head, where the neck starts - any tips how to deal with that?
I got that and what helped was:- Nivea aftershave balm
- Only very gently shaving WTG across that area for a couple of days
Now the area feels good as new, though I'm still trying to be gentle with the back of my neck even though the hair back there is completely crazy. It's the first place to feel stubby growing back but I am 100% confident only I notice that
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#14 by bella on 30 Jan, 2013 12:04
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Also as for your original question, shaving itself takes me maybe 10 min but 10 days ago it was an hour-long affair. It's the prep that takes most of the time, so if I time it properly to coincide with a shower it's maybe only 5 min longer total than the old routine with washing the hair (add in blowdrying and it's at least 30 min shorter!)
I use an exfoliant (Aveeno face scrub) then let the shave cream sit on my head for a good 5 min. Then relather and go. I can get everything in under 10 min w/ the razor and the follow up work (cold rinse, aftershave balm, lotion) fits right in with the usual lotion/deodorant/etc routine post-shower that I've always done.
But I am a slyette, so it probably shocks nobody that this is a net time-saver for me.
Don't feel rushed -- take the time you need with your head. Consider it "you" time. If it takes an hour just try to find a time during the day when you can afford that.
Pretty soon you'll be a pro and wish it took longer I'll bet