I admit that before I discovered wet shaving I didn't like to shave. I would smear on some goo and try to get the whole thing over with as quickly as possible.
I guess many are like that. As I was doing my shave thing in the truckstop this morning I noticed that in the time that I did all of my prep, lathered up, did my passes, and then the post stuff, three guys had come in, shaved quickly, and left.
One of them was standing next to me and could smell the Proraso shave cream. He commented about the scent and asked about it. He also commented on the brush saying that he thought it was cool but "too much trouble, who has time?"
I leisurely continued my routine until I was satisfied with the results. While time is often in short supply in my business, it's nice to just take some time out for something that is a relaxing bit of self pampering. It really does alter one's perspective on the day as well as just making me feel a bit more civilized in what is often a very uncivilized business.
I never thought I would ever say it, but I actually look forward to shaving now. A little something nice that I can do for myself and make myself a lot more presentable to boot. A person with no shave or a poor shave just doesn't look clean to me (bearded persons excluded), and I certainly don't want to present an appearance of not being clean.
Going about shaving in the right way with the right prep, cream, razor, and technique really makes a difference in the overall experience and result. No more razor burn or bumps. No more leaving the skin feel tight and irritated. Once I have finished my shave routine my face feels smooth and refreshed. There is a lot more to getting a good shave than smearing on some canned goo and dragging a razor across your face. Funny I never learned this until I was in my 40s. I wish I had discovered wet shaving in my teens or 20s.
Shaving used to be something I had to do. Now it's something I want to do and take my "me" time doing it.