I use disposables in the shower, usually with soap and a bit of lathering time. I can draw a blade out for months at a time, and usually prefer it after the fir

I use disposables in the shower, usually with soap and a bit of lathering time. I can draw a blade out for months at a time, and usually prefer it after the first few days since a dull blade is more forgiving. The caveat(if any) is that the technique requires a lot of slow passes - first with the grain a few times, then sideways a few times, then against the grain - so I end up with 15-20 minute showers. The skin preparation is a big part in how well it comes out in the end; a moist lather is the only reason I can work with dull blades. I compared my brother's technique against mine once. He took the cream, spread it on without lathering, and then practically rammed a fresh Mach 3 blade straight down his face, one stroke per section. Finished in under a minute. Suddenly, it became clear why he always had persistent five-o-clock shadow; as I told him upon seeing this, he wasn't really shaven by doing this, he just wouldn't get a beard.