The hot towel

Hello everyone,
First of all, I want to say thank you to everybody for all of the information you have shared. I'm new here, and this is my first post, but Ive spent hours reading and researching, watching videos and even talking to some of the members off-line for some help.

I am using the shavette currently but hope to move to a straight razor this weekend!

I decided to purchase the shavette because I could use it for travel, and it was relatively small investment to get started with.

I have tried several creams, brushes, skin prep and I'm really enjoying the whole process as well as the feeling of focus I get the beginning of the day now.

I'm also looking forward to having a collection straight razors, and maybe even one day handing them down to my two boys.

I remember learning to shave from my grandfather, and those memories I'm now creating with my boys and I'm having a blast!


A question I have for everyone is about the hot towel. How do you apply at home? Do you sit down in a chair and soak it in for a minute or so or do it standing up? I like the feeling of my shave after a hot towel and I have held on my face over the sink, but that limits the relaxation.

Do you sit down in a chair in your bedroom? How does this all work? I don't have a barbers chair at home!

thanks everyone!
Shuke

While hot towels are nice, I have found a hot shower with a pre-shave put on in the shower to be more effective. I use Lucky Tiger facial cleanser. I keep it on while I dry off and prep for the shave.

When I don't have time for that, I lay down on the bed while the towel soaks. I try to take about 5 minutes or so. I also recommend the longer Barber type towels are nicer than a hand towel or a washcloth.

Shuke,

I am brand new at this too so take anything I say with a grain of salt. I shaved tonight with a straight for the first time but I have been practicing my lathering and pre-shave ritual for a week or so. I get a hot towel and sit in a chair by the sink and relax with my head back for a minute or two. Then I lather and re-apply the hot towel again over the lather. Sitting with my head back. After another minute or two I use the towel to massage my face and get all the lather off. Then I lather up and start shaving. My first shave was nothing to brag about, but I do enjoy the pre-shave ritual I have started. Whether or not you stand up or sit down, try to do something you enjoy and relax yourself for the shave. I figure you should be doing something you enjoy because this whole process is about what you like. My two cents.
Shave well!

I have filled a tub with very hot water and added essential oils and sat in the tub with a hot washcloth on my face. Very relaxing before a shave. I rarely have time to do this and will generally just shave after a shower but every once in a while I'll do the tub and have a great shave and finish it off with a good cigar. Not a bad way to go. Then I faceturbate all day due to the soft face/neck.

I let the water run very hot and drench a washcloth until it's almost too hot to hold. It feels cool after it's on my face a minute and so I drench it again. 3 or 4 times and my face is ready to lather and shave. If I did more I would fall asleep.

I like to shave right after a hot shower. There are people here who prefer a cold shave. Not sure how it works, because it doesn't work for me lol. But there are a lot of people who like that better.

In the old days barbers had a towel warmer or steamer and they applied a too hot to handle scented towel to your face before the actual shave. Some would reapply a hot towel after the shave but that was more the exception. Personally, I shave after showering so I do the hot towel after the shave by relathering and then putting the towel on over the lather.

Personally, I boil some water and then pour it into my bathroom sink (making sure the sink is clean. I live with 3 other people.) letting my face towel sit in the steaming water for a minute or two. Until the water has cooled down enough to handle the towel I just apply it to my face standing up and just soak it in for 30-60 seconds. Maybe I should try sitting down and relaxing a bit longer? It really does help me relax during my shave.

I do it in front of the bathroom mirror, over the sink. Man, I'd love to be reclining in a leather chair with a beautiful girl doing it for me, but it's just not in my future...I have no leather chair. LOL. (My wife would appreciate that).

I used to do all the prep, the whole fixin's, I started to call it my, "shave parade", still do that once in awhile when I've got the better part of an hour to devote to the routine.

Now, splash cold water on face, apply lather, work the lather thoroughly into the face using my fingers, lather again, 2 passes for a DFS and done. Personally, I've found the cold water really takes away a lot of the irritation and makes for a closer shave.

Learned a good tip from fellow SRP member edhewitt, store your shaving soaps in the fridge. I find it helps load the brush much better and results in a very creamy lather.

Cold shave isn't for everyone, but it's worth learning how to use it for when you're in a rush. I can be done, area cleaned up, in about 10 minutes.

I leave the shave parade for the occasional weekend, that's also when I break out the scuttle and also get that warm lather going, now that's nice, nothing like some warm/hot lather!

It's all personal choice!

Now Phrank you have got to stop that back sliding with the scuttle thing. Remember stay focused and dedicated to the cold side. This message was brought to you by the Cold Party whip. :whipped:

Bob

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BobH

Now Phrank you have got to stop that back sliding with the scuttle thing. Remember stay focused and dedicated to the cold side. This message was brought to you by the Cold Party whip. :whipped:

Bob

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Sorry BobH, but Ryan82 makes a stunningly strong case for scuttle use, and of course he's a fellow Canuck...and we both know, Canadians are never wrong, eh? By the way, I'm sorry if I said anything disagreeable, I'll buy the next double-double at Tim's if that's OK with you!;)

Mmmmmmm Timmys OK, all is forgiven you smooth talker you. Maybe Ryan82 can get the Tim Bits eh. :angel:

Bob

Sit, stand, lay down, jog in place ..... whatever floats your boat. I've moved from hot towels in my prep to tap warm preshave, lukewarm between passes and final clean up with a last cold towel compress before post shave skin cream. I do all this standing on my head :D ..... sorry couldn't resist.

I was with you all the way till the standing on your head bit, I always pass out doing that.

Bob

It would be nice to have a hot towel machine to have when just getting ready for a shave. Just wonder if the microwave would do the same as a towel machine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BobH

I was with you all the way till the standing on your head bit, I always pass out doing that.

Bob

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LOL .. it's all in the breathing technique Bob. Next up "Auto Razotic Asphyxiation". :whipped:

Yes, a hot towel from the microwave, a reclining chair, warm lather, smooth shave, and a morning walk with our Labrador is always a great way to start the weekend. I try to do it before the house wakes up and things start rocking!

I'm pretty much in the same camp as Phrank…

I shave usually after a shower but not always, my shower is hot or cold depending on the weather. My shave water temperature is either cold or lukewarm again depending on the weather, after all shaving is not an endurance sport. For me the important bit is washing the face well and then making a great lather on my face. The act of face lathering for me is the key, the temperature of the water is unimportant to me except that really hot towels irritate my skin.

There is a lot of talk about which way is best, but within time you'll find what suits you, so try a few methods and see what you and more importantly your skin likes best.

The enjoyment for me nowadays is about the act of achieving the most comfortable shave and the scents used to either wake me up or relax me.