Thread: When to use an Astringent?

I use witch hazel after I shave.

Originally Posted by MasterRolf

I use witch hazel after I shave.

What is the benefit of doing it after you shave?

Tones skin, closes your pores and generally feels good. It's a natural, sting-free aftershave. Read the label carefully, some WH has alcohol added to it. Some are scented, too, which is a nice addition.

Witch Hazel is a mild local anesthetic and vasoconstrictor and thus reduces irritation, inflammation, and erythema following a painful shave.

And yeah, it closes the pores which is important for those who can’t wait for that to happen naturally after a hot shave.

Simper circa,
LG Roy

I was told once that Witch Hazel helps the hair stand up striaghter so it should be used prior to a shave to get a closer shave. Is it ok to use Withc hazel twice, once before na once after?

chrbia1,

As an astringent, witch hazel has the potential to cause whiskers to stand up (piloerection). To what degree and duration only experimentation will tell.

Those who claim to get good shaves by using cold water/lather may be experiencing the same phenomenon.

Witch hazel is fairly benign stuff and unless you have a unique sensitivity to it, there is probably no harm in using it early and often.

LG Roy

Library Guy,

Thanks for your help. I will try it tomorrow and see if it helps in my most difficult area( under the chin).

I agree with LG

It doesn't hurt you to try both before and after a shave. It's pretty natural stuff. Use the Non-alcohol kind. before applying it after your shave, wash your face with cold water...this will help in reducing irritation, etc...then put Witch Hazel on.

Also, post-shave is as important as pre-shave, IMHO. Whatever you do after your shave (particularly if you get irritated or sensitive skin) and the witch hazel, do not use alcohol containing after shaves . Sure alcohol cools the skin (due to its latent heat of evaporation - it absorbs heat and thus feels cold from both the skin underneath it and also from the air around it), but it will lead to dehydration of your skin, leading to production of inflammation signals...enough to irritate you the entire day after the cooling effect has disappeared. Instead, use a good AS balm and moisturizer.

Originally Posted by chrbia1

I was told once that Witch Hazel helps the hair stand up striaghter so it should be used prior to a shave to get a closer shave. Is it ok to use Withc hazel twice, once before na once after?

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

I agree with LG

It doesn't hurt you to try both before and after a shave. It's pretty natural stuff. Use the Non-alcohol kind. before applying it after your shave, wash your face with cold water...this will help in reducing irritation, etc...then put Witch Hazel on.

Also, post-shave is as important as pre-shave, IMHO. Whatever you do after your shave (particularly if you get irritated or sensitive skin) and the witch hazel, do not use alcohol containing after shaves . Sure alcohol cools the skin (due to its latent heat of evaporation - it absorbs heat and thus feels cold from both the skin underneath it and also from the air around it), but it will lead to dehydration of your skin, leading to production of inflammation signals...enough to irritate you the entire day after the cooling effect has disappeared. Instead, use a good AS balm and moisturizer.

Yes...
There is one historic reason for alcohol and other
harsher after shaves. At one time folk shaved with
water that some of us would call "unsanitary". Old
farmer Bob or miner Tom would shave once or twice
a week but the work place was full of less than sanitary
grit and grime. Alcohol or witch hazel could help avoid
problems.

I was lucky -- my summer working underground was the
cleanest dirty job I ever had. We all got a hot shower
and put on clean togs at the end of the shift. But working
in the oil patch and uranium exploration was not so tidy.
There was a reason the laundromat had machines reserved
for "greasers".

So for most of us they are unnecessary. Your life,
face and shave may be different.