Quote Originally Posted by Jetmech View Post
Ok, I read the online book "Shaving Made Easy" provided in a link by CaliforniaCajun and there is some advice in the book that is contrary to all the preshave prep I've read on this site and others.

"The popular impression is that the soap is used for the purpose of softening the beard, in which condition it is supposed to be most easily cut. This is a mistake. The soap is used, not to soften the beard, but to produce exactly the opposite effect—namely, to make the hair stiff and brittle, so that they will present a firm and resisting surface to the razor.
Now in this natural oily condition, it is very dif- ficult to cut the hair with a razor, and it becomes even more difficult if the beard be made still softer by the application of hot water. Many do this, and it is no wonder they find shaving difficult. When this is done, the hairs become soft and limp, and the razor will either slip over them entirely, or else cut partly into them, bend them back and sHce them lengthwise, all the while pulling and straining them at the roots, and making the process of shaving most painful.
For the sake of cleanliness, the face should, of course, be washed previous to shaving in order to remove any dirt or grit from the beard, which might dull the razor ; but before applying the lather, the face should be well dried with a towel."

So no hot water, and a dry face before lather. Then later on it says to apply a hot towel after the shave to open the pores and then apply the aftershave. Anyone try this? I know with a cartridge razor when I shaved without first taking a hot shower or applying a hot wash cloth the blade tugged and pulled.
I've been DE shaving for years and one of the best tips i received was to make sure your face is wet, hence the phrase "wet shave" . I suppose different strokes for different folks