Thread: Need some help...how do I use a "hot towel"?

Originally Posted by jnich67

I've also read that we should wait at least 20 minutes in the morning before shaving to allow the puffiness to go down. Could this be a problem Gawker?

20 minutes being what? After the shower and hot water being placed on your face? I don't think this is a factor, as if you did wait the 20 minutes the skin would be less puffy yes, but will the whiskers still be soft?

Originally Posted by pilothaz

20 minutes being what? After the shower and hot water being placed on your face? I don't think this is a factor, as if you did wait the 20 minutes the skin would be less puffy yes, but will the whiskers still be soft?

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I took the tip to mean wait 20 minutes after waking up before putting the blade to your face.

Jordan

Originally Posted by jnich67

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I took the tip to mean wait 20 minutes after waking up before putting the blade to your face.

Jordan

That is what I thought. I usually shave at least an hour after being up so that is no problem for me.

your face puffs up when we go to sleep? Never heard that one before...

Originally Posted by Berticus

your face puffs up when we go to sleep? Never heard that one before...

Lol, yes- its part of that "sleepy" look. I certainly have it in the morning.

Jordan

Originally Posted by jnich67

Lol, yes- its part of that "sleepy" look. I certainly have it in the morning.

Jordan

I knew I grew in my sleep, didn't know I 'grew' a fat face.

Originally Posted by jnich67

I generally shave after my shower. I also apply a wet lather and leave it there while I strop. Then I apply a wet washcloth for about 15-20 seconds over the lather. Then one more hot washcloth followed by more water, proper lather and shave.

If I don't shower first, I take the time to ensure I have hot water on my face for a good 3 minutes (while applying deodorant, etc.) before starting this process.

I've also read that we should wait at least 20 minutes in the morning before shaving to allow the puffiness to go down. Could this be a problem Gawker?


Jordan

Not likely...I'm a cop and I'm on the evening shift so I generally get up around 10-11AM and usually don't even bother showering/shaving/etc until closer to noon when I start getting ready for duty. I think for ME the REAL issue is the softening process. I haven't been able to try anything suggested yet but I'm still taking notes from the thread and thanks for everyones input. Maybe this will be helpful for other newer straight shavers like myself (sad after 2-3 years I still consider myself new)

Originally Posted by Gawker

Not likely...I'm a cop and I'm on the evening shift so I generally get up around 10-11AM and usually don't even bother showering/shaving/etc until closer to noon when I start getting ready for duty. I think for ME the REAL issue is the softening process. I haven't been able to try anything suggested yet but I'm still taking notes from the thread and thanks for everyones input. Maybe this will be helpful for other newer straight shavers like myself (sad after 2-3 years I still consider myself new)

Well maybe not so sad... There's many factors to how fast someone promotes their confidence with a subject. This could be due to slow learning (which is what you're indicating), limited exposure (could be too busy to really get into it and take notes on your own experiences), lack in confidence to actually admit that you're better than you really are, and there could be several other reasons you consider yourself new to a subject.

If you dedicated every waking moment to your pre-shaving prep work and shaving techniques, spending a lot of money trying different products, giving a thorough assessment of your shave, and still consider yourself new, then you could still have just a lack in confidence in yourself. Either that or it really is sad that you haven't gotten as far as you'd like...

This is how it is for every subject, I think. I've been using different OS's with the Linux kernel and after over 10 years, although I'm definitely not a total newb, I don't think I would have enough confidence to call myself an intermediate user. I think that part of the problem is I don't know at what stage people can really consider themselves beginners, intermediate users and advanced users. But that's beside the point.

Shaving is an art form and it takes time to master it. And like everything else, you don't really master it in the sense that there's nothing else to improve. You'll always be learning new things, trying out different products and techniques. Although BBS is what we all strive for, that may not necessarily be where you stop trying out different things. After BBS you can try to eliminate/reduce irritation if it exists. Maybe after that you'll want a more efficient way to shave the process is too long. There's always room for improvements.

I splash hot water in my face for approx. 30 to 60 sec.
I aply in my wet face soap LIGHTLY with taylor shaving stick.
I make massage with finger tips for 60 sec.(the more is better)
I apply hot towel in the lather produced, until the towel becomes cold( approx 45-60sec).
I splash hot water again to wet my face.
I apply to wet face with a litlle massage, a very small quantity of taylor pre shave gel (optional , I think that the help is only mental)
I make lather with taylor shaving soap
After lathering, I strop my razor
Total time required approx. 7 min

Yannis

i soak mine in hot water while i shower. i then nuke it for 4 mins while i prep. works great