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

[Gawker]

I've been lurking for quite some time lately instead of actively posting but the details behind that are rather bleak so I won't bother with them. Anyhow I have a question/scenario I'd like a little clarification on regarding the prep portion of my shave...

First off, I like to shave BEFORE my shower because my face wash seems more effective without the extra dead skin etc in the way. The problem is I notice that my beard growth is significantly softer/easier to cut immediately afterwards.

For instance, prior to going to a straight razor I shaved in the shower with my Mach3 and my beard was/is fantastically easy to cut through. Out of the shower though it's tougher and less enjoyable.

Obviously shaving blind in the shower with a straight razor opens yourself up to accidental suicide, rusting blades, and probably more than enough other problems to prohibit that idea so I'm on the hunt for equally viable alternatives...problem is I've never been able to achieve those same results with simply soaking under a hot towel.

Either the towel is hot, but doesn't have enough water in it to actually soften the bristles, or I end up soaked because the water in the towel is running down the rest of me. And of course in the latter case I don't spend enough time under the towel to get results because I'm freaking soaked...so what am I doing wrong? Apparently I'm not getting results with the towel method as it stands because my beard is no less harsh afterwards than without it altogether.

[Dewey]

I enjoy my shaves better before the shower, also. I read Dr. Chris Moss's Guide to Straight Shaving on SMF and he says an alternative to towels is to splash the hottest water that you can on the beard for 2-3 minutes (I splash and massage it in, do my stropping and then splash again, make some lather and splash again - takes up the few minutes that are needed to hydrate the beard and works for me). I have used towels but to be effective I think that you're right, it gets messy. Let me know what you think.

[majurey]

You could try lathering up first and letting the lather soften the beard while you strop etc.?

[xman]

I soak my towel in the hottest water my tap can provide, ring it out and apply it directly to my face. I find it works best to follow this with a lathering and another hot towel, before a final lathering for the shave. I know it's not that wet, but this little routine does very well for me on those days that I don't shower directly before the shave.

X

[Lynn]

I soak my towel in the hottest water my tap can provide, ring it out and apply it directly to my face. I find it works best to follow this with a lathering and another hot towel, before a final lathering for the shave. I know it's not that wet, but this little routine does very well for me on those days that I don't shower directly before the shave.

X

Agreed. The hottest water from the tap. Wring the towel until there is no more water dripping. Place the towel over the face for a minute or two. Lather up the face and then re-wet the towel again in the hot water. Wring and place on the face over the lather for a couple minutes. Wipe the lather from the face and re-wet the towel one more time with the lather gone from the face for the third treatment. Then lather and shave away. Should be poifect.......

Have fun.

Lynn

[RichZ]

I find I always shave after a shower and therefore the hot towel treatment isn't necessary..I enjoy a nice hot shower almost as much a good shave.

[edk442]

Here's what you do:

Shower, shave, THEN wash you face


When people do the hot towel treatment, how long do they actually keep the towel on their face? I know everyone says "a minute or two" but with that length of time I find that my towel cools off . The only way to go for a minute or two is if I constantly rewet my towel every 30ish seconds. On Lynn's DVD, if you count it out, he only holds the towel to his face for 20 seconds then says "You can tell by the time I'm taking to do this, this may not be something you'd want to do every morning". Maybe his towel times were cut down for the DVD since I doubt anyone would want to sit for a minute watching Lynn with a towel around his face but that struck me as pretty lackluster.

[Berticus]

How do you guys get the towels to stay in place? Especially at the chin area and neck?

[monte6177]

Another step is to wash your face with good bar soap. Then apply a hot wash rag to the face several times while over the sink. Then apply a shampoo with conditioner with a boar bristle brush. Soak the lather formed with more hot wash cloth treatments. Then lather with a good brush. The beard is usually soft by then.

I like to straight razor shave after I shower. I just do all the steps above but use a medium towel for the last towlings. To get the towel hot fold it lengthwise so one end will wrap around the shower head while you hold it. The towel just hangs down. Then turn the dial to hot while keeping a grip on the end around the head. As it soaks down twist the bottom with your other hand to form a tube. You will know when it's enough hot water. Water off; squeeze some excess water out; use the hot end (nearest shower head) to be against the main part of the beard. Lean over if excess water is too hot on your chest. Wrap the towel around or double it around your beard. When I do a good prep it means an excellent BBS if the razor is sharp and my technique is well done. It takes a lot of elements to get a really good shave but it is worth it.

Monte

[edk442]

that has go to be the most complicated way to wet a towel i've ever heard