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i know quite a few of us have a long drawn out shave system.. so i wonder.. when using both aftershave balm and splash.. which one do you use before the other..
example.. if using both nivea replenishing balm and pinaud's bay rum.. who applies the balm first and who out there prefers to apply it after? what are the advantages to either method?
Victor,
For me :
1) Alum block
2) Witch Hazel
3) Alcohol based after shave
4) E45 Moisturiser
Water solubles first, 'oilier' product last.
Have fun !
regards
Russ
thanks.. that's what i feel i'm going to start doing.. i generally skip the alum and witch hazel these days.. but had been applying balm after my initial rinse and dry.. and then finishing with my alcohol based splash..
that's just the way i had seen everyone else doing it.. but i was missing out on my enjoyable bite i get from the alcohol based product. so i'm going to switch it around.. my only concern now is i'll be masking my beloved bay rum scent with that distinctive nivea smell.
What I do is wash my face with first warm and then cold water, then apply Trumpers sandalwood skin food to the areas I've shaved, then I apply whatever aftershave I'm using that day to the sides of my neck. I never actually apply the AS to the areas I shaved.
I actually use balm then aftershave. I recall that on another forum recently there was a barber shave demonstrated and the barber used this routine with the rationale that there was less sting and therefore damage (?) to the skin. There may be some merit in this and I prefer it myself.
For me it's:
1. Alum
2. Witch Hazel (only sometimes)
3. ASB (all face)
4. AS (shaved area of face and side of neck)
5. EDT (front and back of neck)
I do the following:
1) Alum
2) Alcohol Based Aftershave
3) Balm
I just rinse & dry my face and splash alcohol based A/S on. I haven't tried a balm. Do you have to worry about greasy stuff filling pores or anything ? Is the benefit of the balm that it sooths ?
Cold water
Witch hazel
Traditional aftershave
That's it for me. No balm, moisturizer or other overpriced oil/water emulsions for me. I do, however, use conditioning oil of my own formulation on my face in the evening (I typically shave in the morning). And as my sig says, I don't splash.
My routine is:
- Warm water rinse
- Alum, cleaning up mug, drying razor while the alum does its thing
- Cold water rinse
- Nivea ASB of some kind, strop razor, brush teeth while the balm is balming
- Dominica Bay Rum AS
I was thinking the balm might smother the Bay Rum...don't know, but decided to do the Bay Rum last
After shaving it's a hot towel, cold rinse, alum block, witch hazel then aftershave. I don't like balms and all that they leave a film of kinds on your face and I don't like that.
My routine is:
Cold water rinse
Refrigerated Witch Hazel
Alcohol Based A/S
Balm - (I use Cornhuskers lotion with Essential oils I add myself, very cheap)
I did see a a video on B&B when he got a professional barber straight shave. At the end the barber put both the A/S and Balm together in his palm and rubbed it in at the same time. I might try it!
I don't think it'll matter, really. I generally avoid AS with alcohol. But, I use the following routine:
1. Witch hazel (no alcohol)
2. Skin Food (just a pea size amount)
3. ASB + Moisturizer.
Done. I never get a sticky feeling on my face as others have reported...but, YMMV.
For your home-made balm, would the Cornhuskers lotion mix with any essential oil? How is it as an aftershave balm? I find it interesting if you can use a fragrance of your choosing and not have to settle for an off the shelf fragrance.Quote:
Originally Posted by Milkylee
Are their any other fragrance-free aftershave balms you know of? Thanks for the idea.
For me:
rinse off with cold water
Ice cube in a washcloth, all over the face until its melted
pat dry
Mario Bedescue Aloe Vera Toner which has no alcohol.(I keep that stuff in my refrigerator too.)
I haven't used a balm, or facial moisturizer because I feel I don't need one.
I have and will use Neosporin on razor burn, but that always comes the next day for me.
I prefer to use the aftershave before the balm, that way the balm can moisturize the dry skin that the alcohol caused.
1) alum block
2) cold rinse
3) proraso splash or high alchol splash
4) proraso anti irritation cream
5) This ones optional Hot towel with a few drops of olbas oil
6) moisturiser what ever I have handy.
This is the order that was used in my most recent Turkish shave. I liked it so that is what I use. I put the hot towel in when I have a bit of time spare. I live in a very hard water area so I have to use a moisturiser after having a bath or shower.
I do it just like lunch: water and alcohol.
;)
if i did that.. it would be alcohol and a breath mint.Quote:
Originally Posted by HNSB
Cold water rinse
Alum Block (Sometimes)
Thayer's Witch Hazel Astringent (Always)
I've been experimenting a lot, but right now:
0. Shave
1. Cold water rinse
2. Thayers WH (no-alcohol)
3. ASB (either Proraso no-alcohol or Tumpers Skin Food)
4. AS as Fragrance (if any, mostly the balm is enough)
Sometimes when I get out of the shower I use a drop of glycerin and a generous splash of Witch Hazel as a skin sealer and tonic. Works great.
Alum - if needed then, Alcohol Based AftershaveQuote:
Originally Posted by Slartibartfast
I also use Thayers straight out of the fridge as my cold rinse
1. Warm water rinse
2. After shave, so it stings a good moment, and then the sting is gone
3. moisturiser Nivea visage aqua sensation or something like that, whichever is cheapest at the moment, it doesn't smell too much and doesn't mess up the AS's smell
4. A little touch of talcum powder with mint to get the shine from the moisturiser off, i'm a tough bloke after all :rofl2:
After much experimentation I've settled on the following routine:
(starting as soon as I put down my razor for the final time)
-Warm water rinse
-Cold water rinse
-Alum block (optional, as I don't always use it)
-Cold water rinse
-Light pat-dry with towel
-Trumpers Coral Skin food (let settle while I clean up)
-After shave of my choice, either a splash or balm depending on my
preference that day
All this, along with a great shave, provides that sticky smooth feeling that is the true payoff of this hobby :D
I'm a simple guy.
Shave
Rinse with cold water
Aftershave (dominica bay rum)
Dry razor and strop.
True indeed!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
I typically, after wiping any excess lather off my face with a hot rag, wash my face with some kind of facewash like clearasil or whatever, then use aftershave on the areas I shaved.
Being only 18, I still tend to break out fairly often, and I've found that facewash with an alcohol-based aftershave really helps to prevent acne in general.
It has probably worked better for me than any kind of face treatment like proactive has ever done. Just a testament to the benefits of straight shaving and traditional soaps versus foaming gels and multiblades.
I tend to find that us younger folk take better to alcohol aftershaves/lotions. Leaves pores much cleaner and less likely to break out.
Also the fact that single blade razors help remove any dead skin cells that can clog pores and cause acne as well is one of the reasons I tell friends to give straight shaving a try. My face just feels a ton healthier after a nice straight shave than after an electric or multiblade.Quote:
Originally Posted by nubskillz