On a whim I decided to try something different in prep for my shave this evening. I've been mulling over the idea for a few weeks and decided to give it a go. I boiled a kettle of water and poured it over a few bags of black tea in a large bowl and let it steep for a few minutes covered with a towel. I then draped the towel over my head and the bowl to trap the heat and allowed my face to steam for about five minutes-a short 30 sec break-then another five minutes. The heat was intense, but in a good way, and I found that blowing on the surface of the water directed heat and steam to different parts of my face and neck. After about ten minutes of this I felt as if every pore on my face had been opened and cleansed, and my beard was noticeably softened and moisturized. The experience was very therapeutic: both calming and invigorating, and added a new element of luxury to what is already my daily moment of zen-the end of day shave. It prepped my beard perfectly and the shave was nearly effortless on three days worth of "iron" stubble. Super smooth, clean and comfortable. For those out there looking to shake up their beard-prep routine I recommend giving this a try. There are a whole slew of tea blends you could substitute for their cleansing and healing properties. Whatever catches your fancy. I plan to experiment with several blends over the coming weeks. Anyway, food for thought gentlemen, if you haven't already tried it. Great shaving to all! Ciao
