Thread: The Hot Towel

I use an inexpensive towel that looks like the above. I don't always use one. It kind of depends on how much time I have allowed myself to shave. It also depends on how patient I feel that day, because the towel has to be held to the face with two hands and that leaves zero hands to do anything else. I guess if I used a really big towel (thin like those above) I could bungee the towel to my head. I just can't add a trip to the microwave to the ritual, as I am getting relentlessly ridiculed already for how much time I devote the shaving by SWMBO.

Some of the shave outfits sell towels specifically made or I should say sized for facial use.

It's one of those things some like and some don't. Personally I use a hot towel via hot tap water after the shave followed by a cold water splash.

I think for most if you shower before shaving or wash your face before shaving the hot towel serves no real purpose other than feeling good.

I shower at night and shave in the morning. A hand-towel from hot tap, over lather. If I forget it, I am reminded quickly! Works to make a better shave. Much better. JMO

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I shower at night and shave in the morning. A hand-towel from hot tap, over lather. If I forget it, I am reminded quickly! Works to make a better shave. Much better. JMO

I've seen this method in a video but never tried it. Just to show how flexible I am, I'm going to try it next shave.
Tom, do you just remove the towel when it cools and lather over any residue or do you wipe the slate clean and start a fresh lather? Do you rinse the face towel and use it again, or is it disposed (laundered) after using?

Originally Posted by WW243

I've seen this method in a video but never tried it. Just to show how flexible I am, I'm going to try it next shave.
Tom, do you just remove the towel when it cools and lather over any residue or do you wipe the slate clean and start a fresh lather? Do you rinse the face towel and use it again, or is it disposed (laundered) after using?

I simply lather good and run the hot faucet over the half-folded hand-towel, squeeze the water from the bottom (less drips), and apply to face over the sink holding it there for a minute. I usually do a repeat of the hot towel, leaving the lather be.
I then lather over the original lather and shave.

I feel this works great for those like myself with thick hairs and heavy beard while those with lighter beards don't need it.
This is the only explanation for those preferring cold shaves versus those such as myself.
Otherwise, how, indeed, could those who say it is not necessary understand why it is an absolute necessity for others?

Different strokes for different folks, that's all!

I haven't done it in ages, but I bought two black Egyptian cotton hand towels for this, one dampened and microwaved, and the other dampened and put in the freezer. I used the hot towel over lather before shave and the cold one when finished.

By no means necessary, but it did make the shave more enjoyable.

Geek

Originally Posted by WW243

Do you rinse the face towel and use it again, or is it disposed (laundered) after using?

Sorry, Bill, missed this question.
I rinse the hand-towel and squeeze it out good, folding it half and half again and lay it by the sink to strop off the lather/hairs during the shave instead of 'rinsing' the blade. After the shave, I rinse the soap/hairs down the drain with hot water, squeeze and use to wipe the face good. I can then rinse thoroughly, squeeze it out, hang it up to dry and use again. I can get 2-3 shaves with it this way before I launder it if I wish.

I always use a hot flannel. Soak it in hot water in the sink, wring a little, place around face for a minute or so. When doing that, my brush is in the hot water. The flannel then gets wrung out and draped over the edge of the sink to wipe my blade on. Brush is well soaked by then, ready to make my lather. This is my routine, every time.

Originally Posted by wayne394

I always use a hot flannel. Soak it in hot water in the sink, wring a little, place around face for a minute or so. When doing that, my brush is in the hot water. The flannel then gets wrung out and draped over the edge of the sink to wipe my blade on. Brush is well soaked by then, ready to make my lather. This is my routine, every time.

Welsh Hot Flannel
Sounds kind of funny over here so I had to investigate.
The Welsh Woollen Industry
The Teifi Valley has been the centre of the Welsh woollen trade since the nineteenth century, and our mill at Dre-fach Felindre on Teifiside was chosen by the National Museum of Wales to house its Museum of the Welsh Woollen Industry, where Melin Teifi still produces the finest traditional Welsh flannel using top-quality materials and local craftsmanship.

I looked at the color range...nice! Flannel would be a dazzling addition to The Routine.
Do you just cut up old shirts and jammies, or do you buy it some other way...as a towel...?

Originally Posted by WW243

I use an inexpensive towel that looks like the above. I don't always use one. It kind of depends on how much time I have allowed myself to shave. It also depends on how patient I feel that day, because the towel has to be held to the face with two hands and that leaves zero hands to do anything else. I guess if I used a really big towel (thin like those above) I could bungee the towel to my head. I just can't add a trip to the microwave to the ritual, as I am getting relentlessly ridiculed already for how much time I devote the shaving by SWMBO.

Yep, these are mine, under the tap or in the microwave works for me.