Thread: Is the best prep no prep?

I have a load of pre shave oils and such from my DE days..

Initially I stopped using them when I moved onto straights and started to buy expensive brushes. I didn't want to get the brushes oily.

The only prep I insist on nower days is a shower.

Off topic:
Thinking about it, DE shaving was all about saving money.
Where as straight razor shaving has cost me piles of money and still most of my money goes on vintage blades now , I have 4 in the post as we speak.
Also add Nakayamas, Kanayamas etc.

This can be an expensive sport

Gentlemen,

A long time ago, shaving with the steel helmet as my sink, canned goo for shave cream and a plastic disposable scraper for razor, and hoping some gung-ho sniper wouldn't pick me off, I promised myself that if I ever got out of the place alive, I would shave like a gentleman — with warm water, quality shave products and the best razor I could find. And I have kept my promise. Happy New Year.

I use hot towel for pleasure but the thing that makes a difference for me is rubbing the lather in with my fingers. Whether before or after shower, wash face or not, cold or hot, pro sharp or me sharp I always get tugging and a touch of irritation if I don't rub in with my fingers and re lather. YMMV is so true.

Originally Posted by Smyth

This may not work for every man's face. I spent so much time and money researching, buying, and trying the various pre-shave products and routines, and found that some prepped my beard for shaving better than others, perhaps. But it was when I tried a cold water shave that I had a revelation. Well, two revelations. First, cold water left me a smoother, closer shave, and resulted in less irritation and razor burn (none, actually) than warm water. Second, absolutely no prep worked perfectly for me. That is, all I do (and I mean I do nothing else whatsoever for prep) is splash cold water on my face, saturate my brush in cold running water, lather on my face with my preferred soap, and shave with 2, maybe 3, passes. That's it. No heating the water, or keeping the brush and lather warm while shaving. No pre shave oil. No glycerin. No hot towel. No hydrating shower before shaving. Nothing. And I get the best shave I've ever gotten. And I've tried most things, I think.

Now, I truly believe our faces are different, and this spartan method may not work well for some or even most men; I really don't know. Also, being a man of ritual and routine, I think there is great value and pleasure to be found in the pre shave rituals and practices we may employ. So, I'm not saying you are making a mistake doing those things. But I am saying that if you really just want to get to shaving in as easy a way possible, and get a fantastic shave to boot, this basic cold water approach MIGHT work for you. It does for me, and I love it.

You and I are on the same page. I don't do any prep and I'm a cold water shaver.

To be honest with you, at first I thought the idea of shaving without hot water was nuts. I found back-up to this method on pp. 50-53 of this book: https://archive.org/stream/shavingma...ge/50/mode/2up

The way you and I shave isn't for everybody, but it sure works for us.

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

A long time ago, shaving with the steel helmet as my sink, canned goo for shave cream and a plastic disposable scraper for razor, and hoping some gung-ho sniper wouldn't pick me off, I promised myself that if I ever got out of the place alive, I would shave like a gentleman — with warm water, quality shave products and the best razor I could find. And I have kept my promise. Happy New Year.

I understand where you're coming from and thank you for your service!

Originally Posted by Smyth

This may not work for every man's face. I spent so much time and money researching, buying, and trying the various pre-shave products and routines, and found that some prepped my beard for shaving better than others, perhaps. But it was when I tried a cold water shave that I had a revelation. Well, two revelations. First, cold water left me a smoother, closer shave, and resulted in less irritation and razor burn (none, actually) than warm water. Second, absolutely no prep worked perfectly for me. That is, all I do (and I mean I do nothing else whatsoever for prep) is splash cold water on my face, saturate my brush in cold running water, lather on my face with my preferred soap, and shave with 2, maybe 3, passes. That's it. No heating the water, or keeping the brush and lather warm while shaving. No pre shave oil. No glycerin. No hot towel. No hydrating shower before shaving. Nothing. And I get the best shave I've ever gotten. And I've tried most things, I think.

Now, I truly believe our faces are different, and this spartan method may not work well for some or even most men; I really don't know. Also, being a man of ritual and routine, I think there is great value and pleasure to be found in the pre shave rituals and practices we may employ. So, I'm not saying you are making a mistake doing those things. But I am saying that if you really just want to get to shaving in as easy a way possible, and get a fantastic shave to boot, this basic cold water approach MIGHT work for you. It does for me, and I love it.

***+disclaimer+***
I am only in the research phase at the moment. Haven't bought my first SR. That being said I have been dry shaving with disposable razors since I could shave (20 yrs). I am wondering how that will translate to straight razor shaving. I suspect I will just wet shave after getting out of the shower. We'll see...

Originally Posted by JakeSmith

***+disclaimer+***
I am only in the research phase at the moment. Haven't bought my first SR. That being said I have been dry shaving with disposable razors since I could shave (20 yrs). I am wondering how that will translate to straight razor shaving. I suspect I will just wet shave after getting out of the shower. We'll see...

That is going to be interesting. Be sure and let us know the outcome.

Bob

I have to wonder if people move away from preshave prep after finding that it makes no difference because their technique has improved to the point that prep became unnecessary. In the beginning, however, the prep did perhaps offer some protection against poor technique.

Originally Posted by Moonshae

I have to wonder if people move away from preshave prep after finding that it makes no difference because their technique has improved to the point that prep became unnecessary. In the beginning, however, the prep did perhaps offer some protection against poor technique.

Yes, I suspect that is so. OTH it also may camouflage poor technique to a beginner and it may become a detriment to improving. If you keep your shave routine simple at the beginning there are less variables to deal with in finding out what part is going wrong. If you only lather and shave then it is down to the lather, blade or technique is wrong. There is no greater incentive to sorting it out quickly than the results of a poor shave. No pain no gain.

Bob

Originally Posted by Moonshae

I have to wonder if people move away from preshave prep after finding that it makes no difference because their technique has improved to the point that prep became unnecessary. In the beginning, however, the prep did perhaps offer some protection against poor technique.

I have used a Pre-Shave oil since I started. I have no doubt become significantly better. I barely have to really look at what I am doing while shaving (Although I still do, No one wants that much blood to clean in the morning, lol). I definitely noticed the help of the oil when I was starting out. Since I have gotten better at shaving (and honing) I have tried a few shaves without the oil. My observations from that were few, but there were some.

1. If I nicked myself the bleeding was worse and the cut was much more noticeable
2. The results were not as good/I needed to do an additional pass.

These results are not a surprise to me considering 2 things. My beard is pretty thick and the oil conditions/softens the beard to allow for a closer/nicer shave. And I make my own preshave oil and ALWAYS add in some Pine needle essential oil that is a great astringent. This reduces the cuts appearance and bleeding.

I do notice a little extra glide using the oil, but not so much that I wouldn't shave without it. One of my favorite parts of my prep routine with oil is the scent. I shave after a morning shower and the scent of my home brew PS Oil wakes me up in the morning and provides a great start to the day.