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We talk all the time about Pre-Shave prep but how many of you have really tried to shave with no prep at all? I mean coming in from toiling in the hot sun and just slapping on some shave cream and going to town.
Does it really make a difference? Have any of you tried it or be willing to try it?
Yup. I do on occasion shave with no prep. Strop lather and go. In fact my general preshave routine is very light. It is typically Noxema, load the brush, strop, face lather and shave. The more rare occasion is a long and involved prep.clike a hot shower and a hot towel and then Noxema, and then lather, another hot towel, warm lather, all the usual froofy stuff. It’s nice. The Noxema is the biggest game changer for me.
I lather then strop and shave.
This morning I forgot to strop and then started but then I stropped after the shave yesterday so I kept on shaving....:shrug:
I can tell a big difference as omitting a hot towel over lather pre-shave. Just me.
As winter comes and the face is dry, I use a bit of Vitamin E oil rubbed into the face and beard the night before I shave. Helps a lot.
The Noxema seems highly recommended by some. Need to try that.
Any particular flavor/form of Noxema, Rez?
I use the original i think its called. Plain Noxima. The stuff really helps. I have went as little as a face wash, lather and shave and it works good enough to go in public, but its not as fun and doesnt come out as clean shaven. Also the whiskers feel sharper as if they are not cut as cleanly. Its a face feel not on the fingers.
It's not coming in from the cold but I wake in the morning brush my teeth lather up and shave. No pre shave routine. Works for me.
In my case, it seems more about the humidity. I reckon it has to be more humid where you are than where I am? If that is possible? :D
I do not know of anything other than just regular Noxema.
I stopped using prep many years ago. I don't find it makes a big difference.
The difference I think is there but I agree for an everyday shave when getting up and ready for work isn't worth it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Badgister
Splash my face with cold or warm water lather and shave. All the ridiculous prep stuff I found contributed to skin irritation. When I started just using cold or Luke warm water and no shower everything changed for me. A little harder to get through the whiskers but my skin holds up way better.
Well, since everyone is different, it is another subjective thing! Good to learn what others do.
The time when I really love all the prep and process is when I go out and get a shave. In western Canada there is a chain called Tommy Guns. I am yet to see a guy working in any of them. They do haircuts and shaves. It’s a nice treat.
I get up, fill the sink with cold water, load the brush, splash face with cold water, face lather and do first of 4 passes. I splash my face with cold water before each pass and lather. So not much in the way of a pre shave routine.
Tried various pre shave rituals and found that they made little/no difference so decided they were a waste of time for me. As always YMMV with each of us being different.
Bob
I used to do it quite often with a Gillette Mach before I picked up a real razor. Canned cream as well, with no water on my face. I still remember how bad my face used to sting after the shaves, thus leading to my decision to learn the proper way to shave. I have never skipped prepping with a DE or straight razor though, these blades are way to aggressive to gamble with that. ;)
I'm like that old commercial 'Give it to Mikey, he'll try anything'.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
I'll do it tomorrow after toiling in the smoke raking the leaves.
The smoke is bad down here too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulbuck
Drove right past you yesterday going to Richmond. It was awful. Seems better today. Hopefully the winds will stay down.Quote:
Originally Posted by jfk742
the jungle of Southeast Asia was not more humid than Houston Tom, that's why we did basic in La.Quote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
It's humid in them swamps, Tc. On this Veteran's Day, I would like to thank you! :bow
I have the same experience. Maybe because my skin softens and swells a little from shower and prep and then is irritated easier. Doesn't hold up as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by jfk742
Then after the shave go with soothing product..
As promised, I shaved this afternoon with zero facial preparation. It had been around 55 hours since my last shave so I had some good stubble going and it is grey and stiff.
My normal routine is to thoroughly wash my face with a face towel and regular bar soap, scrubbing vigorously. Rinse face, leave wet, face lather. I rinse between passes. In the summer I use cold water and warm/hot water in the fall and winter.
Today, after toiling around the yard, I started to face lather. Only prep was taking off the shirt. You can see my set up in Shave of the Day.
It took a lot more water added to the brush to create a typical, rich lather. I easily spent over a minute, maybe two, working the lather until it was where I wanted it. I used a boar brush with soft tips but with some backbone. I like a well hydrated lather. The shave did not feel any different that I could discern; smooth and comfortable. However, when rinsing off the lather from the blade there was gunk on the blade, like when your lather is too dry, and this during the beginning of the shave when the lather was at its wettest. My thought was this was from dirt and oils as it was not an issue on the following passes. It did not seem to effect the razor.
The lather dried quickly, especially during the first pass. I had to use a wet finger to re-hydrate the lather when I got to the mustache/chin area. This drying was an issue, to lesser degrees, on the following passes. I did three passes and did not rinse between passes. I followed the final pass with a cold water rinse and eschewed my normal (and beloved) witch hazel splash. No after shave to keep with the minimalist theme.
I suffered no weepers or irritation of any kind. If I was to do this again I would wet my face prior to each pass to keep the lather from drying. Really, other than the gunk on the razor during the first pass, I didn't notice any difference.
As they say, YMMV.
When I'm in a hurry, it's hot water and hand cream. It works in a pinch.
I have a tough, white beard. I normally shower before shaving to make sure my beard is fully hydrated. Otherwise getting through the stubble is difficult. If it has been less than 24 hours since my last shave, I can get by without the hot shower. If it has been more than 32 hours since my last shave, I would never attempt a shave without showering first to soften the beard. I realize that not everyone has such a tough beard, so the lucky ones can get by without much in the way of beard prep.
Do you face lather? I think what happened, in my case at least, is the extensive face lathering sufficiently hydrated and cleaned my beard. My beard is tough also but probably of normal thickness.Quote:
Originally Posted by RayClem
Paul
I do notice a significant difference honestly. However, it has a lot more to do with the comfort of my skin during and after the shave when i do a decent prep vs when i dont. my ability to mow through my "beard" remains the same it seems
Many moons ago I tried shaving with just water. I found it worked meaning I got a great shave and no irritation. The trick is you have to continuously re wet the skin because it either dries or runs off and in my territory we have single digit humidity so it also evaporates quickly.
Like many things I found all the mumbo jumbo and all the prep is just the luxury part of the shave process. Of course there are those with particular requirements who need the accouterments.
I'll be the first to say, no, I would not ever give up my prep and cremes and A/S and all that. It's kind of like driving around in a Yugo. It gets you where you want to go but other cars are more desirable.
I normally do a quick face wash, lather, then shave (2 passes + a quick cleanup pass if needed). Occasionally I shower first but if I do much more pre-shave then that it tends to soften my skin to much and results in irritation.
Gentlemen,
One can shave without any preparation, including a cold water splash. Just strop the razor and have a go at it on dry skin. You will have a shave. Certain skin types might hold up against this practice, while some suffer irritation.
For me, with my ultra sensitive skin, shaving without preparation is asking for trouble — major skin irritation. I have enough troubles facing the daily life and don't need to add anymore. So I embrace a full face preparation, whether at home or while traveling, of hot towel treatment, pre-shave lotion and extended lathering.
My skin loves the preparation. Not only that, but my morning shave is a life's joy, an event I can't wait for every day, and the preparation is the most enjoyable part of it. So why would I deprive myself of that lovely experience?
Yep, best shave I ever got was a 1k edge with no prep and just water. Being out of my usual Myrsol Lemon, I rubbed a cut lemon over my face and got after my day.