Thread: My preshave routine

I have been straight razor shaving for a few years now. I find the preshave prep is a very important part of my shave. I like to keep it simple. I apply a warm face cloth to my beard (something similar to a hot towel prep in a barber shop), then I apply either Proraso white or green preshave cream, massage it in well and wait a few minutes then lather up. If I am in a rush I will skip the Proraso...but I never skip the hot towel. And in winter that hot towel is particularly pleasurable.

My preshave is....
Wash my face! A shower works too.
Dont want my razor to deal with dirt.
Then lather up and shave.

I always shower before shaving. Well almost all the time. On the rare occasion I don't I wash my face, load the brush up and lather up. Let it sit for a minute and then wash it off and lather up again. The thing here is the time it takes to do this is almost the same time as I need to shower. Plus the brush has to soak anyway. I have in the past done the hot towel thing. But it takes more effort to do that than to just take a shower.

Wet face with hot water ~ lather up ~ go

Pete <:-}

I shower before I shave, so the hot towel is a bonus measure.

No prep, just get the lather in the brush and face lather.

Bob

Funny, I figured most of yall went all out and was ashamed to admit it is usually shower, lather, shave, rinse, leave. Sometimes aftershave if I feel uncomfortable.

Originally Posted by Whizbang

I have been straight razor shaving for a few years now. I find the preshave prep is a very important part of my shave. I like to keep it simple. I apply a warm face cloth to my beard (something similar to a hot towel prep in a barber shop), then I apply either Proraso white or green preshave cream, massage it in well and wait a few minutes then lather up. If I am in a rush I will skip the Proraso...but I never skip the hot towel. And in winter that hot towel is particularly pleasurable.

In the beginning, when I didn’t know any better and my technique was still developing, I made things unnecessarily complicated experimenting at one time or another with glycerine soaps, pre-shave creams or oils, etc.
None of it was necessary and over time I whittled away all the routines that did not contribute to a better shave.

Now I just use some water and a wet sponge to moisten my facial hair, give it a few moments (2 mins according to the manufacturer of my electric toothbrush ) to soften the skin and stand up the beard hairs while I brush my teeth and then I set to work.

As Leonardo da Vince may - or more likely may not - have said: Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

B.