Thread: Professionals

When men go to fine barbers to get a classic shave with a straight razor and proraso shave soap/cream, do the barbers try to leave the lather on for as long as possible or do they know like for how many minutes to leave the lather on approximately so to soften facial hair before actually start to shave the customer?

Originally Posted by michaelreader

When men go to fine barbers to get a classic shave with a straight razor and proraso shave soap/cream, do the barbers try to leave the lather on for as long as possible or do they know like for how many minutes to leave the lather on approximately so to soften facial hair before actually start to shave the customer?

Not as long as possible.
The lather is applied and a hot towel placed over it for a couple minutes then wiped off with the same towel and another lather applied for the shave. You wouldn't want the towel to go cold. A couple minutes is plenty enough to soften the whiskers.

Welcome to the forum.

But when you say a couple of minutes, like how many minutes?

Originally Posted by michaelreader

But when you say a couple of minutes, like how many minutes?

It is not important!
You are looking for a specific, two minutes 45 seconds - the ideal would be different for different individuals. Course thick hair vs thin fine would not be the same! Literally one to two minutes is plenty.
It is pretty obvious to most at first glance the type of beard someone has, especially a Barber.
I would wager he leaves it a little longer on the heavier beard but he is by no means standing there with a stopwatch.
Try it for yourself.

Do you smell a troll at work?

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Do you smell a troll at work?

Bob

We shall see.

I was thinking that too Bob.