Thread: Greatist shave ever, thats to a great pre shae prep

Hmm, I have a sauna just down the hall from here, once a week. Can do a once a week, post-sauna, luxury shaving saturday. With hot towels, cold showers and a beer. I'll bet it'll be a hoot when I'm running down the corridor with lather and a towel wrapped around my head. Awesome.

I've had this argument with my husband before but I personally am a fan of the pre-shave ritual. I know it takes time but for people with coarse hair it makes shaving much easier because the hair is easier to cut. I think it also makes it easier on the razor so it doesn't get dulled as fast. I swear where his beard is turning gray it looks just silver wire. If he shaves without good prep it makes kind of a loud grating sound. That can't be good no matter what kind of razor he's using.

Lori

I've tried to skimp on just one part of the prep, and it almost always effects my shave somehow.

Preparation is a very important part of shaving, using a brush, lots of water, quality soap is just as important as stropping and caring for your razor

It is even more important here in the deserts of Afghanistan.... Without hot running water I have had to become awfully resourceful in my hot water shaves. I usually grab my case of bottled water the night before and set it in the sun so it really heats up, then in the morning it is luke warm and I can get a semi decent shave out of it. Sometimes it's not as good as I'd like but the warmer water makes all the difference in the world. And a clean face too.... dust and sand get on everything here so maintaining your gear is essential to a great shave in these conditions. Don't get me started on the air temps.... it wrecks havoc on a good lather.

Mike

And lots of hot water !

Originally Posted by mlp2147

It is even more important here in the deserts of Afghanistan.... Without hot running water I have had to become awfully resourceful in my hot water shaves. I usually grab my case of bottled water the night before and set it in the sun so it really heats up, then in the morning it is luke warm and I can get a semi decent shave out of it. Sometimes it's not as good as I'd like but the warmer water makes all the difference in the world. And a clean face too.... dust and sand get on everything here so maintaining your gear is essential to a great shave in these conditions. Don't get me started on the air temps.... it wrecks havoc on a good lather.

Mike

I'm with you man...quite literally...out here in the sandbox I have to remind myself to palm my strop to get the dust off before stropping. Then, the hard water makes lathering a real bee-otch to boot. I think my prep may be lacking since it still takes a bit of time to get a good shave...that plus a sharp razor helps huh. Water restrictions necessitate that we conserve so...long hot showers are out...unless you're in the AF...lol. Just recently got into honing my own str8's...did a decent job on some, others gave me fits (and continue to do so) and still a couple of them came out performing like champs. My Dovo, which I bought new from SRPD, will never see my hones though...it's my cadillac and will go to one of the honemeisters here for the best in upkeep. Anyway...happy shaves to all.

Gotta say that I learned the value of shave-prep this morning while shaving.

I got out of the shower and put all my shaving needs out near the sink, got the water hot and splashed it on my face holding my hands against my scruff to get it warm and whatnot. Then I lathered and started to shave, but I noted how it was feeling really scratchy and hurt a bit. So I washed it all off and went and got a washcloth.

I then prepped properly. I ran the washcloth under the hot water and then held it to my face for maybe 30 seconds, and did this twice. Then I lathered, and used the washcloth again. Then I lathered, then shaved. The difference was enormous. The same exact shave (on the other side of my face) was totally easy and smooth.

I reminds me of when I got a professional straight-razor shave (before I had got my own straight and was interested in the process). The old dude there explained the towel technique and repeated that the pre-shave process is arguably more important than the tools used or the shave itself. In short, it makes all the difference.