Greatist shave ever, thats to a great pre shae prep

WOW, i have been searching around for face prep, and me being new to with form a shaving i listened. I took a pretty warm shower, made sure my face and beard was clean. when i got out i took a hand towel and ran hot water on it, while i let my water warm up(my hot water takes forever to come) i added the lather, and put the hand towel on for like two minutes. Finally i put More lather on, and i began to shave, after wards i look at the results, i had a few cuts on the left side of my face, but other than that i was amazing, i had no razor burn and my face was SMOOTH, and i did not feel any whiskers grow on my face for like 3 days. i highly recommend people trying this, it really works.

I know that we sometimes sound like a broken record, but prep really is important and can be the difference between a shoddy shave and a fantastic shave. Yes, some guys consider themselves minimalists and just splash on some water and go, but IMO pre-save prep is extremely beneficial.

Z,

I have to agree with Ryan, for me shave prep is very important. When I shower before I shave it sounds like you and I have close to the same prep. I recently discovered geofatboys youtube channel and I follow his prep when I do not shower before shaving. It works wonders for me. Definitely worth watching.

rob

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ryan82

I know that we sometimes sound like a broken record, but prep really is important and can be the difference between a shoddy shave and a fantastic shave. Yes, some guys consider themselves minimalists and just splash on some water and go, but IMO pre-save prep is extremely beneficial.

---

+1 :tu. Pure words of wisdom :bow

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

+1 :tu. Pure words of wisdom :bow

---

Amen to that brother...90% of a great shave is the pre-shave preparation.

At the risk of sounding self-indulgent, my favorite daily prep is to go to the YMCA (with the great locker rooms, huge showers, unlimited hot water, etc...), swim my laps and do my workouts (which sometimes consists solely of sitting in the whirlpool and daydreaming), then wet a towel with hot water, put lather on my face, go into the Steam Sauna Room, wrap the towel around my beard, and sit back and relax for 20 0r 30 minutes. Then I lather up again at the sink and shave with my Dovo. Then, I pack up and go to Starbucks for a large 'whatever' and a breakfast croissant until time to start the workday. I consider this my Me-Time, from when the 'Y' opens at 5:00 AM until around 8:00 AM. It works good for me, and I usually feel like a million bucks (or what I imagine that would be like) afterwards. The shave is a big part of it, and it's just not the same without it. When I can't get my morning time, the day just doesn't feel right.

As an addendum, in the summer, sometimes my favorite prep is swimming laps in the outdoor pool and watch the sunrise. Then, after my routine, I ride my bicycle to Starbucks.

Life is not about learning how to dodge the storms.....It's about learning how to dance in the rain......

Since using a Str8, I admit to having been skeptical to the "prep" factor. Man, was I ever wrong! Since prepping with a hot wet face cloth and utilizing either oil or glycerin, I can't believe how much difference it makes in the overall shave! I have even begun to stay with the prep factor when using my DE razor as well, with outstanding results, especially in the comfort of the shave range.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ryan82

I know that we sometimes sound like a broken record, but prep really is important and can be the difference between a shoddy shave and a fantastic shave. Yes, some guys consider themselves minimalists and just splash on some water and go, but IMO pre-save prep is extremely beneficial.

---

Gentlemen:

My friend Ryan speaks well and I wholeheartedly concur. Not only is the proper shave preparation essential, it is also an important part of the shaving ritual. It completes the experience.

Regards,

Obie

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wallyworld

Z,

I have to agree with Ryan, for me shave prep is very important. When I shower before I shave it sounds like you and I have close to the same prep. I recently discovered geofatboys youtube channel and I follow his prep when I do not shower before shaving. It works wonders for me. Definitely worth watching.
rob

---

+1 to prep being important and to geofatboys YouTube. He's got great info and a bunch of vids. I have gotten a lot of tips from him. Agree it's worth checking out.

Guys, so are you saying that you should lather, hot towel and then lather again? Thisis a good tip. I am new and I only do hot towel and then lather and go.I will add the first lather before and after towel.

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 !

Quote:

---

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. :tu