Thread: Hot Towel

I have been using a hot towel before I start shaving, after my shower. I use Stephen Stay Smooth Cream (awesome stuff) at the end of my shower. Keep it in a few minutes, while I strop. Then I'll grab the hand towel and zap it for 30 seconds. Just under the limit where its too hot to hold. After I use the towel, I'll put on some AOS preshave oil/gel while I make my lather.

It sounds like a lot but I only shave once a week or every 5 days. And my beard is very full and pretty coarse. So I need a thorough prep.

Am I going overboard?

Me too - have always used a hot towel before my shave for as long as I can remember whilst using a straight.

Got a few flannels cheaply from a super market. I soak them in hot water just after I load my face with hot water, ring it, then put it across my face.

Afterwards I use it to gently wipe the (used) foam and shaved beard hairs on to it from my razor. Of course my razor doesn't touch the wet flannel, but if it does, I immediately dry it with a towel I have nearby.

The flannel then goes in the wash along with the kitchen towels and so on.

I am trying to understand face prep. prior to my straight razors and gear arriving, so today I practiced because I had time. I used a hot towel for the first time and it was thoroughly enjoyable. I washed my face with very light soap rinsed applied my canned Nivea for Men Sensitive Shaving Gel and then applied a hot towel, heated from the tap. I left it on for approximately one minute and then refreshed towel left for another minute, then I refreshed it again for a total of three one minute applications. Then I reapplied my shave gel and shaved with my Mach 3 and got one of the better shaves that I have had for a while. I enjoyed it and will probably use the hot towel method when I get my straight razors only because I shower at night and shave in the morning. Now I am looking forward to post shave care, the only AS available here are Brut, Aqua Velva, Skin Bracer, and a generic Exchange brand comparable to AV. They also have Nivea Post Shave Balm Sensitive I have used that before, but I have never used AS. Lets keep this to pre shave hot towels though I will go post in the correct threads for post shave stuff now.

Sorry once again to deviate from forum tradition here, but I have experimented with hot towel applications and never found a result from them. All I do these days is splash my face five times with hot water, lather quickly and shave. If I thought the hot towel made a difference, I would certainly do it, but I just didn't. On the other hand, if you like doing it just for the sake of it, that's fine. I like to get my shaves completed in five minutes, so additional stuff that doesn't seem to make a difference doesn't have much attraction for me.

I like the hot towel, softens my whiskers and feels good. It's become a habit and part of my normal routine. If I think to myself that I need a fast shave and feel the need to rush through my shave, I skip shaving because I don't want to be a contributor to the "Cut of the Day" thread

Originally Posted by rum

Me too - have always used a hot towel before my shave for as long as I can remember whilst using a straight.

Got a few flannels cheaply from a super market. I soak them in hot water just after I load my face with hot water, ring it, then put it across my face.

Afterwards I use it to gently wipe the (used) foam and shaved beard hairs on to it from my razor. Of course my razor doesn't touch the wet flannel, but if it does, I immediately dry it with a towel I have nearby.

The flannel then goes in the wash along with the kitchen towels and so on.

Translation from British to American English: Flannel ==> Wash Cloth or Face Cloth

Originally Posted by ace

Sorry once again to deviate from forum tradition here, but I have experimented with hot towel applications and never found a result from them. All I do these days is splash my face five times with hot water, lather quickly and shave. If I thought the hot towel made a difference, I would certainly do it, but I just didn't. On the other hand, if you like doing it just for the sake of it, that's fine. I like to get my shaves completed in five minutes, so additional stuff that doesn't seem to make a difference doesn't have much attraction for me.

I soak the bar towel in water, put it in the microwave , on a plate, for 70 seconds; squeeze out the excess hot water, then use it to remove any excess lather & pre shave treatment, then comes the alum heavy.

I don't need the hot towel before the shave, but after the last razor pass, it sure feels great on the face , cleaning it.