Thread: What is your preshave routine?

I keep it pretty simple... I found that I didn't like the whole hot towel prep, so all I do is use Proraso pre-shave cream. I put that on, strop my razor about 50 times, then soak my silvertip badger brush in cold water, and load the brush on the Proraso soap tub for a full minute. Then I take the brush to my mug and start whipping, adding cold water slowly, until finally I have the right consistency. I splash a bit of water on my face, then lather. Make my first WTG/XTG pass. Lather again. Make second WTG/XTG pass. Cold water rinse. Splash T.N. Dickinson's witch hazel on my entire face and neck, allow to dry. Then apply Nivea Sensitive Skin Post-Shave Balm all over my face and neck and I'm good to go!

1. Strop the night before and leave the SR ready for AM shave.
2. Get up early. Fill my scuttle with boiling water.
2. Hot shower.
3. Pre-shave cream (Prorasso)
4. Prepare lather in scuttle. By then is pretty hot inside it.
5. Apply lather.
6. Shave WTG and XTG.
7. Rinse, lather up again for a second WTG and XTG.
8. Rinse with cold water. Alum Block. Witch hazel astringent aftershave.
9. Apply some sort of after-shave balm (I like Trumper's skin food).
10. Strop again (25 passes on canvas, 50 on leather). Oil the razor.
DONE

I go into the W.C. fill sink with hottttt water. soak brush, brush cup and soap mug With a little water on soap puck. Strop 20 fabric and anywhere from 20 to 80 leather. Get towel hot in other sink then sit on throne while towel is on my face. When done I run new hotttt water for soap mug brush mug and brush. Then set out my aftershave cologne deoderant. Then shower get out apply lather and shave

i keep it pretty simple, unless its an occasion im shaving for

.soak brush in cold water (stiffens up the floppy frank silvertip)
.cold shower
.lather and shave

if im not showering before shaving, a nice gentle but dry massage to face for a minute or two, splash, lather and shave

Wow, you like cold water! You'd have to put a gun to my head to make me follow that routine. But whatever works for you is groovy.

Originally Posted by Wayne1963

Wow, you like cold water! You'd have to put a gun to my head to make me follow that routine. But whatever works for you is groovy.

Cold water is all I'll do now that I know how awesome it is.

As another lazy afternoon of being retired sets in it is time to:

Pick a straight razor and lay it next to the chosen tub or tube of cream for the day,
Run warm water in the sink and drop in the brush selection for the day,
Take a hot shower,
Wrap towel around waist,
As sink empties remove some moisure from brush,
Swirl tips of brush in cream,
Lather on the face,
Shave,
Rinse blade and carefully dry up to edge with an Aquis towel (perfect towel for straight shavers), then dry face and remaining hair on head,
Splash on AS of choice,
Enjoy the burn,
Dry off, usually use some Harris moisture cream on face,
Have dinner and then enjoy a cigar on the back patio.

1. Heat water in microwave to soak brush and soap (unless using cream)
2. Wash face with hot water and Gilette pre-shave cleanser.
3. Shave with D/E razor.
4. Shower.
5. Apply Nivea Sensitive Skin balm after shower.

When I try to shave post-shower, I usually carve my face up pretty well...I have found that shaving pre-shower results in less cuts, and by showering afterwards the hot water causes what nicks and cuts I do get to close up.

Now that I am starting with a SE, I may start incorporating a hot towel into my routine.

I proceed in following sequence.

Face lather

. Strop

. Shave

1.Start the coffee brewing!
2.Hot water in the mug and brush into the hot water
3.Hot shower, Kiehls faciel fuel
4.Homemade preshave oil
5.Lather
6.DE Razor shave,later, shave, lather, shave,lather, shave. (Usually 3 to 4 passes)
7.Cold water splash and then pat dry
8.Witch Hazel
9.Lotion
COFFEE!
Im planning on making a Bay Rum aftershave this week so that will be added to my routine soon