is it just me, or does aftershave really change the outcome of your shave quality?

[Pops!]

so i ran a little experiment.. on accident..

i had a shave using my feather ac with light blade, mwf.. and i finished with witch hazel..

it was a good shave.. and i enjoyed the outcome.. i would call it a dern fine shave..

then a few days later i had the same shave.. except.. instead of the witch hazel.. i use my go to.. pinaud clubman bay rum.. and what do i get?.. damn fine shave..

something about that after burn and the conditioning.. my face felt so much nicer afterwards.. is this all in my head?

so far i am attributing it to the cinnamon oil in the pinaud.. i think it really gets the blood circulating around my face and causes a much more healed aftermath..

am i making sense? i mean.. it's not like we're talking the difference between using an alcohol splash and a serious moisturizing balm..

[Alembic]

+1 - I'm with you on this.

The shave is a complete process, which includes:

Prep
Lather Building
Stropping
Shaving
After Shave Treatment

Any one of these affects the final outcome of the shave quality.

I switched from witch hazel to Bay Rum/Nivea Replenishing Balm. The shaves really bumped up several notches from it.

[HarleyFXST]

You are both friggin' nuts.

[JimmyHAD]

Before I came to wet shaving forums I had never used an A/S. Now it is one of my favorite components of the shave. I like a bit of burn too.

[Mvcrash]

I think if you use an aftershave with alcohol or use cold water after you shave it causes your skin to tighten and as a result the hair follicles retreat. This may make the shave feel closer. This is what you may be feeling.

[Chelicerae]

I think if you use an aftershave with alcohol or use cold water after you shave it causes your skin to tighten and as a result the hair follicles retreat. This may make the shave feel closer. This is what you may be feeling.

I seem to be experiencing this same thing. After a WTG pass and then an ATG pass I still feel a slight bit of stubble on certain parts of my face. After my usual post-shave routine of alum block, Witch Hazel and finally a splash of Pinaud or Dominica Bay Rum, The bit of stubble is now undetectable.

If I hadn't experienced it myself, I would think someone be friggin' nuts telling the same story.

[Alembic]

You are both friggin' nuts.

You are right about that - but not because of the post shave treatment perspective : - )

[JohnnyCakeDC]

I personally use Ice Cubes before and after my shaves and it's done for me what I'm reading what AS and the like does for you and others. Certain preps and finishes on certain faces attribute to the Damn Fine Shave just as much as the edge of a razor, technique, soap, cream, lather etc. YMMV

[MasterRolf]

If, as you post implies, you mean the overall experience; then clearly the aftershave will have an effect. If, however, you mean the closeness of the shave, then the answer would be no.

[Pops!]

perhaps i have a tendency for starting threads where i already know the answer..

things being.. the aftershave really effects the outcome of a shave.. if you plan on a facewank.. use something that will either soften you up or make you smell lovely..

nods up to jimmy... i love a nice alcoholic splash of smell good. it turns an ok shave into a great one.