Thread: Shave hygiene?

1- Face prep starts with a wash cloth and face soap. I clean the oils and dirt off my face before shaving. I figure no reason to drag this dirt into the fresh skin after blade exfoliation. I usually use Neutrogena but occasional an anti-bacterial soap. Shower

2- I wipe the blade clean, rinse with very hot water, and strop on linen and then leather prior to shaving. After shaving so I guess that's prior to shaving too

3- I use a sponge to avoid the faucet chips. Every other day I put the damp sponge in the microwave and blast it for about 4 minutes to make sure nothing grows there.Ain't got time for that

4- After shave I use Alum, rinse, moisturize, and then use an alcohol splash. The new skin is sealed. Every few weeks I'll run a witch hazel pad over my face to check everything is squeaky clean.I use Alum if I cut myself, my skin is oily so no need for me to moisturize, And yes please alcohol splash! Witch hazel is great for cleaning your face!

5- I rinse, wipe, and strop the blade before putting it away. Yes please, see #6 I do this every time minus the mineral oil

6- Periodically I run the blade under extremely hot water, dry carefully, pour rubbing alcohol on the blade, dry carefully, and mineral oil the blade to store. See #5

7- The brush gets soaked each shave in very hot water. At the end of the shave, I rinse thoroughly and shake the water before hanging the brush bristles down to dry. Once every two months I use a pea sized amount of human shampoo and conditioner to give the dirty badger a good wash and rinse . Rinse, shake, then hang or stand - never gave my dirty badger a wash, so that falls under, ain't got time for that :P

I read an article years ago in Readers Digest about all the anti-bacterial products. You guys have to realize that there are beneficial bacteria that are being killed when we are killing the 'bad' bugs. I think this started out as a marketing thing that people would buy into and has created a monster. I try to never use any anti bacterial stuff. I rarely get sick, maybe a cold once a year. Something to think about. Of course I realize with a new razor you want to give it a bath in barbercide, but that is the extent of my cleaning. After that its a rinse, a wipe, and some stropping.

Originally Posted by JoeSomebody

I read an article years ago in Readers Digest about all the anti-bacterial products. You guys have to realize that there are beneficial bacteria that are being killed when we are killing the 'bad' bugs. I think this started out as a marketing thing that people would buy into and has created a monster. I try to never use any anti bacterial stuff. I rarely get sick, maybe a cold once a year. Something to think about. Of course I realize with a new razor you want to give it a bath in barbercide, but that is the extent of my cleaning. After that its a rinse, a wipe, and some stropping.

+1 to that. Got to take care of those friendly bugs! Also, use too much and you may develop sensitivity to some product. A few years ago I was in and out of hospitals every week for work and, being the mysophobe I am, I abused of the disinfectant dispensers they put everywhere. Since then, there is only 1 commercial soap that I can use without getting a rash on the back of the hands. Human kind survived thousands of years without washing their hands every five minutes, I think we can manage a few bugs here and there. Keep in mind that your immune system quickly adapts to your environment and habits; too much cleanliness will just weaken it.

In answer to the OP, here's my humble opinion and limited experience:

1. Like most, the main prep I do is a hot shower. I only wash my face with hot water and my hands. No soap, no cloth.

2. No comments here.

3. The sponge is a good habit to avoid accidents, but too much efforts for me.

4. Unless you cut yourself, I wouldn't use the alum. I only rinse my face then apply aftershave. If your a/s dries your skin, finish with the moisturizer, otherwise you might as well enjoy its fragrance.

5. Excellent habit. Stropping right after use not only maintains your blade, but it also helps you clean and dry it completely.

6. A good habit but, (1) you should let the razor air dry over night (not in the bathroom!) before applying the oil, unless you live near the ocean or somewhere with a constant high humidity level, in which case I would recommend a sealed box (I use a cigar humidor) with desiccant packets inside; (2) I've read somewhere around here that the only alcohol you should use is the rubbing alcohol with 70% ethanol, the other types tend to help rust; also, the 70% ethanol rubbing alcohol has other components that should be wiped clean after use otherwise it leaves a white film on the blade. p.s. using the humidor with two 40-gram desiccant cans, I haven't oiled a single blade in over 18 months and no sign of rust anywhere.

7. Keep in mind that your brush literally lives in soap, so I wouldn't worry about it getting dirty... As long as you rinse the lather out of it under running water, squeeze the water out, shake it well and let it dry somewhere not enclosed, the only maintenance it should ever need is making another batch of lather for your face. As for resting it up or down, I do both and the brushes are always dry a few hours later...

In conclusion, over the top? IMHO, yes, but not by much; most of it is just good habits, so carry on experimenting and adapt as you go along.

In regards to cleaning a blade previously used by someone else, most, if not all, potentially infectious bugs will be dead on arrival by the time you use it, but soap and hot water are you best friends and a bit of 70% ethanol can't hurt if it makes you feel better (it does for me!).

Cheers.

I say if you enjoy your routine, stick with it. For me, at the end of the day, its all about taking pleasure in the process and making it your own.

sponges are one of the worlds greatist mediums for growing Bacterias,the perfect storm.
Used to work with an O.R nurse who was a major Germophobe as most are.
Antibacterial everything,she cut her hand pruning roses,minor wound that got real bad, real quick.
Went to the E.R sicker than a dawg,admited to ICU with an antibiotic resistant staph infection.
Next day they removed her hand,day after that they removed her arm,on day 3 she died.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

sponges are one of the worlds greatist mediums for growing Bacterias,the perfect storm.
Used to work with an O.R nurse who was a major Germophobe as most are.
Antibacterial everything,she cut her hand pruning roses,minor wound that got real bad, real quick.
Went to the E.R sicker than a dawg,admited to ICU with an antibiotic resistant staph infection.
Next day they removed her hand,day after that they removed her arm,on day 3 she died.

I hope you're joking.

Originally Posted by Pi3

I hope you're joking.

No I am not joking.

Bad bugs are an occupational hazard if you work in hospitals. I'm no germophobe but I spent ten years pulling apart contaminated broken medical equipment. Fortunately nothing bad happened because I was good about hygiene and personal protective equipment.

I had one nasty job as an apprentice where I had to tear down and rebuild an automated door on a large nearly walk in autoclave in pathology. It was the spills on the outside which got me. I had an infection just under my nails which resisted attempts to kill it with normal hygiene soap and water and a nail brush. I resorted to heavy duty products and killed the infection. Then it was time to eliminate the source.

I went in late at night, after the lab closed, with an oxyacetylene torch and a rose bud tip. Everything in and on the steel outside mechanism died then, no more infections from handling the outside parts and gear train.

Best Regards,

Ed

My main prep is to shower first.
I use the wash cloth from the shower to wipe my blade on.
When I'm done shaving, I rinse the blade in hot water and wipe it dry on the towel I'm wearing.
Then I strop it 40 on linen and 40 or more on leather so that it dry and ready to shave the next day.

The only time I use alcohol on my blade is to wipe off any oil from storage or if I go to heavy oiling the pivot.

For used blades I let them soak in hibiclens for about 10 minutes and then wash them down in soap and water.

I don't think I've ever cleaned my brushes. I haven't seen anything growing on them though and they don't smell bad so I probably won't ever bother to clean them.

When I first got the brush wet it had sort of a musky gamey smell, I wondered it that was the badger? No idea. So I looked up cleaning one. Brush not a badger, and the recommendation was human shampoo. It made the smell go away. So I thought a badger shampoo occasionally? Sounds like it isn't really needed...

I have to admire the way you've optimized the process. I'm still working on that. Less steps sounds good to me...

Best,

Ed