Thread: Shave hygiene?

Personally, I make sure:

1.) My teeth are brushed
2.) My ears are cleaned
3.) Deodorant has been applied

Then,

4.) Rub in the Shave secret oil
5.) Begin lather making in bowl
6.) Add boiling water to face cloth bowl
7.) Resume lathering in bowl
8.) Take steaming face cloth out and drape it over faucet to begin cooling, place lather bowl with brush in it and put it in the metal container that holds the hot water and lather a little more(hot lather is nice)
9.) Face lather and massage it in
10.) Take face cloth as hot as I can handle and put on my face for a minute or two
11.) Take off face cloth and relather(wet face a little if necessary)
12.) Shaving pass and rinse
13.) Repeat steps 8-12, minus 9(WTG, XTG, ATG)
14.) Perform touchups were necessary
15.) Cold water rinse
16.) Thayer's Medicate witch hazel with aloe goes on and air dries.

That's the current long version and can vary.

I step out of the shower and put on deodorant and then shave immediately. I don't soak my brushes and I don't clean or rinse them. I use three so that each of them can dry before they're used again, and have for several years now. None stink and I don't have to waste my time cleaning them out (coincidentally, when I only had one and cleaned it every day, it started to stink at the knot). A 2 pass shave including the time to strop the razor each day takes about 5 minutes - the first pass is as fast as you can do it, it's a material reduction pass and it doesn't need to go slow. I'd imagine it's less than a minute. That leaves you a few minutes to get a good quality second pass.

I rinse the razor and then pull it slowly throw a towel pinched together, rinse my face, and the whole process is over. Might take a couple of minutes longer than a fast shave in the shower with a mach 3 used to years ago, but it's so much better, and a few extra minutes isn't bad.

I never found a mixture of other concoctions that made any difference for me (preshaves, aftershaves, oils), but coming right out of the shower does - it's like a blacksmith taking steel out of a furnace and hammering it right away when its easiest to work. The only exception to gadgetry is that if I have a shave that is a bit close, I do have an alum bar, but it's rare that I use it.

There will always be horror stories with infections, but those are extreme and unfortunate cases. I only ever use water to wipe down surfaces, unless there is stubborn grime (when I use a big of vinegar or a generic cleaner). These days people wash clean clothes, and everything in the house is antibacterial - it's complete madness.

Shave wise:

Brush in hot water.
Shower.
Mix and lather (Musco Real, or sandalwood ToOBS, mmm)
Strop.
Later.
Shave (1 pass, WTG).
Rinse razor under tap, wipe with the same towel I dried myself with.
Rinse brush.
Hot water then cold water on face.
E45 on face.

Admittedly a very basic shave, but if it's not broken...

I agree too many antibacterial products are a problem. We are just creating resistant strains. I am sparing about the use. But it is interesting to see this thread blossom from hygiene to the shave process in general. Right now (ignoring cleaning steps):

1- Hot water in scuttle, and soak brush.
2- Lather up face and apply microwave hot towel (love this step).
3- Re-lather with heated lather from scuttle.
4- WTG, XTG, and ATG while keeping face wet with lather.
5- Rinse cold water.
6- Moisturize and after shave.
7- Strop blade and put away.

I've started relaxing on over zealous cleaning from feedback here. So far so good...

Best,

Ed

Seems alot when you spell it out, but it's just routine when your doing it. Doesnt take that much time when thats what your use to doing. IMO

I believe in starting with a clean face. Just makes sense to me. If I do not shower before a shave, I wash my face.
As for sanitizing the razor, I don't believe it's necessary unless it is a used razor that is new to me. After the shave I rinse under hot water, wipe dry and strop(12 linen/25 leather), more to ensure the blade is dry than anything else. Oil lightly and store.
I am a big alcohol AS enthusiast. Have been using them since I started shaving in the 70s. Just feels right, and yes, I believe the alcohol works as an antiseptic, and I like that, but I use them because I enjoy them and am used to them.
Do what works for you, and what you think is right, and don't worry what others think of it. MHO.

Part of what many of us enjoy about wet shaving is the "ritual". I have certain steps that i follow and if it gets messed with I dont enjoy the shave quite as much. If you enjoy your ritual then it is time well spent and who cares if it is overkill?

By the way I do shampoo and condition my brush now and then. I think it feels better afterwards.

Some people keep "stropping diaries or logs". Is that overkill? I think so, but obviously they would disagree.

YMMV