Thread: Hot towels??

Hi guys, I have been shaving with my straight for a few months now, with what I consider to be reasonable success (ie I haven't severed my head off or anything, and nice and close). I usually lather up after a shower then strop and lather again before committing steel to skin, I have read that some people use hot towels between lathers
and I'd like to try this. Whats the best way to heat the towels? And how hot do they have to be?

Cheers for any replies in advance,

Neil

The standard way is to roll the towel into a long cylinder then put the end around the tap with really hot water, then wring out almost all the water so that your hands end up on the top of the cylinder/towel (so the hot water runs down away from your hands) then apply. The water should be hot enough to produce steam. The steam brings out the oils in the skin. Its not about the water, your face is already wet, its about the steam and the resultant release of facial oil.

Wow!! That was fast. Thanks Alan, thats exactly the info I was after,
cheers,
Neil

Your welcome.

Nice method, Alan. What kind of "cylinder" do you use?

Here's my current method:

Fill the sink with HOT water.
Let towel soak in water while I make my lather
Apply lather, wring out towel, and wrap face in towel
Strop
Wipe face clean and reapply lather

Then between each pass, I soak another towel and wrap my face before continuing. Feels fantastic!

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

The standard way is to roll the towel into a long cylinder then put the end around the tap with really hot water, then wring out almost all the water so that your hands end up on the top of the cylinder/towel (so the hot water runs down away from your hands) then apply. The water should be hot enough to produce steam. The steam brings out the oils in the skin. Its not about the water, your face is already wet, its about the steam and the resultant release of facial oil.

Oh so thats why I've been burning my hands up every morning. I knew there had to be a trick to it!

microwave! now that'll get it hot!

Microwave is exactly what I do, gets damn hot, be careful.

Do you just hold the towel to your face??? I see people saying wrap your face, can someone clarify that?

It depends on the size of the towel and personal preference, I use a hand towel I picked up at discount store get it good and wet, wring out most of water and stick it in the microwave for a coupleof minutes. the towel i use isnt long enough to do a good wrap but it will cover entire face and neck. just let it set for a moment and lather up. some times i will lather up, use the towel and lather again, it seems to do the most good to steam the lather into the beard and then relather, and then shave. the face will be well lubricated and the whiskers sufficiently moistened and should cut like warm butter. good luck