Vigorous face washing.

I was in my early twenties the first time I sat down and got a barber shop shave. Forty years ago so the barber who was an old fellow at the time had shaved a few in his day. I remember the hot towel and how nice it felt but the thing that I will never forget is when he washed my face. I can't recall whether it was before or after the hot towel but it was rough.

I mean he got down on those whiskers and rubbed the heck out of them hard. I had always soaped and washed my face sort of gently. This fellow was my regular barber for years and later I asked him why he had rubbed my whiskers so hard. He told me that it helped to soften them up and that it was necessary to prepare them for a smooth and close shave.

Regardless of what tool I've used to shave since I apply the same technique to washing my face before a shave and I wash and rinse twice before lathering. I am recounting this to let anyone who might be interested try it if you don't do it this way already. Works well for me and it might for you too. :tu

Another great piece of advice, Jimmy. A good washing removes the oils and lets the lather really get to work softening up the hairs. Another great reason to shave after a shower.

It also helps raise the hair. It's the same principle as exfoliation before a shave, & also why using a brush in a circular motion is better than simply painting lather on. It's the sort of advice that some of us would take for granted, but really helpful to someone new to the whole experience. Well worth stating Jimmy.

I had started to wash twice recently and found it really helped in softening the beard. Great advice.

I have not been an advocate of vigorous face washing, just becuase I have sensitive skin and no reason to beat the skin up. my routine now, which is pretty good I think, is this

hot shower or at least (on RARE occasions not showering right before) a hot towel
a good lather with a lot of brush action to exfoliate and get the hairs good and coated
strop
hot towel again to remove and reheat the skin
more lather
start shaving.

A long time ago my dermatologist at the time told me not to use wash cloths on my face because it was too rough on my skin. I also have to be careful the soap I use or I'll start breaking out (hotel soap a couple nights not too bad). I use dove and find it gets all oils off fine.

I tried dove body wash a few years back, wife had it in there, seemed easy to do. few days, got a couple blemishes on the face. went back to the bar. ah, the fight to hvae beautiful skin.

Red

I wash my face with soap before shaving, rinse it off, and then apply some "Kiss My Face" shaving cream vigorously with the tips of my fingers, all over my face and neck. I apply warm lather with my brush from my mug O'Occitane soap right on top of it, which gives a very smooth creamy lather and very soft whiskers. Vigorous scrubbing seems to help with the soap and with the first lather application, for me. YMMV.

There's a couple of good exfoliating face scrubs out there. I like Nivea, and another I think it's called "every man jack" available at Target. I'm sure there's some high end one's out there, but it probably does the same thing...It does a real good job removing dirt and oil. That's part of my everyday prep....

I think this ties in with why you get a good shave after skipping a day. When you have lengthy stubble, as you wash your face or apply the lather you have leverage, so the hairs move and flex at the root. This breaks the cuticle surface at the base of the hair, allowing water to penetrate and soften it, just where you need it to.

I have almost the exact routein as Big Red. Between washing, applying soap and using a straight razor daily, I'm do not believe that I need daily exfoliation. Removing the oils and daily accumulation of grime with a mild soap and hot water seems to work very well for me.

Lewis

I exfoliate with a carbon steel blade! :)

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Originally Posted by m0isty

I exfoliate with a carbon steel blade! :)

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lol that is great

I use a face wash but not a pre shave one, some of them have some rough exfoliates in them, then a nice firm face massage, followed by a 75/25 olive oil, vitamin e oil pre shave oil. I finish off with witch hazel and bay rum. Works good for me.

Thanks for the post.

Crom

I'm like Big Red when it comes to sensitivity issues but I get blemishes / eczema beside my nose. I can't wash too much but when I shower I'm pretty rough. I'll shower and immediately lather up, strop, apply the scalding hot towel, and do my thing. Great post JH!

if anybody uses a face scrub (with no grity grains in it) I like to load my brush with my facial cleanser and lather scrub the oil and dirt away. Works like a charm, everytime before I shave. Check it out

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Originally Posted by JohnnyCakeDC

if anybody uses a face scrub (with no grity grains in it) I like to load my brush with my facial cleanser and lather scrub the oil and dirt away. Works like a charm, everytime before I shave. Check it out

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I tried that with the brush shown below. It was too much. :rofl2:

YouTube - Shaving brush gone bad.

(The tips are softer if you're wondering.)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rajagra

I tried that with the brush shown below. It was too much. :rofl2:

YouTube - Shaving brush gone bad.

(The tips are softer if you're wondering.)

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Brilliant!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rajagra

I tried that with the brush shown below. It was too much. :rofl2:

(The tips are softer if you're wondering.)

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LOL ! That brush would be good for razor restoration. :D

Christ! What kind of Jizzmogloben did you use Man?! That brush looks like it could take out an eye.