Thread: Using "Kyles prep"

Originally Posted by fccexpert

(snip)There are potentially small amounts present in fully cured soap, but not so that you would notice.

Thanks for the feedback. Always willing to learn. I'll give it a try.

+1 to OldSchool about the towel. I tried it once. But my apartment bathroom has nowhere this can be comfortably achieved, and I doubt my roommate would care for me lounging around the apartment in a bath towel with a washcloth over my face.

I shower, wash my face, towel off, wet the beard, make lather, apply lather and shave.

Seems sufficient to me, but whatever makes the shave best for you, go with it.

Originally Posted by smokelaw1

Thanks for this. It is a reminder that prep really can make a huge difference.

What do you recommend for a pre-shave?

Right now I'm using tobs pre shave oil, CF and proraso pre\post.I like them all.

For those of you that says its enough with just throwing some water in your face, no chance with my beard\skin!

After starting with the finger rubbing, I notice a huge differense in lesser irritation after the shave.I think that this way of getting the lather into your beard, actually makes the razor glide easier over your skin.But then again, we are all different.

Kristoffer

I used to do the hot towel thing for a few months. I developed a few problems with it.
1. It was messy having a hot towel that needed to be as wet as possible dripping all over the bathroom.
2. I do not see how anyone can keep a hot towel "hot" more than 30-45 seconds.
3. I thought it dried up some of the water on my face after showering.

Right now my prep is hot shower, cheap hair conditioner, and shave

The hot towel is great if you aren't taking a shower first though.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

I stopped with the hot towels because I found nothing relaxing about standing there holding a towel to my face. Yes, at a barber's when your lying back in a chair, that is relaxing. It also does not give me as good of shaves as my current prep method. But that's just me, and as the old saying goes... "Each to their own."

My prep procedure is to wash my beard with shampoo at the same time as doing my hair, then to use conditioner. I let the conditioner sit until I was the rest of my body, lastly I was my face with a scrubbing soap, to remove oils. Some may call this overkill too, but it doesn't cost me any extra time, and the resulting shaves are spectacular.

Same here.........My daughter is a hairstylist and turned me on to morrocan oil products. They have a line of hair products, shampoo, conditioner, etc etc.. This stuff smell fantastic !!!! I leave the conditioner on my beard while I wash then shave right after. Give it a try..... (1st posting) Hello all .... from new jersey..

I tried the Kyle method but it made my face sore,as did a warm brush scuttle.So as cool as i can get away with for me,good shave though,I am in trouble with any but a couple of scents,Alt Innsburg being one,but my shaving soap is dirt cheap Palmolive classic grated into a bowl,off the subject sorry

As a 63-year old who has been wet shaving for most of his life, I believe that the Law of Diminishing Returns applies and that while some basic preparation makes a considerable difference, adding ever more steps will significantly increase the time needed for a shave but will make less and less difference in the quality of the shave.

For my straight shaves, I thus go straight from step 1 (wetting facial skin with wet towel/sponge) to step 8 - just like our grandfathers did - without any noticeable loss in quality of shaves.

IMO, this whole straight (or safety razor) shaving thing does not need to be elevated into an overly complicated ritual.

Now; if someone has plenty of spare time on his hands and just likes the idea of pampering himself, let me not discourage you.
But for my daily 4:50 am straight shaves, I consider this neither a viable nor necessary option.


B


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When I began wet shaving, I went all-out on prepping my face. Over time, I pared down to almost no prep. If I have not showered, I spend a few seconds splashing hot water on my face. That's it, time to shave.
"Kyle's Prep", IMO, would be a great way for a newbie to start.

Originally Posted by adductum

I tried the Kyle method but it made my face sore,as did a warm brush scuttle.So as cool as i can get away with for me,good shave though,I am in trouble with any but a couple of scents,Alt Innsburg being one,but my shaving soap is dirt cheap Palmolive classic grated into a bowl,off the subject sorry

I've had similar experience with any sort of warm shave. Seems like it loosens the skin and somehow exacerbates razor burn. Cold water results in a much less comfortable shaving process, but a higher level of comfort post shave once I warm back up.

I'll still slip in a warm shave every once in a while for kicks and grins though. No time for this level of prep, but it's interesting to read about.

Nice hot shower with an extra minute of hot water on the face and neck. Dry off. Wet face, lather and shave. I gave up on all the other steps. Seemed to waist too much time and it didnt seem to gibe me a better shave.

But if this works for you or you enjoy the time then enjoy. Nothing wrong with enjoying your shave time.