Using "Kyles prep"

A week ago or so, I was reading about beard prep at B&B.They often call the hot towel kyles prep, because a member called Kyle introdised it, I think he is a member here too.
Anyway, I took the time to read his whole post(Its a long one) About shave prep.
I have been using a hot towel since I started with straights, but what was new to me was that he suggested to spend a few minutes massaging the lather into your face with your fingers.
This may seem like a small and unimportent thing, but for those of us on a quest for the ultimate shave, every bit matters.
I have tried this the last few days, and I really feel that it works.
My new routine are as follows:

1.Wash face with warm water.
2.Apply and rub in preshave on wet face.
3.Let preshave work, while I make lather in scuttle.
4.Apply lather in a gentle fashion with brush.
5.Rub lather into face like crazy for a few min.
6.Apply more lather with brush.
7.Use hot towel for at least 3 min.
8.Apply thick layer of lather with brush.
9.Have a stellar shave.

Just a tip:)


Kristoffer

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

What do you recommend for a pre-shave?

IMHO, this is massive overkill. Once you have washed your face with soap and warm water, you have fully hydrated your beard. Given this, the additional steps of applying lather, rubbing it in and then applying a hot towel are redundant. (hot towel, lather, hot towel is actually just another way to wash your face). The pros and cons of preshaves have been discussed before, if they work for you then go for them. Personally, I no longer bother.

If you are not going to wash your face as a part of the prep, then some form of hot towel, lather, hot towel, relather would be the way to go.

Kyle's Prep isn't just about prep. It's about relaxing with that hot towel on your face, or turning a chore into a luxury, or whatever. As far as the pre-hot towel goes, any soap containing sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide will work just fine. If your shaving cream or shaving soap has it, you can eliminate the pre-shave steps.

donputnick, what do those ingredients do exactly?

I also like your phrase "luxury or whatever" haha

I find a hot shower sufficient for me, but I do use this prep technique from time to time and really enjoy it. This is what many of the old barbers used to do, but I think moreso for the fact that the men came in and hadn't prepped their beards in any way prior.

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Originally Posted by jcw122

donputnick, what do those ingredients do exactly?

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Quoting from "Kyle's Prep":

"Potassium Hydroxide and/or Sodium Hydroxide – these are both alkalis which aid in the saponification of oils and serve as cuticle solvents."

"The cuticle is a hard, shingle-like layer of overlapping cells (think of a stack of plastic drinking cups). It acts as a protective barrier for the soft inner structure and is hydrophobic or water resistant."

"When an alkaline solution is applied to hair, it causes the cuticle cells to swell and lift allowing water and chemicals easier passage to the inner layers."

BTW, these chemicals are also known as lye.

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Originally Posted by donputnick

Kyle's Prep isn't just about prep. It's about relaxing with that hot towel on your face, or turning a chore into a luxury, or whatever. As far as the pre-hot towel goes, any soap containing sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide will work just fine. If your shaving cream or shaving soap has it, you can eliminate the pre-shave steps.

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No quality skin soap is going to contain any significant quantities of either sodium hydroxide (lye) or potasium hydroxide. These chemicals are very basic and will burn your skin. They are used to make soap; but are consumed in the saponification reaction. One of the main reasons soap must be cured is to ensure that the reaction is complete so that little of these harsh chemicals remain. There are potentially small amounts present in fully cured soap, but not so that you would notice.

Every shaver is different in terms of the prep needed. I've found the steps in Kyle's procedure to offer something for everyone. While I can get by with simply wetting my face prior tp lathering up, using steam towels is pleasant and relaxing. If you watch Lyn's video, you'll see exactly how I do my own prep. The one step I sometimes leave out is the steam towels over lather.

Excluding the first step (face washing) this is pretty much the same as a pro barber shave prep. Not really a new process, but it is a great one if you have the time to follow it.

I have had a number of shaves done by barbers and the prep is the best part of the shave IMO. The end results have varied from excellent to just OK, but leaning back in the barber chair and relaxing with the hot towels etc.....good every time.

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Originally Posted by fccexpert

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

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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.

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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

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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. :beer1:

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.

Originally I went all out on prep & shaved at bedtime to accommodate that. Since I've come back to wet shaving, recently, however, I just do a wash & soak, sometimes oil & sometimes not, get the lather mostly ready in a bowl & finish it on the face

Edit: the only other major difference now is I finish with a cold rinse & an alum block. I didn't use alum previously, seems to make a big difference.

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Originally Posted by beluga

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


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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+1. This would maybe work for me on a weekend but not an everyday thing