Thread: 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?

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.

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

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.

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

Originally Posted by jcw122

donputnick, what do those ingredients do exactly?

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.