Thread: Achieving a better shave.

Finally got a good shave with Trufit & Hill. I been using this product for a few months off and on. I use it in the barbershop with a ton of hot towels, different razors and always left my face feeling burnt. But today I changed the way I used to products and it was a GREAT shave. I went multiple directions and still was a comfortable shave.

Being a barber in a shop were we do a lot of shaves, we use and test a number of brands. Usually they all can be used in the same manner and procedure during a shave.

In your guys experiences, have you ever had to change the way you use a product to achieve a better shave result?

What did you do different? I have change the way I build lather with some soaps, like use more water or less water, or load more soap on the brush or less (MDC) and such, but I always use it the same on my face. I wish I could use hot towels, microwave towels is a hassle for me. I haven't convince SWMBO for towel warmer. Double O

I'm curious as well as to what you did differently. But yes, each soap/cream has its own nuances that must be learned in order to achieve the best results. I do find it's easier to learn each product by using the same brush, otherwise your results will be skewered. You can always adapt your technique with other brushes later.

Usually I apply Pre shave oil, hot towel. Then lather another hot towel. Lather then shave. If I do a second pass, I will lather, then hot towel. Lather then shave.

Today I applied Pre Shave oil, lather then hot towel. Lather then shave. Did a second pass, I will lather, then hot towel. Lather then shave.

Usually I apply cold towel after I am done shaving and before aftershave.

I am actually surprised you think T&H is highly scented. I can’t smell it after a minutes after the shave. I have never used DR Harris, though I am looking forward to using it. I think my next purchase will be Trumpers. I have a barber that loves it. I think I could spend my years’ salary and still not try all of the brands available.

I personally like the creams over soaps in the shop as it is best of all skin types. I know Caswell Massey gets a bad rap, but it is AWESOME. It lathers great and smells like a million bucks. It is Super creamy and shaves nice. I will do my best to get a lather video this weekend. I never done one before, but I want to cause it is a great product. No I don’t work for them.

OCD, not sure how you shave, but it is all in the prep. I think it takes me longer to prep my lather and face than it does to shave. I don’t have a lot of screen room, but my facial hair is highly detailed. The barbers usually take about 30 minutes to outline and shave me. In the prep, treat yourself to at least one hot towel and a base cream. Base Cream is the lather you put on before a hot towel and remove when you take the hot towel off. Then reapply the lather and shave. Depending on how coarse your facial hair is, you wouldn’t need a pre shave oil by doing this.

Keep yourself a zip lock back of cold towels in the fridge. It does wonders for your face after you shave. Then apply aftershave balm/splash.

I have a ton more tips, but I am running out of beer to share.

Originally Posted by druscetta

Usually I apply Pre shave oil, hot towel. Then lather another hot towel. Lather then shave. If I do a second pass, I will lather, then hot towel. Lather then shave.

Today I applied Pre Shave oil, lather then hot towel. Lather then shave. Did a second pass, I will lather, then hot towel. Lather then shave.

Usually I apply cold towel after I am done shaving and before aftershave.

I love that! I do a similar routine for the times I don't shower before the shave, that it works extremely well for me.

Wash face with hand soap, gets all the oil out, rinse with hot water for 30 sec. or so. Lather and leave on face, for 1:30 min or 2:00 min by watch. Usually strop or prepare scuttle. Then I massage the lathered beard with fingers. After 2 min. rinse with hot water. Then lather and shave, rinse between passes and finish in the summer with an ice cold towel. Yes, it's the best part, shock and awe on the face. One time I cut the time the lather sits on the face, to 30 sec. and I could feel the same fine blade from shaves before, pulling. Next time used same blade with better prep and had a great shave without any pulling or refreshing the edge. So yes, it's on the prep!

No hot towel for me. I have tried it and love it! For me, having to turn the microwave for 45 sec. for each towel I want to use, going back and forth from kitchen to bathroom, takes the fun out of it. I'm working the wife for a towel warmer in the bathroom. Double O

T&H is one of my top shave creams. I especially like the 1805 scent. I also have Rose, Trafalgar and Key West Lime. All are good, and as mentioned, I believe the only use for the scent in shaving cream is aroma therapy. With rinsing, alum, etc...The fragrance of the cream is gone. There are factors that will affect your final product while building lather, even the brush. You can use 3 different brushes with the same cream, and get 3 different results. Also, Water, amount and type, (hard or soft) will make a difference.

Even how you apply it, Face lather, scuttle, etc...Truefitt and Hill remains one of my favorites, like Castle Forbes.

This thread makes me want to shave (don't they all). 1805 and Trafalgar are my two favorite scents (possibly of all time). Rich, you got me addicted to these.

Wow, you guys are shave crazy. I just strop 30 rounds, shower, build cream, apply cream, shave, rinse with cold water and apply after shave.
Strop a few times and done.

Originally Posted by Double0757

I love that! I do a similar routine for the times I don't shower before the shave, that it works extremely well for me.

Wash face with hand soap, gets all the oil out, rinse with hot water for 30 sec. or so. Lather and leave on face, for 1:30 min or 2:00 min by watch. Usually strop or prepare scuttle. Then I massage the lathered beard with fingers. After 2 min. rinse with hot water. Then lather and shave, rinse between passes and finish in the summer with an ice cold towel. Yes, it's the best part, shock and awe on the face. One time I cut the time the lather sits on the face, to 30 sec. and I could feel the same fine blade from shaves before, pulling. Next time used same blade with better prep and had a great shave without any pulling or refreshing the edge. So yes, it's on the prep!

No hot towel for me. I have tried it and love it! For me, having to turn the microwave for 45 sec. for each towel I want to use, going back and forth from kitchen to bathroom, takes the fun out of it. I'm working the wife for a towel warmer in the bathroom. Double O

I massage my face with the brush before i shave. It feels so good i do it for at least two minutes.
A nice soft brush is more then just putting soap on the face. When i really rub my face with the brush i
do seem to get a better shave.