Shaving Prep

[drmoss_ca]

No need to reinvent the wheel here, as barbers have been showing us how to do it for centuries. It makes a difference to the comfort and closeness of the shave, and takes very little time.

I run the hot tap until the water is as hot as it gets, then wash my face with soap (not a detergent bar, as that will chemically interfere with the lathering later), rubbing it in well, but not rinsing it off. Then I take a face cloth folded in half and soak it in the hot water, then apply it to my face, with the folded edge under my nose. My index fingers hold the ends of the cloth up on my sideburns, my thumbs hold the lower part against my neck and my little fingers reach medially and hold the cloth against the upper lip. Imagine you are holding a basketball in both hands preparing to try for a basket. That's the shape of the hands required. I hold it against my face until it loses its heat, then I repeat a couple of times. Only a couple of minutes needed and your beard will be soaked and softened by the heat. Then lather working the brush actively across your face. I guarantee you will find the shave goes better in all respects with a little prep.

Chris

[EL Alamein]

This is an excellent post and I cannot agree more.

I've do a short version of this, which is not quite as effective, each time I shave. I wash my face with soap before each shave. I don't have time to do the full prep so I focus on using water, as hot as possible, when I rinse the soap off my face. Every now and then I treat myself to the full method and it is wonderful.

The lather is made already in the Moss scuttle and waiting for me when I am done rinsing the soap. So on it goes straight away.

I shave before I shower and I have tried shaving after my shower, did it for a few years. I actually prefer the face washing method before the shower to the shower before shaving method. I believe I feel a difference in that my whiskers are softer with the face washing method. Don't know why this would be, but I perceive it is.

I recommend guys try each way - try it for a while and then switch methods. It can help you dial in what you like.

Chris

[nodaktim]

Should try this prep. It has been sometime since doing anything close to this. Thank you for the idea.

[Gene]

I need to try it, too. I started shaving in the shower a while back, but have now realized that the older I get the harder it is to get a decent shave. Or, rather, the grayer my (remaining) hair becomes the more difficult it is to shave it. I hope this works - next stop might be an electric.