Recently, I met up with an old friend who came back from a trip to South and Central America. He is not an aficionado of wet shaves - yet. However, while there he went to a barber shop and got what he said was the smoothest shave he has ever had - and it was done with a straight. I am in the process of trying to get him to give up the canned goo and cart - but I have my work cut out.
He said the barber mixed some soap and cream and applied it to his face first by massaging it onto his face in a thin layer. He then applied a hot towel and then re-lathered and then got his shave. The barber did a two pass shave with a straight razor. (The barber kept the blade of the straight soaking in a solution which probably was barbicide or some similar product).
Based on his description I thought I would try this in my a.m. shave. First, I washed my face. I then made up an uberlather of MWF, Proraso, and glycerin and applied a thin layer of it to my face. I massaged it into my beard for about a minute, used a hot towel for a minute, washed it off, and splashed hot water on my face. I then applied some T&H pre-shave oil, lathered and did a four pass shave.
The shave was incredibly smooth and my face felt great afterward. I used some Thayers and my face was so smooth and felt so good there was no need to put on an ASB - but I did so anyway!
I will try the same technique on Monday - but will try the Proraso with Cella and make it an Italian shave!
He said the barber mixed some soap and cream and applied it to his face first by massaging it onto his face in a thin layer. He then applied a hot towel and then re-lathered and then got his shave. The barber did a two pass shave with a straight razor. (The barber kept the blade of the straight soaking in a solution which probably was barbicide or some similar product).
Based on his description I thought I would try this in my a.m. shave. First, I washed my face. I then made up an uberlather of MWF, Proraso, and glycerin and applied a thin layer of it to my face. I massaged it into my beard for about a minute, used a hot towel for a minute, washed it off, and splashed hot water on my face. I then applied some T&H pre-shave oil, lathered and did a four pass shave.
The shave was incredibly smooth and my face felt great afterward. I used some Thayers and my face was so smooth and felt so good there was no need to put on an ASB - but I did so anyway!
I will try the same technique on Monday - but will try the Proraso with Cella and make it an Italian shave!
The key is getting the lather on beard and letting it work for a few minutes, how you do that is secondary.
