Has Kyle's Prep Dried Out Anyone Else's Face?

[BestFaceForward]

I too read in "The Barbers' Manual" about applying lather for 2-3 minutes and holding a hot towel, wiping off the lather, re-applying lather, and then shave. When I tried this, my shave was pretty bumpy and rough because my skin was completely dried out. I used TOBS, and because it's a high quality cream, I did not think that my skin would get this dry. It may be that the ph of the skin is adversely affected when doing this traditional prep.

Has anyone else had a similar experience, and if so, did you tailor it to make it more moisturizing or did you just give up on "Kyle's Prep"?

[RABIDMONKEY]

nope might be the shave cream your using

[Kevan]

People's skin is different. What works for someone else might not work for you and vice versa. If you use the TOBS cream normally and your skin dries out, then you can probably conclude it's the cream. If it doesn't, then something about that prep/process doesn't agree with you.

[BestFaceForward]

I used, and have been using a Taylor of Old Bond Street cream and never had such dryness. Also, I didn't change anything else in my prep. So, if it's the shaving cream, it's interesting how it dries me out using the traditional prep, but is moisturizing and slick enough to more than cover a three or four pass shave without dryness. That's why I was thinking it could be changing the ph of the skin.

[Kevan]

I don't know anything about changing the skin Ph. Maybe. I've always thought the traditional prep was a bit overkill myself. I highly doubt my sensitive skin could tolerate a double-dose of product and a steam towel.

[seizure]

I've never tried it, but I think my face would get grumpy as well. I often get really dry skin on my face from just washing it. I have to follow shaving with a liberal dose of moisturizing AS already.

[retturn2blades]

The traditional prep with hot, wet towels should hydrate the skin, not dry it out.

I'd try it a few more times and see if the skin adapts. And/or you could eliminate the lather and just use hot towels...or try using Poraso prep with the towel soaking.

[BestFaceForward]

The traditional prep with hot, wet towels should hydrate the skin, not dry it out.

I'd try it a few more times and see if the skin adapts. And/or you could eliminate the lather and just use hot towels...or try using Poraso prep with the towel soaking.

That is EXACTLY what my thought process is! I have C.O. Bigelow, so that was going to be my next experiment.

Also, I always wet a hand towel, take the water out, and microwave it for about 2 minutes. This gives you a nice, steamy towel. I got this tip from a video with the master barber of GFT, and this steamy towel along with a pre-shave product, is my usual prep. Then I lather and shave. However, when applying the shaving cream followed by the towel, my skin definitely was not hydrated and the hair was not easier to cut simply because my skin was so dry, there was no gliding of the razor; I had to be very careful not to pull and scrape the razor.

I agree with Kevan and Seizure as well, for my sensitive skin, the traditional prep with lather and a steamy towel could very well just be overkill.

Thank you for the great ideas and replies

[Bobtrumpet]

I've never had a problem with Kyle's Prep drying out my skin. Then again, except for the first few times I tried it, I use Proraso pre-shave cream instead of lather.

[jrp316]

The only time I've had trouble with Kyle's Prep drying me out is when the towel was too hot and dry (i.e., I wrung the towel out too much and ended up with a dry heat instead of a moist heat). I usually use Proraso pre shave with a hot towel, though it works pretty well with lather as well.

[Whilliam]

I don't use a hot towel, but I do lather twice, and I do add a dollop of olive oil and a few drops of glycerin to my lather mixture. Works for me, but, of course, YMMV.

B.

[HoosierTrooper]

Cold water shaving all the way. The first post in THIS EPIC THREAD says it all.

[Mandina]

For me, too, applying even damp hot towels leaves my face too dry. The answer has been simple: I apply plenty of hot water to my face between each step in the prep, and certainly before applying the lather to shave. Since doing this there's been no problem. Applying a bit of oil (such as olive, grape seed, or sweet almond--perhaps mixed with essential oils--or some commercial preshave oil) to your face may be helpful as well. I used to do that but no longer find it necessary. I now use my home-mix of oils as my AS.

[Threeme2189]

I think the soap from the cream + the hot water and steam are stripping the natural oils from your skin. Try the hot towel, but without the lather underneath and see if you get more "glide".

[JCinPA]

I just find all that heat is uncomfortable. I use warm only, or cold in the summer. Having experimented quite a bit, I don't think the water temperature has anything at all to do with the shave quality, only comfort. I get comfortably close shaves with hot/warm/cold no matter. But hot is just irritating. It irritates my skin and increases the incidence of razor burn.

My only prep is a shower. No towels, hot or otherwise. Soak the brush while showering, jump out of the shower and get to it. Works great.

[BestFaceForward]

Tonight I put on a little Nivea AS, then put on my hot towel, lathered, and shaved. My face still feels dry, especially just above the chin. I then used some skin food and about 15 minutes later put on some more Nivea. I wanted to try jrp316's suggestion (not putting on too hot and too dry of a towel). I'll see how this works. It could be what Threeme2189 suggested; that the one prep that dried my face out has stripped my face of the oils it needs, so perhaps I have to wait until my face "heals" and regulates itself before I judge how successful or horrible these alterations are.

Has anyone else used Nivea ASB instead of lather as a prep under Kyle's prep?

[dfigz]

Cold water shaving all the way. The first post in THIS EPIC THREAD says it all.

+1 Exactly Tom

[closer]

I've found the whole hot towel thing to be problematic. Most barbers I've been to use too hot a towel, which in addition to being uncomfortable, leaves the skin vulnerable instead of being moisturized. If I use a towel that's not quite so hot, I find it looses its heat very quickly, requiring multiple applications. My prep now consists of washing my face with soap and warm water, liberal amount of rinsing with warm water, then a few drops of jojoba oil to moisturize. Then I simply lather up and go.

[BestFaceForward]

I've found the whole hot towel thing to be problematic. Most barbers I've been to use too hot a towel, which in addition to being uncomfortable, leaves the skin vulnerable instead of being moisturized. If I use a towel that's not quite so hot, I find it looses its heat very quickly, requiring multiple applications. My prep now consists of washing my face with soap and warm water, liberal amount of rinsing with warm water, then a few drops of jojoba oil to moisturize. Then I simply lather up and go.

Very true. The towel lost its heat very fast, as I used a towel that wasn't as hot as my usual prep. With acne prone skin, I'm hesitant to use oil.

[Predict]

I don't buy into kyles prep. Too much heat is bad for some people's skin. Me, I like cold water shaves. But sometimes I like a warm shave. See what works for you.