A barbershop shave feels better than most home shaves for one simple reason: preparation. The blade is only the last part of it. With a warm towel, a good lather and a steady hand, you can get most of the way there at home, and your skin will notice the difference.
Start with heat and oil
Warmth softens the beard and relaxes the skin, which makes the hair easier to cut and the razor glide more smoothly. The easiest way is to shave straight after a shower, or to hold a hot, wet flannel against the face for a minute or two. Then apply a little Pre-shave Oil. It sits under the lather and adds a layer of slip, which is the closest thing to a cushion between the blade and your skin. A few drops, massaged in and left for a moment, is plenty. Do not wash it off before you lather up.
Build a proper lather
Shave Cream is not the same as foam from an aerosol can. Take a small amount and work it with a Shaving Brush, either in a bowl or straight onto the face, adding a little warm water until it thickens into a soft, shiny lather. The brush lifts the hairs and works the cream around them, which is exactly what you want before the blade arrives. A synthetic brush like ours is easy to look after: rinse it well, shake it out and stand it to dry. Brush the lather on in circles and give it a minute to soften the beard while you get the razor ready.
Shave with a light hand
A Safety Razor rewards patience. Let the weight of the razor do the work and keep the angle shallow, so the blade skims the skin rather than scraping it. Use short strokes and rinse the head often, because a clogged razor drags. Shave with the grain first, which is the direction the hair grows, and only go across or against it once you know your skin is comfortable with that. Do not press harder to get closer. That is how nicks and razor burn begin. Stretch the skin gently with your free hand so the surface stays flat under the blade.
When you are finished, rinse with cool water to settle the skin and pat the face dry. Give it a few minutes before you reach for anything else. It also helps to keep the razor clean and dry between shaves, and to change the blade when it starts to pull, because a dull blade is what makes most people press too hard. A few minutes of care before the blade is what separates a comfortable shave from a rushed one. A Hot towel shave at Parlour is forty minutes of exactly these steps, with the towel work and the finishing done for you, and prices start at £30.
A simple order to follow
- Shave after a shower, or hold a warm wet flannel to the face.
- Apply a few drops of Pre-shave Oil and leave it a moment.
- Lather Shave Cream with a Shaving Brush until it is thick.
- Shave with the grain using light, short strokes.
- Rinse the blade often and do not press down hard.
- Finish with cool water and pat the face dry.
