So, for the first time today I did a hot towel prep routine before shaving (shower, lather up the soap, apply hot towel for a few minutes, re-lather, shave). I gotta tell you, it's the greatest thing going. If you have never done it and find yourself with a few extra minutes in the morning, you owe it to yourself to give it a try. I was amazed at how much smoother and more comfortable it made the shave.
hot towel prep - wow!
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No doubt. Kyle's Prep is DA BOMB!
Glad it works for you!
Glad it works for you!
Do you guys use washcloth sized towels, or something bigger, like a barber towel or hand towel? How do you keep from suffocating (lol)? Also, how wet are your towels? When I do it, all I can manage is a washcloth over my face and neck (up to my nose), and I have to lay down on the floor with a towel under me to keep from getting all the runoff all over the place...
I use a washcloth and just hold it on my face while over the sink... I'll also reload it with hot water every minute or so.
I wouldnt mind trying a larger towel that can hold heat in longer...
I wouldnt mind trying a larger towel that can hold heat in longer...
I've been using the towels from Classic Shaving and I ring them out so they're not dripping. These are hand towel size, and I've also used thicker hand towels which held the heat a lot better, but don't dry as quickly so the ones I'm using are a compromise.
You have hit the critical issues for sure. I use a regular face cloth. I fold it so that my nose sticks out so I can breath . . . I have a mat in front of my sink . . . another in front of the bathtub and . . . yet . . . another outside of my shower . . . . so I move between them all to spread out the drips . . .
I am probably done in 2 minutes and my shave from that point on is very quick . . . (done in 15 minutes or less total) but clearly the better the prep the easier the shave.
Oh its good!
OldSaw
The wife's investment
I quit using towels in favor of two extra thick washcloths. I just use them together and lean over the sink. I prefer the convenience of the washcloth, but one isn't enough to hold the heat, especially if it is thin. In fact, even two isn't enough if they are thin.
Still working on this. Bought some velcro, but haven't sewed it on yet. I'm still holding over my face dripping all over the sink and floor.
Here's the thread about that project. There's some pretty funny responses, including one by xbostonirishx that's hilarious.
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Barber towel, which actually solved all of those problems in one swift blow. My estimation of the properties of the barber towel as I know it:
- They retain more heat with less water, keeping the towel from weighing ten pounds when you apply it to your face.
- They're more breathable because of the aforementioned lessened water retention.
- They're larger, so I can cover my entire shaving territory, even double up in some of the more irritation prone areas for more heat.
- They are incredibly soft.
Some, all, or none of these things could be attributed to the material, which is unknown to me. Some, all or none of these things could be attributed to the herringbone weave pattern, which was visible and thin before their first wash, but plumped up nicely and is now both gorgeous and wonderfully effective. I'm inclined to believe it's a bit of both, but I think the herringbone has the largest play in it's effectiveness. I could be totally and completely wrong, but that's my take on it.
Still working on this. Bought some velcro, but haven't sewed it on yet. I'm still holding over my face dripping all over the sink and floor.
Here's the thread about that project. There's some pretty funny responses, including one by xbostonirishx that's hilarious.
ps: I thought about doing this too. Hot towel mask
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