So, my *AD kicked in at the departmend store, where I saw a bottle of Pitralon pre shave for sale. I decided to pick it up immediately. When I got home, I read more carefully, and saw it's an ELECTRIC shaving pre shave. Looking it up, it's supposed to do the opposite of wet shaving - it's supposed to stiffen your hair/beard to stand up, and not be greasy, so it's basically NOT a preshave oil, but it felt like I used a much much stronger alcohol based AS. It's supposed to be all wrong, closing up the pores and stiffening the hair. At that point, I was thinking of throwing it away.
I decided to give it a try, since I won't be shaving tomorrow, and don't have to work today, so what the heck, right?
I put a hot towel on for 40ish seconds after washing up my face, and then applied the preshave I mentioned. After that, I applied the Proraso shaving cream from the scuttle. And shaved. And oh. my. god. My face, chin and mustache are never a problem, but the neck. I have quite sensitive skin and stronger beard that grows near parralel to my skin. It, no matter the razor, blade or soap always produces at least a little irritation on ATG, and it's usually really uncomfortable to shave ATG on that part of my neck. This time, the razor slid through like hot knife through butter. I couldn't believe it. Then, It was time to rinse, hot water, cold water, and to apply Pitralon. Now, it feels really bbs, so I was expecting a hard sting on the sensitive area, but barely any sting. Usually, even when I'm extra careful, when I'm using an alcoholic AS, skin gets purplish on the problem parts of my neck, and it goes away after 10 minutes or so, exposing a nice shave and very very little irritation. This time, it was with no sting, nothing purple, skin looked irritation free immediately.
Now help a brother out. I'll make bullet points so I don't miss anything out.
- I've been wet shaving for a couple of years now, daily. I always tried to perfect lather and technique, but always used hot/warm water and a towel as prep.
- I always had problems with my neck
- I have to shave in the morning, when my skin is 'puffy', in the afternoon/evening, even though I take a shower, I end up with a massacre.
- I always thought you need to soften hair and open up pores, not stiffen and close pores.
Now, obviously, I'll use up the pre-shave, but since I prefer alcohol based AS, I don't like the idea of putting alcohol on my skin before AND after shave. In these years, what could substitute the same effect? Maybe using cold water instead of warm for prep?
Does this actually work, or I somehow lucked out?
Thanks in advance for your responses.
I decided to give it a try, since I won't be shaving tomorrow, and don't have to work today, so what the heck, right?
I put a hot towel on for 40ish seconds after washing up my face, and then applied the preshave I mentioned. After that, I applied the Proraso shaving cream from the scuttle. And shaved. And oh. my. god. My face, chin and mustache are never a problem, but the neck. I have quite sensitive skin and stronger beard that grows near parralel to my skin. It, no matter the razor, blade or soap always produces at least a little irritation on ATG, and it's usually really uncomfortable to shave ATG on that part of my neck. This time, the razor slid through like hot knife through butter. I couldn't believe it. Then, It was time to rinse, hot water, cold water, and to apply Pitralon. Now, it feels really bbs, so I was expecting a hard sting on the sensitive area, but barely any sting. Usually, even when I'm extra careful, when I'm using an alcoholic AS, skin gets purplish on the problem parts of my neck, and it goes away after 10 minutes or so, exposing a nice shave and very very little irritation. This time, it was with no sting, nothing purple, skin looked irritation free immediately.
Now help a brother out. I'll make bullet points so I don't miss anything out.
- I've been wet shaving for a couple of years now, daily. I always tried to perfect lather and technique, but always used hot/warm water and a towel as prep.
- I always had problems with my neck
- I have to shave in the morning, when my skin is 'puffy', in the afternoon/evening, even though I take a shower, I end up with a massacre.
- I always thought you need to soften hair and open up pores, not stiffen and close pores.
Now, obviously, I'll use up the pre-shave, but since I prefer alcohol based AS, I don't like the idea of putting alcohol on my skin before AND after shave. In these years, what could substitute the same effect? Maybe using cold water instead of warm for prep?
Does this actually work, or I somehow lucked out?
Thanks in advance for your responses.