The simple post-shave routine - just wiping the lather and going about your business

[wilkor]

So, following a post on wicked_edge a few weeks (months?) ago, I tried something new.

The post essentially suggested that, following the shave, you just wiped off the remnants of your lather with a towel and be on your way, rather than going through a full rinse and aftershave routine. I believe it referred to a scene in Mad Men.

So anyway, I've been trying it out. And I have to say I'm impressed.

Pros
1. The biggest one is an immediately obvious increase in the "linger" factor. You can smell your soap/cream for hours after, even with a normally quite subtle scent like a Panna Crema. I rate this as a major plus.
2. It's moisturising. Essentially I've noticed that I don't actually need a balm, as all the goodies in the soaps really take care of your skin. I expected it to be dried out, but it really isn't the case. Your skin feels better.
3. You save time and money. One less thing in your cabinet, one less step in your routine.

Cons
1. It leaves a soap film on your skin. So if you add water later, it makes it a little slippery. This isn't a big con in my opinion, but each to their own.
2. You don't get to use an aftershave or balm. One less thing in your cabinet, one less step in your routine.

So anyway, give it a shot. I've found all creams and soaps to be nice, but I imagine a rose or lavender lather might not be something you want to linger on your face, and proraso isn't exactly something you want to smell for hours either. But god it's amazing to sit in a meeting at midday and suddenly get a whiff of fumo di londra or GFT Coconut.

 

[Ron Scott]

I would be thinking of it as dried soap scum on my face.

BTW, do those guys use a new towel every day?

 

[NingYupOwaDat]

Couldn't the soap cause problems by blocking up pores or something?

 

[aimsport]

Remaining soap can often lead to acne. I rinse with water as my most common post shave routine. A great shave allows you to do post shave because you want to, not because you have to.

 

[Mick]

I always rinse.

 

[foxtrot]

I rinse my face for the reasons given above, and I confess to keeping a little container of soap at my desk when I feel like smelling it.

 

[Shaving_CHENG]

I usually rinse and let my face dry for a few minutes before putting on either balm or splash. My face usually become tight in those moments, and I think it would become unbearable if I didn't treat afterwards.

 

[SiBurning]

Pros
4. You can save time and money all day long because you don't need to find more soap to wash your face.

 

[SiBurning]

Cons
3. You don't get to use a wonderful aftershave, like my favorite Royall Mandarin

 

[Toothpick]

The post essentially suggested that, following the shave, you just wiped off the remnants of your lather with a towel and be on your way, rather than going through a full rinse and aftershave routine. I believe it referred to a scene in Mad Men.

The scene was inconclusive. Popular judgment calls say he never completely finished his shave. Nonetheless one could still take away from the scene simply wiping the lather off and walking away.

If it works for you then go for it. I wouldn't say that I wouldn't mind smelling like my shave soap after the shave, but I'd much rather smell like my aftershaves.

Aftershaves do more than just make you smell good, they soothe and prevent redness and irritation. Some folks can get away with not using any. I am not one of those people. I NEED my aftershave/balm/lotions.

 

[anes1]

I use the remainder of my lather to relather and get a good face wash before finally cold water rinsing. No way I could just wipe the stuff off. I also need post shave lotion to prevent razor burn. My face is not tough enough or trained enough to DE shaving to do what you suggest.

 

[Teppanyaki]

I like my Thayers after as a way of moisturizing my face. I also love the cucumber scent. When I do skip this, it's because I am rushed, never because I don't like it.

I personally would really dislike the feel of soap remnants on my face, but then I'm pretty darn picky.

 

[Kilroy6644]

Back in the day I used to do it that way. I didn't use aftershave at all, and by the end of the day, you'd never know that that towel had Barbasol on it. When I started traditional wet shaving, I rinsed, partly because it was the thing to do, but mainly because the lather was thicker and I didn't want to get it on the towel. Now I don't bother anymore, unless I'm using a latherless cream. No negative effects like blocked pores or scummy feeling. I still use AS, though. Can't give that up.

 

[dparish1952]

OP,

The manufacturers of the shaving brushes I have advise users to wash the soap out of the brush at the end of the shave. So I ask you, Why is it not okay to leave soap on your brush after a shave, but okay to leave it on your face?

Many soaps are alkaline by design, intended weaken hairs for cutting. For example, Dr. Dittmar soap, with a PH over 10, instructs the user to wash the face with water after the shave and then apply a slightly acidic splash or balm to neutralize any remaining alkalinity.

If long term exposure to shaving soap causes animal hair to deterorate, what do you think it will do to your skin?

IMHO, not one thing on TV is real.

 

[ateace]

My shaves take place in the shower.
I always rinse my face well and even use a direct blast
with the shower head to take care of weepers.

I may skip the AS/balm step in warm, humid weather.
Even if it may not feel necessary on some mornings, it is a nice way to "complete" the shave and feel ready for the day.

 

[HUF]

I cannot stand even watching someone wiping the lather off with a towel leave alone doing that myself. I always rinse with cold water and then dry my face with a towel slowly. That is the culmination of the shave. I apply aftershave if there are weepers/nicks or skip that step if the shave was perfect and bloodless.

 

[wilkor]

I won't reply to each comment individually, and many of the more critical ones echoed my own concerns.

The big ones being "leaving soap on your face is bad" and "but then I don't get to use A/S".

The second is the easiest to deal with.

Yes, it sucks. You can't use A/S. Technically you could mix the two scents, but to me that's just plain wrong. Each is a well-blended scent in its own right. If either is any good, you would not be adding, but subtracting from it's quality.
So that's a big minus. On the other hand, I'm yet to find an A/S that matches some of my soap scents (Jabonman, in particular, seems to have some unique blends). I would buy the living heck out of an A/S that smelt like Lima Canela.

Now, the first, which forms a great subject for debate. Does leaving the remnants of your lather create any detrimental effect? (let's face it - "soap scum"). My initial reaction is "of course it does, soap dries out your skin, it's a combination of fat and lye, that's bad for your skin".

But think about it, one of the key arguments for using real soap/cream is that it's actually good for your skin. It's moisturising. It's not filled with harsh chemicals (well, apart from lye). I'm afraid I don't know the science behind it, but I think it's worth trying. And I certainly don't know the ph of my soaps. I haven't used a balm since I've tried it regularly, and I've suffered no detrimental effects. This of course could be the fact that a balm may have been unnecessary in the beginning.

So... try it. I guarantee your skin won't fall off and your face won't melt, but what has worked for me may not work for others. It seems to work for me, and if you're looking to try something new, give it a shot.

And... yes, I may be guilty of splashing a little water on my face in the middle of the day to 'refresh' the scent. And yes, it's still slick and soapy, even after a few hours...