On prep:

Razor bevels remove quite a bit of skin. The need for prep is probably overstated. If new guys are having mystery irritation, I will recommend "skip prep".

Prep for me means clean. A simple wash with soapy fingers or a gentle cloth. No scrubbing! Rinse and lather up, using the coldest water that's comfy. Heat is good for prepping hair, but it adds to inflammatory processes in the skin. It's a balancing act that should probably be dictated by outcome and not desire. I promise cold water is more comfy than all-day shaving irritation!

There are many people who do a lot of prep and have comfy close shaves, and this post is not for them. Whatever level of prep that results in irritation free shaves is the right amount. But for new converts, none just might be worth a try in an effort to solve irritation.

You'll be there soon! Thanks for the mention, and I'm glad it helped.

Like you, I used to think it was very important, but now I'm not so sure. I've done no prep accept cold water and witch hazel lately and I'm getting great results.

Over the years, the only prep I've discovered to be important for MY shave is to make sure that my face and hair are clean, before applying whatever shaving product I happen to have, be it gel, canned foam, body wash, or soap. If I don't, then I end up with drags and skips for at least the first pass. I've never tried applying a pre-shave oil. I did try a hot towel, and found that simply washing my face was more useful.

When I started Focussing last October, I did a thorough prep first. If I wasn't having a hot shower first, I scrubbed my face thoroughly with a special cleanser (most often Dove for Men Exfoliating Scrub but sometimes Cetaphil or Trisan Antibacterial), then rinsed with hot water and held a hot washcloth over my beard area for a couple minutes. Then I shaved.

Now, if I haven't showered first, I simply wipe my face with a warm wet washcloth to get rid of any grime and to get some water on my skin, and start shaving away. Honestly, I don’t notice any difference in the shave result or I wouldn't be so slapdash in my prep now.

Of course, that's assuming I don’t have a few days' growth to hack through. If I haven't shaved for several days and am shaving off a short beard scruff then I still do a prep more like I used to. But for a normal everyday shave, prep no longer seems important.

I did try preshave oil at one point - and still have a bottle of it around here somewhere - but I found all it did for me was to clog up my razor.

My prep consists of a shower and always has. I step out, lather up with cool water and shave. It's simple and works.

Thanks guys for the reply.

Except that I use warm water like GAWD intended that is my routine usually.

Try cold.
I'll never go back. It's refreshing and I have less irritation.

Nope. Not going to anger GAWD.

I have used cold water when there is no hot. It happens and I deal with it fine. I have cast iron skin. No irritation problems for the most part.

I have a tough beard so I always prep. I use one of:
Proraso pre
Nivea cream
Hair conditioner

Are usually shave after my shower.

July 9, 2017
OneBlade Core V1
Feather FHS-10
30 DC LE with Omega Boar
Mystic Water Raspberry Lemon
Folsom & Co Shambala

​

My 30 day trial on the OneBlade Core is up on 7/15 so I wanted to take use it several more times to insure my opinion has not changed. The more important part of today's shave is the maiden shave of the 30 DC LE brush. The handle arrived last Thursday so I immediately transplanted the knot from an Omega 20107. @jtspartan Jason nailed the handle with excellent ergonomics and a gorgeous finish. The MW Raspberry Lemon really didn't have a chance with the 30 DC LE whipping up a nice slick lather. Based on my prior experience with the Core, I went with a thinner slicker lather. Three passes and touchups equaled the shaves from the Cobra. A splash of F&C Shambala and I am ready for good day. Wade and I are going for a motorcycle ride this morning and should be back in time for tacos and beers for a late lunch. I hope everyone has a great Sunday.

When I first started I read how important prep was and used shea butter between my shower and shave. Now I just shower, don't dry my face and shave. I find all the shaving soaps I use have plenty of goodness for skin already and leave my face feeling great as long as I get enough water in the lather. Any issues I have are just technique.

I think today is going to be a day of rest shaving wise. Happy shaving!

Great picture, Clint! Enjoy your ride.

Jul 9 SOTD:

Stirling Synthetic Brush
Stirling Glastonbury
Gillette Red Tip
Rapira PL (11)
Stirling Unscented PSB
Stirling Glastonbury AS

It was a nice DFS this morning after two days of no shaves. I had a very late night Thursday and an early morning Friday flight from LAX to IAH, so I skipped the shave. Yesterday, I got to some yard work quickly (my wife is redoing our flower beds, so I get to help out), and by the time I was done with everything, it was late in the afternoon. It was definitely a welcome shave this morning. Everything came together nicely, and the blade is still going strong after 11 shaves.

I never got around to posting the 10th shave with the blade:



Jul 6 SOTD:

Razorock Plissoft Brush
CO Bigelow SC
Gillette Old Type
Rapira PL (10)
Stirling Unscented PSB
Proraso Green AS

I hope everyone has a great Sunday!

Today was a nice four pass shave before a busy morning. I'm donating plasma right now, then the monthly antiques fair, then church.
SOTD
Nancy Boy Signature Cream
TSD 30 DC LE Brush
Dovo Bismarck #2 Razor
Lucky Tiger
Pinaud Clubman Special Reserve
Have a blessed Sunday!
Grandson update

Awesome pic Pops!!

Thank you!

Although I like hot water.

My current mission to spend time with unused razors, soaps and creams this month expanded a bit to include creams that I bought and tried once or twice prior to my first 30 day focus (which was required to develop proper technique) and prior to my exposure to bigger world of soaps and artisan products. So, day 2 with the Delta Echo (their own private label) Cubano and a trial of Speik. This is a highly regarded cream that smells of the rare Speik plant grown in some remote region of the Alps (and hand collected and crushed by young, blonde, fair skinned Alpine girls I'm sure). The cream did it's job, and created a nice lather, but didn't live up to all the hype for me. Not enough residual slickness after each pass to clean up with. I added water to thin it out and try to get it slicker, but it just wasn't there. Again, nice unique smell from the Speik plant, and it did it's job just fine. It just doesn't make my top tier. The Delta Echo, however is continuing to deliver a much closer shave than any of my vintage Gillettes.

Good man!!