I use Dickinson's brand and I just pour a healthy handfull and splash on liberally, clean the razor and then apply my balm, man what a great feeling that is.
Yep I am now a user of Thayers Lemon and Rose Petal , I pour in the hand and splash, at $6 a bottle from Vitacost, a nice bargain. If I use Dickinson's I pour some together in my hand with Pinaud Bay Rum and splash on.
Splash on liberally. I have been experimenting this week using it first then applying my after shave, it has worked out really great.
I use Proraso aftershave which contains WH, and splash by hand....kind of like killing two birds with one stone.
I use Speick Aftershave lotion (splash) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AQI70I/?tag=thshde-20 which contains WH. I Splash by hand, then clean up shaving area and brush my teeth then I apply Nivea Revitalizing Double Action balm. This seems to work well form me. The Speick was my runners up choice when doing my first DE order at Amazon. I initially wanted to order Proraso, but at the time the vendors on Amazon were all sold out. So I went with the Speick. I like it, but I have not used any other WH aftershave to compare it to. I'm still interested in trying Proraso and perhaps just some straight WH in the future.
Just picked up a bottle of Thayer's Cucumber Witch Hazel today, which was exciting as it's always a bit tricky to find the products I want here in Puerto Rico. Following the advice I've been reading, I just splashed a little in my palm, rubbed it on both hands and went over the whole beard area after shaving, with enough left over to wipe over the rest of my face, too. Feels and smells nice!
Interesting. So all but one of you splash it on and none of you rinse afterward? Something new to try!!
You shouldn't rinse it off as it is medicine for the skin and needs to soak in and be absorbed to do anything.
While I'm using it on customers at school I use a neck strip and apply it that way (it helps with the removal of any loose hair while working its wonders), when at home I use a cotton pad. I was suprised at how many had never used it or even knew what it was. I am getting a following now when it comes to the hot shaves due to all of the little extras I do from what I have learned from here. The art of the razor at Barber schools seems to be falling off being popular. Out of 37 students only about 4 of us will still do the shaves with a razor, the rest try and use clippers.
Get yourself some TSD M Bomb, put 2-3 drops in your palm, squirt a bit of witch hazel in, rub palms together, slap onto your face. Just as cold as Osage Rub, no scent, and all the medicinal benefits.
I love Thayer's Lavender and Rose WH and use them liberally after a cold water rinse (post shave) and quick pat down with a towel. I'll often follow with an alcohol based aftershave, but not always. No rinsing off of the WH though, I let it do it's thing with botanical goodness!
Using clippers for a shave is a complete waste of time, unless your going for that 5 o'clock shadow beard that's popular now.
I agree, but for me it's a good thing that so many of the new barbers are scared of the razor. It just means I can offer one more service to my customers and stand out a little more in my field. Here in TN, when we go to board we only have to know the 14 strokes to shave, and when they have to preform it at state, it is without a blade. In KY they can still use a real straight razor (vs. the shavettes we are forced to use here) and have an apprenticeship before they can complete their full boards and become licenced Master Barbers.