Thanks for the reminder. It's been a few months since I've used a hot towel. I need to revisit the extreme pampering shave! On some other board I read about "the Kyle method." What you do is lather your face, then apply a hot towel for a few minutes. I used this method quite often last winter and it was quite enjoyable. I never applied anything to the towel other than HOT water.
When I first started I used a hot cloth (not towel, just a washing cloth) carefully. But now it's more used for applying water to an already wet face after a face wash. I don't notice any difference, so I take it that my wiskers are soaked enough from the face wash.
I did the lather/hot towel prep for a while but I've found face washes do a better job softening the whiskers for me. That also lets me use warm (not hot) water which cuts down on the irritation. YMMV.
I don't use towels. I always shave after a hot shower. That seems to be the key to softer whiskers, at least in my case.
I started using "the Kyle method" two weeks ago and I can feel a definitely change, in better. Lather, apply hot towel, wait a minute then lather again and start shaving. For me it's doing wonders.
I really like using a hot towel I use Baxter of California hot towel spray I'm not sure what if any it helps with softening your wiskers, however it smells great and the hot towel feel wonderful.
I use the "Kyle Method", with the first thin lather and let it sit on my face as I make the final shaving lather, then two "Hot Towels" one to wash off the lather and warm up my whiskers and then some Corn Huskers Lotion this method seems to work fine for me...
Usually I shave after a hot shower....however it is not always the case being I have an autistic son so the hot towel/cloth is becoming increasingly attractive lol
I always shower at work so I'm "left" witj the face wash at the sink at home when I shave. On the rare occasion I shower at home, I don't feel a difference in the quality of the shave. So for me it's "come si come sa".
I sort of use the "Kyle Method". I first rub on a layer of Every Man Jack then I apply a hot wet hand towel directly over it. Hold it there for about a minute or so. Then I remove the towel and apply my first layer of lather. Works get for me.
Hot Shower Time: Liberal application of Lucky Tiger Lemon Wash ("slicker than all get out"), followed by a 2-3 minute face wrap with a VERY hot & damp towel. "I don't always use the face towel in the shower, but when I do, I use a very hot towel. Keep shaving, my friends..."
If I am not taking a shower before shaving. I use a hot towel to soften my beard before lathering up and shaving.
I'm new around here and I had some questions about the hot towel thing. Rather than start a new thread, I figured I'd just add on to this old one. How long do people hold the towel on and how do you keep it in place ? I find that my towel cools off quickly if there's not enough water. But if I get a really sopping towel that will stay hot for a while I make a mess dripping lots of water either down my elbows if I'm holding it or down my neck if I'm leaning back. Any thoughts or suggestions?
I usually take my Shower. After I take my shower I wash my face again. I usually soak a hand towel in "Hot Water", I will sit in a chair with the hand towel on my face. I will apply my Pre-Shave Oil, and then sit with the hand towel that has been soaked again in "Hot Water" and lay it on my face for several minutes. If I decide to have a Cold Water Shave I soak my hand towel in "Ice Cold Water" Most of the time time I more often than not do a "Ice Cold Water Shave"
What's working for me at the minute is the Kyle method after a warm shower. I believe the lather helps in keeping the beard hydrated. It's definitely making a difference since I started using it, as I used to get 3 - 4 shaves on an Astra SP, now I'm on nine and counting. The Kyle method seems to have solved my neck irritation too, as I haven't had any since starting it.
What's working for me at the minute is the Kyle method after a warm shower. I believe the lather helps in keeping the beard hydrated. It's definitely making a difference since I started using it, as I used to get 3 - 4 shaves on an Astra SP, now I'm on nine and counting. The Kyle method seems to have solved my neck irritation too, as I haven't had any since starting it.
Here's what I do for every shave. I let a hand towel soak in the sink in hot tap water as I begin to make my lather. Once my brush produces a thin lather in my bowl, I lather my face. I let this soap sit on my face(Kyle prep) as I finish whipping up the lather in my bowl to the proper consistency. Once my lather is correct I ring out my towel a bit(to lesson the dripping) and apply this towel to my face over the originally applied soap and hold it there until it begins to cool(this doesn't take long 15-20 sec.) I do this 2-3 times(resoaking, squeezing excess water from the towel and applying to my face) this evolution probably doesn't take more than a minute or so total time. After the last hot towel application I wipe off the rest of the (Kyle Prep) original soap, wet my face, apply some Corn Huskers Lotion, then apply my shaving lather and begin my shave. Does this work? It seems to for me. My shaves are consistently DFS or better. Things like irritation, razor burn and even nicks pretty much never happen to me anymore. IMO it's worth giving it a try...
