What's your post-shave process? Mine is a multi-step process. First I rinse with cold water and rub my alum bar over my still-wet face. While the alum is doing its thing, I rinse my brush and clean out the sink. Then I rinse the alum off with another cold water rinse, then towel my face off. I then spritz some Thayer's witch hazel and follow up with some Aqua Velva. I've often thought this must be overkill, but over the past few months I've gone through periods where I've been without one or more of these products. In each case, the result was inferior. Now I'm back to my full regimen, and my face feels better as a result.
Warm Water Rinse (WWR) and air dry while cleaning up my stuff then After Shave Splash and, if needed After Shave Balm (moisturizer / conditioner)
WWR CWR Alum Block CWR Thayers Wash off the brush....put away all the accessories that were used Towel Dry Aftershave
Wipe the razor, leave it to air dry Wash my face with the contents of the shaving mug. Rinse the mug and brush Shake the living daylights out of the brush WWR CWR Dry face with towel Dry the mug with a towel Stowe away the mug, brush, soaps/creams and strops Aftershave EdT/EdC Put the razor away
W.arm W.ater R.inse Alcohol-based splash C.old W.ater R.inse Aftershave balm or tonic + balm Cologne/EdT
Cold water rinse Thayers WH on still wet face while I clean up the mess Another CWR Towel dry Some flavor of alcohol-based splash (hardly ever use a balm)
Shower-Prep Shave Back to the shower to rinse everything off ( I feel like I can never get everything rinsed properly at the sink :ashamed001 ) Witch Hazel (no CWR, I want the pores open for the Witch Hazel) ASB EDT Kind of normal I guess; except for the 2 pass shower!
CWR & pat face dry lightly w/towel. inspect for weepers and apply styptic if needed (I usually manage to cut a mole or scar a couple times a year ). HWR str8 razor (blade only) & pat dry, leaving it open for any remaining moisture to air dry . HWR brush/mug, shake as much water from brush as possible stow mug and brush. spray razor w/clippercide, wipe any excess away lightly w/TP and leave open to air dry. brush teeth, comb hair, apply deodo, etc. apply alcohol based AS or cologne. clean up area. close razor & take with me to be stowed outside bathroom.
That reminds me...I found Thayers at The Vitamin Shoppe near the Target over by Buckland Hills Mall the other day.
A couple of times since I started this expansive shaving routine, I've missed the "Apply deode" step, especially today.
Hm..... I do a warm water rinse with the water in the sink to get most of the lather off and than pop open the drain and wash the hair down and clean the sink up. I than rinse my face again with the warm water to get it nice and clean. Than I clean my mug and brush and shake the brush out in the shower. After cleaning the brush I turn off the cold water and turn the hot all the way up. I than rinse my razor in the uber hot water and than turn the hot off and the cold all the way up while shaking my razor off. I than do the cold water rinse and shut the water off. Pat the face dry on a clean towell and apply some ASB.
1. Vigorous cold water rinse, towel pat dry 2. Proraso aftershave splash 3. Aftershave balm (Proraso or TGR)
I used to use a balm every day, but I haven't used one in several months. I wonder if it's because I used to need it to help heal razor burn, but as my technique has improved that's not a problem any more.
WWR CWR (during the summer in Texas I use ice cubes and rub my face with them, as the "cold" water is about 80 degrees) Alum block Thayer's WH ASB AS (with appropriate extra time in between each step, used for clean-up, etc.)
I noticed this for the first time this summer. I was wondering if it was only my imagination. I guess I should add my routine: WWR for about 20 seconds CWR for about 20 seconds Clean Up Area Towel Dry Face Apply Aftershave Splash Apply ASB if needed.
cold water wash - just to get the soap off (usually about 15 secs) towel dry - blotting, not rubbing allow to air dry for about 30 secs while I comb my hair aftershave (used to skip this step - not anymore!) allow to dry as I get dressed aftershave balm (currently using Nivea for men) on problem areas (usually neck / under chin)
