You might consider it a lost art, good shaving. Most men today have no clue how shaving used to be done and why those men set aside so much time for a simple shave. The answer to this is short, because it's nice!
Disposable blades and quick shaves have been the trend in shaving now and in recent years. And yes, it is easy to finish shaving in 5 minutes. But gentlemen, take time at least once a week to treat yourself and visit your barber for a traditional shave or just do it at home and follow the following steps.
The hot towel
Preparation is half the battle. This also applies to shaving. The classic barber takes the time to prepare your skin and hair for shaving, he does this by starting with a warm towel. Hold your towel under the hot tap for a while and wring it out, make sure it is at a comfortable temperature and place the towel over your beard. Let the towel rest on your skin for a few minutes and enjoy this relaxation for a while.
The heat combined with the moisture will cause the pores of your skin to open up and the beard hairs to become softer and thicker. This makes them easier to shave off later. For the optimal barbering feeling, sprinkle the towel with some essential oils. Thinking of beard oil or shaving oil, these condition the skin and hair and give you that original barber's scent.
Pre-shave treatment
After the towel comes the pre-shave treatment, which is the treatment for lathering the beard. During the pre-shave treatment the hairs are massaged with essential oils, this is done with a shaving oil. This softens the hairs of the beard, making them easier to shave. Very long beards are trimmed during this phase for a comfortable shave.
Soaping
Finally, we get to the best part of shaving, soaping the beard. Lathering is done with a shaving brush and shaving soap. Take your time and run the brush over your skin in circular motions, taking the hairs from all sides. The foam released during lathering has the most important property of retaining moisture. Moisture makes the hairs of the beard softer and thicker, so the hairs are easier to shave off. Leave a nice thick layer of soap on your beard before you start shaving.
Shaving
This is what we went through this whole process for, shaving the beard hairs. Your face is now covered with a thick layer of lather and shaving can begin. Shaving can be done with a Mach3, Straight Razor or a Safety Razor, Your barber will probably choose a Straight Razor, but these blades take some practice, so we can imagine if you grab your Mach3. You start shaving in the areas where the hairs are the softest, such as your sideburns, and slowly work your way up to the hardest hairs, these are usually located on your chin. Rinse or wipe your Razor regularly under shaving.
After Shave
After shaving comes the cold towel, the same principle as the hot towel but with cold water. Let it rest on your face for a while. The pores of your skin will then begin to close, preventing irritation. After you clean your skin from shaving soap, apply an aftershave. This cares for your skin after shaving, so you won't be left with a tight feeling.
After such a shave, you feel like a man!