How to Shave with Shaving Soap

How to Shave with Shaving Soap

 Shaving with Shaving Soap is different from using that canned, chemically gel you can pick up at any store. It is a lengthier process compared to such products but one far more rewarding. Here is a how to:

1. Pick out your shave soap, aftershave, shaving brush, razor and razor blade. Wetshaving is about making the shaving experience a personal one.
2. It is important to prep the skin to be shaved, so a hot shower, pre-shave oil, or both would help reduce irritation and achieve better results
3. Wet your soap and brush to get them damp
4. If using a boar brush, soak in hot water for 2 minutes. If you plan on showering as pre-shave prep, leave your brush soaking in the meantime.
5. Once both soap and brush are damp, swirl the brush on top of the soap to load the brush with soap. Swirl clockwise or counterclockwise for 10 seconds.
6. You may create your lather on the area you plan to shave, in a shave bowl, or on top of the soap, the choice is yours!
7. Once the lather is whipped up, apply over the skin that is to be shaved.
8. The usual pattern in which one shaves is once with the grain, once across the grain, and once against the grain. In layman’s terms, this is a downward shave, left to right/right to left (your choice), and an upward shave.
9. Once down shaving, wipe off left over lather and apply the aftershave.
10. To best care for your shaving gear, leave your brush, soap and unassembled razor out to dry as to prevent rust, mold and humidity.