Wetshaving
December 7, 2006 by Glenn
Shaving is probably top on my list of annoying and frustrating grooming habits. Occassionally I get a smooth shave that feels great, but most of the time I’m getting nicked or irritated skin. Lucky for me, I only have to do it once or twice a week (ahhh, the joys of not having a 9-5 job where you’re supposed to be clean-shaven).
But, if you’re with the majority of men who shave every day, you might consider treating yourself to old-fashioned “wetshaving.” Fans of wetshaving claim you get that perfect shave, every time.
Corey Greenberg has a comprehensive article on the lost art of wetshaving. The main difference between regular shaving and wetshaving? Keeping your face wet, of course.
Wetshaving is just what the term implies – keeping your face (or for women, their legs) wet with plenty of hot water before, and during, the entire shave. In fact, you should always shave after a hot shower, not before (if you need to shave without taking a shower, washing your face with hot water for a few minutes will suffice). With a layer of hot water between your skin and the lather, the blade skims the surface instead of dragging on it, which is the main cause of irritation, redness, and “shave bumps”.
There’s more to it than that though. For the best shave, you need to ditch the standard fare shaving creams you buy at the supermarket. It’s time to go old school: a badger-hair shaving brush and glycerine-based shaving cream.
It appears you can take this wetshaving business to extraordinary lengths — from lavender-scented creams to $500 badger brushes. Read the article for all the details.
Urban Monarch Readers: Have any of you tried wetshaving? Is it as good as some men claim it to be?
I’ve never tried the ‘badger brush’ but wetshave in the shower daily.
It’s the only way to go.
Even using regular shaving cream/gel works okay because the hot water makes such a difference. When I’m in a hurry and have to shave at the sink it’s always a pain compared to the shower.
I have been wetshaving for about 6 months now and there is no way in hell I’d ever go back to a mach 3, 4, 5, 6 or whatever the heck they have now and that nasty goo that comes out of a can.
The BEST resource for wet shaving is shaveblog.com, start with http://www.shaveblog.com/?p=240 and go from there.
There is also shavemyface.com but that is like reading a bunch of ubergeeks discuss the best strategy for World of Warcraft missions (Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but they are just extremely technical and enthusiastic).
My morning shaves are much nicer, more comfortable and my face no longer has the customary red bumpy in-grown hairs, nicks, cuts or raw feeling and I actually enjoy shaving. I have even delayed my customary winter beard because I enjoy my morning shave so much now.
Even if you don’t do the wetshaving the best thing you can do for yourself in regards to shaving is to get a non-alcohol based after shave (something lotion based works well). Think about it, you’ve just scrapped a razor sharp piece (or pieces) of metal across your face, not only removing hair, but a thin layer of skin as well. Your face is raw and sensitive so slapping alcohol on it HURTS!!
Let me know if you need any more info
Wetshaving gives the ideal shave except when you gash your face when distracted or can’t see fully in the mirror in the shower. I use a Merkur razor that was a gift, with a brush and Trader Joe’s shaving goop providing a nice, numbing lather. Blades? Either Merkur or Feather (both specialty items: Merkur are German and Feather are Japanese but you can get both online). Naturally I have a bottle of Alum powder, purchased at my local pharmacy, for those cuts that bleed and bleed. Mach 3 does for when I’m in a hurry - can’t shave with a safety razor and not end up with a bloody face when time is a factor. Shaving is such a sensual experience that is ought to be done in a slow, measured way. As for technique, I usually rinse with cold water and then apply some Twinlab Na-Pca spray (great healing and soothing stuff, and cheap too!). Alcohol on skin post-shave is a no-no. Ultimately, a safety razor produces the closest, longest lasting shave, and my woman just thinks it’s so sexy that I shave “the old-fashioned way” (even though that’s really with a straight razor!)…
since ppl are suggesting sites I recommend http://www.shavingstuff.com/ and http://www.menskincaretips.com/
just my 2 cents
Wet shaving is definitely the way to go. The local tobacconist carries a huge line of products (Maison Edwards in Ann Arbor- and they mail out!), I’m partial to the Mason Pearson brush and Taylor Lime cremes - shave soaps are just an extra hassle, and most of the cremes use better ingredients. The buy in for a wet shave is kind of high, about $100 to get it done correctly on sort of a bare bones type kit, but, 10 refill Merkur blades are like $8 and they last longer than the Mach 3, so the cost eventually evens out.
It’s the only way to shave really, rubbing gel my face with my fingers seems so barbaric in retrospect.
[...] Former UM savant Glenn gave us some insight awhile back into the importance of wet shaving. [...]
Yes, wetshaving is the way to go. If you are looking for a great cuttle for shaving I recommend you this nice piece of art: http://www.sarabonnymanpottery.com/moss_scuttle.htm
Maybe you have already heard about this one.
For a step by step guide I use this:
http://www.guidetohairremoval.com/shaving-trimming/