Advantage of Using Shaving Soaps

Despite the advancements in technology, obtaining an excellent shaving experience doesn't seem to be getting easier to achieve. Sure electric shavers claim to offer the latest and greatest of close shaves and while they have their place, nothing offers a smooth, clean shave as does the use of a shaving brush, shaving soap and a sharp straight razor.

Shaving soaps have existed since the early 1800's with the first being mass produced in 1840. Shaving soap is a hard soap that is whipped into a rich, thick lather using a shaving brush. It has largely been replaced with canned shaving cream in a gel or foam form, however, die-hard traditionalists will use nothing other than this age-old method.

The traditional shaving soap is typically sold and packaged as a round puck. The bottom of the puck will either be rounded for use with a shaving scuttle or with a flat bottom to be used in a mug. Higher priced products are usually sold with their own preparation dishes made of wood or ceramic that are formed to fit the puck sold. Shaving soap is also sold in the form of a stick in either a plastic tube or wrapped in paper or aluminum foil. It is rarely packaged in the shape of bar soap.

Shaving soap is used with any shaving brush preferred by the individual. The following is an outline for the steps involved when using shaving soaps:

• Prepping – For shaving soap in the form of a puck, one first fills a sink with water a little on the hot side, but not so that it is scalding. Some men even prefer to shave after taking a shower as the warm water helps to soften the facial hair. Next, make sure that the brush has been soaked in warm water and then place it upside down until the excess water has stopped dripping but do not shake or try and wring the brush out as this makes the bristles too dry.

• Lathering –Now it's time to make the lather. To create the lather for shaving, firmly grasp the shaving brush and vigorously begin swirling it over the surface of shaving soap. This will cause most of the soap to completely coat the bristles on the brush. This step takes about 15 to 50 spins or swirls and is dependent upon one's personal preference as to the thickness desired. The more swirls the thicker the lather. It is important to swirl gently but firmly without smashing the brush into the shaving soap as this damages the bristles. An alternative some men find useful is to begin the process in the scuttle or mug and then finish it in their hand.

• Application –Once you have the desired thickness of Proraso Shaving Cream Soap Pot Sandalwood you want on the brush, begin brushing the shaving soap onto your face. Be sure to cover every bit of your face and neck that you intend to shave. Brush a fair amount of shaving soap on your face and neck by moving the brush in an up and down fashion. Before you begin shaving you should have an opaque, thick layer of shaving cream. You are now ready to shave.
• Shaving - now pick a top rated razor like the merkur 34c and shaving down starting on the left cheek. You will want to rinse it out after each pass until you are done completely shaved. It's really a standard shave like you normally would.