Read the best tips on how to recreate a barbershop shave at home with the Shaving Shack! Learn how to properly prepare your skin, create a traditional shaving lather and use a cut-throat razor.
After many months of waiting, barbershops all over the UK have finally reopened their doors! However, the barbershop isn’t quite how it used to be. In fact, the impact of Covid-19 has necessitated a whole host of changes to this historic trade. And one of those changes is shaving.
If you’re a classy gent that still enjoys a barbershop shave, then we have some bad news for you… Unfortunately, under current Coronavirus restrictions, barbers are being asked not to touch customers’ faces, meaning they’re unable to offer shaving services.
But this doesn’t mean you should revert to growing out a big bristly beard! Instead, we’ve pulled together everything you need to know to recreate a barbershop shave at home. From the perfect pre-shave routine, to mastering the art of a traditional cut-throat razor, the only thing you’ll be missing is the barber themself!
The perfect pre-shave routine
A barbershop shave takes patience and preparation. And as Benjamin Franklin once famously said: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” So, before you pick up your razor and go to war with your stubble, it’s important to treat your skin to some well-earned TLC…
Enjoy a hot towel at home
The barbershop shave starts with a hot towel treatment. This iconic pamper session helps to soften wiry whiskers and open the skin’s pores for a smoother shave. To replicate this at home, simply soak a flannel in a basin of hot water and ring it out. Quickly test the temperature of the washcloth on the back of your hand, before covering your face with it to enjoy the steam. Alternatively, jump in the shower and turn up the heat!
Exfoliate with a face scrub
Once you’ve opened the pores of your skin, it’s time to remove any impurities that might hamper your shave. To do this, barbers often enlist the help of an exfoliating product, such as a face scrub.
The Bluebeards Revenge Face Scrub
A tried-and-tested face scrub will help to remove any trapped dirt and excess oils from deep inside your pores, while also promoting blood flow and a healthier skin complexion. To incorporate one into your shave, simply apply it in small circular motions after you’ve finished with your hot towel. Leave it to soak into your skin for a minute or two, then rinse it away with warm water. It’s important that you remember to use warm or hot water here, as using cold water will encourage your pores to close, and we don’t want that just yet!
Massage your skin with a pre-shave oil
Pre-shave oils are perhaps the most underrated shaving products on the market today. They use careful blends of essential oils to soften your stubble and create an important barrier between your razor and skin. This barrier helps to lubricate your facial hair, reducing the amount of friction that’s created by your razor. The end result is a more comfortable shave with less razor rash.
The Bluebeards Revenge Pre-Shave Oil
Better yet, these pre-shave products couldn’t be easier to use: just massage a few drops into your beard growth and you’re ready to go! If your skin doesn’t play well with oils, try a pre-shave cream instead.
How to create a barbershop shaving lather
Now that you’ve properly prepared your skin, it’s time to whip up a wicked shaving lather to rival even the best barbers! To do this, you’ll need a few essential accessories, as well as a traditional shaving cream or soap.
Creating a shaving lather isn’t dissimilar to whipping up a batch of meringues – it even looks the same! And just like meringues, you’re aiming for an aerated mix that can hold a peak. You’re probably best off skipping the step when you hold the bowl above your head, though.
To create your meringue-like lather, you’ll need a shaving bowl and brush. These iconic barber tools will make all the difference when it comes to getting the best results from your shave. In particular, a shaving brush will elevate your experience tenfold.
With your brush and bowl in-hand, it’s time to choose a cream. There are literally thousands of options on the market today, with scent and latherability being the main talking points. If you’re new to the world of traditional wet shaving, we’d suggest you opt for an easy-to-lather cream such as The Bluebeards Revenge.
Once you’ve picked your cream, place an almond-sized amount of it into your shaving bowl. Next, add a few drops of warm water. Remember: you can always add more, but you can’t take it out! Then, simply whip the cream and water together with your shaving brush. If the lather looks too dry, add a few more drops of water. If it looks too wet, add a little more cream.
How to apply your lather like a pro
When it comes to applying your lather, it’s not just a case of slapping the cream on your face and calling it a job well done. Believe it or not, there’s some real technique involved! And whether you choose to use a traditional animal hair brush, or a more modern synthetic version, your shaving brush is the key to it all.
When you apply your shaving lather with a brush, you drastically improve your ability to raise and coat each individual hair. This is important, because the ultimate goal is to slice through stubble as close as you can, with as little resistance as possible.
To get the most out of your shaving brush, remember that you’re not painting a fence! Instead, apply your lather to your face in small circular motions. Don’t be afraid to really go for it here, as this process also helps to exfoliate your skin. When you reach hard-to-lather areas such as your upper lip, simply pinch the brush’s bristles and dab.
How to shave with a cut-throat razor
Shaving with a cut-throat razor isn’t nearly as scary as it’s made out to be. Yes, the single blade offers less protection than modern multi-cartridge razors, but as long as you treat it with respect, the closest shave of your life is waiting on the other side.
The two most important things to remember when shaving with a cut-throat are practice and patience. If you’ve never used one before, the first thing to master is the angle at which you need to hold the blade. To maximise cutting power and minimise irritation, you want to hold the blade at a 30-degree angle to your skin. Barbers have this angle down to a tee, because they’ve practiced it many times.
Most commonly, beginner barbers master their cut-throat technique on a balloon covered in shaving cream: if they get the angle right, the balloon doesn’t pop. If they get it wrong, they’ll cover themselves in cream! So, if you’re nervous about taking a cut-throat to your face without any practice, grab yourself a pack of balloons a few days before your next shave.
(Alternatively, you could enjoy a hybrid shave! This is a technique that encourages you to use a cut-throat just to shave the flat cheek areas of your face. These areas are the easier to shave, and therefore the easiest to practice your angle on. Once you’ve shaved your cheeks, swap to a safety or cartridge razor to finish things off. As you build up your confidence with your cut-throat, you can start to tackle those tougher areas!)
Once you’ve got the hang of holding your razor and managing the angle of the blade, it’s all about patience. Use your spare hand to pull your skin tight, increasing tension and allowing you to get as close a shave as possible. To avoid razor rash, shave with the grain in short, steady strokes, wiping your blade clean in between. If you’ve got heavier stubble, you might need to re-lather your face and perform a second pass.
Still not fancying a cut-throat shave? You could opt for a double-edge safety razor instead! Think of these as a middle-ground between cartridge razors and straight razors. They still offer the closeness and traditionalism of a single-blade shave, but they’re far more forgiving than cut-throats. They’re also much more affordable and environmentally-friendly than cartridge razors, making them a great choice for those seeking a plastic-free shave!
Soothe your freshly shaved skin
The final steps of a barbershop shave are perhaps the most important. You’ve just finished gliding a samurai-sharp blade across your skin. But no matter how masterful you were, your face is still going to need some post-shave skincare.
How to treat shaving cuts
To begin, wipe away any remnants of shaving cream with clean warm water. Then, take a second to inspect your skin for any shaving cuts, or areas of irritation. Don’t worry if you have cut yourself as it happens to the best of us! The important thing here is that you treat any small cuts safely.
Barbers swear by the antiseptic qualities of alum. In barbershops, alum is often used in the form of a styptic pencil. These pencils are fantastic at cleaning away bad bacteria, and sealing off small cuts after a shave. At home, it’s often easier (and more affordable) to invest in an alum block – a bigger version of the barber’s pencil!
To use an alum block, simply wet it and glide it over your skin, paying particular attention to any cuts. As a heads up, applying this sulphate-based block will sting a little. But the end results are much better than bloody blotches of tissue.
How to use post-shave balms
Now that you’ve taken care of any small cuts, it’s time to soothe your skin and close your pores. This step is all about reducing as much redness and irritation as possible, while making sure that your skin is hydrated to the max.
Post-shave products help to reduce irritation by making the most of soothing ingredients such as aloe vera, chamomile and witch hazel. As well as reducing redness and inflammation, these essential ingredients offer high levels of hydration, which helps to keep your skin looking and feeling stronger for longer.
The Bluebeards Revenge Cooling Moisturiser
To make the most of aftershave products, massage them intently into your skin before you close your pores. This allows them to be fully absorbed into your skin, rather than sitting on the surface. Once you’ve finished, leave them to soak in for a few minutes before cooling yourself down with a cold flannel or a few splashes of ice-cold water. If you suffer with particularly sensitive skin, consider following this up with a daily moisturiser for maximum rehydration.
And there you have it – the ultimate guide to recreating a barbershop shave from the comfort of your own home! Now all you need is the right products to accompany your new-found knowledge – visit the Shaving Shack and shop for the best shaving and skincare products today!
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