Why a Hot Towel Shave Is Worth the Splurge

A traditional hot-towel shave isn't faster than a disposable razor. It's better, and it's better for a list of specific reasons that most people don't know about until they try one.

What actually happens

The full ritual is seven steps over 45 minutes:

1. Pre-shave consultation. Where your skin breaks out, where you have ingrown hair history, where the grain shifts.
2. First hot towel. Three minutes. Softens the keratin in the stubble and opens the pores.
3. Pre-shave oil. Bay-leaf scented castor base. The razor will glide, the skin will stay calm.
4. First pass, with the grain. Straight razor, never the same pressure twice.
5. Second hot towel. Rinses, re-softens, resets the skin.
6. Second pass, against the grain. Where the closeness comes from. Only on areas that can handle it, most necks can't.
7. Cold towel and balm. Closes the pores, calms any inflammation, finishes the skin.

Why splurge?

The closeness is part of it. The 45 minutes of someone else doing skilled work to your face is the bigger part. We have clients who book one before every dinner in town they want to remember.