February can sometimes lead to the Winter blahs. But not for this wet shaver! February is always an exciting time for me. For one thing, I celebrate several anniversaries. I celebrate the anniversary of my first date with my wife Stav. I celebrate my anniversary at the airline I work for. I also celebrate the anniversary of our online store. I’m not sure if I can say that Spring is right around the corner, but we’re closer to Spring than we were a month ago!
Now where was I? Oh yes February. February in Winnipeg (or Winterpeg- if you must) can really damage my skin. Locals will tell you it’s cold.....but it’s a dry cold. We’ve been fortunate this year, our temperatures have been above normal. While it’s not quite t-shirt weather, it is a nice break from the usual. However, for whatever reason, this particular year I’ve really noticed how my skin reacts to the cold- namely that the cold air dries my skin and I have to be extra careful with my shaving routine. Dry skin leads to irritation and weepers. Both are easily preventable.
I’ve noticed that the biggest change is really the time I take to prepare my skin for a shave. The actual shaving hasn’t really changed. However, I really make sure my skin is prepped and ready. This is something I’ve touched upon before. Visit any classic barber for a hot shave and I would argue that they spend as much- if not more time preparing your skin for a shave as they do the shave itself. There are lots of different things you can do to prepare your skin:
a) Shave after a hot shower;
b) Use a Pre-Shave Soap
c) Use a Pre-Shave Oil
d) Use a Pre-Shave Cream*
I’ve tried all 4 and I am a true believer that these products add a layer of comfort and protection to improve your shave.
If you’d prefer to stick with your regular routine, consider adding a shave soap that has essential oils such as coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, hemp seed oil, or shea butter. These have been proven to help reduce dry skin.
I hope you have a great month ahead. May all your shaves be smooth.
Sincerely,
Jonathan
*Proraso pre-shave cream will be available later this month.
Leave a comment