Few
experiences are more relaxing and luxurious than a classic barbershop shave. But few of us have the time or money to
visit our barbers every day. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can bring the barbershop home (or at least ease the
time between visits). Below, we’ve compiled seven ways to recreate your favorite barbershop treatments, from the
keystone hot towel to facial treatments that leave you feeling like a million bucks. Shop all the products mentioned at
the end of this post. Enjoy!
Hot Oil Beard Treatment
Just think of hot beard oil as beard oil
turbocharged with VTEC. Proraso’s Beard Hot Oil makes it easy: Just warm a vial in hot tap water and massage into a damp
beard. The heat helps the oil’s nourishing ingredients – including aloe and eucalyptus oil – penetrate deeply into your
beard hair, making even the most scraggly beards feel silky.
SHOP: Proraso Beard Hot Oil
Barbershop Hot Towel
A classic barbershop shave always includes a relaxing and pore-opening hot towel. You can DIY the hot
towel at home.
There are two ways to DIY:
- Stick a towel in a bowl of water and microwave for a couple of seconds until warm.
- Roll up the towel and run it under hot water for a few seconds, then wring it out.
After the towel’s warm, apply essential oils to your liking. Try eucalyptus and lavender oils for relaxation, or
sandalwood for an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect. If you’d like a more thorough course in the art of crafting
the barbershop hot towel, check out this video:
The Correct Way to Towel Dry Your Hair
Hair is weakest when it’s wet. According to head
barber Rob McMillen of Blind Barber, your natural instinct to vigorously push your hair back and forth while
drying is the exact opposite of what you should be doing. To dry hair without damaging hair follicles, pat your head
instead, squeezing sections of hair dry. Also, avoid heat styling if possible. McMillen says not all styles need a
blow dryer’s help, and that products typically work best when your hair is half dry.
Quality Clippers for
Your Beard
McMillen recommends the Wahl Lithium All in One Trimmer if you’re planning to trim your
beard at home. It’s light so you can hold it for an extended period of time without fatigue. It also boasts a very
sharp blade and accurate beard guides. SHOP: Wahl Lithium All in One
Trimmer
Face Mask
A good shave starts with good skin. A razor passes most easily over smooth skin, reducing your chances of razor burn and
rash, ingrown hairs, and inflammation. So don’t be scared to reach for a face mask (or think it's too
"feminine") the next time you need some R & R. We like Baxter of California Clay Mask, which taps kaolin clay
and bentonite to draw out impurities (i.e. to unclog your pores), while aloe vera and avocado oil moisturize and
hydrate your skin so it’s strong and supple. SHOP: Baxter of California Clay Mask
Hydrate,
Part 1: Face Oil
If you’re a guy with oily or combination skin, you’re probably wondering why you’d
want to put more oil on your skin. Face oil is actually extremely lightweight yet packed with nourishing ingredients
– plus it penetrates your skin better than lotion – so it moisturizes without clogging pores. Smooth a few drops on
before moisturizer for that just-got-back-from-the-barbershop feeling. Try Jack Black Epic Moisture MP10 Nourishing
Oil, which infuses skin with a blend of 10 natural oils, fatty acids, and potent antioxidants. SHOP:
Jack Black Epic
Moisture MP10 Nourishing Oil
Hydrate, Part 2: Moisturizer
For all that we look
forward to our daily wet shave, the fact remains that every time we shave we’re traumatizing our skin. Combat the
redness and irritation by following your face oil with moisturizer. Our tip? Look for a moisturizer with a cooling
element, like Dreadnought Cooling Moisturizer, which leaves your face feeling nice and refreshed after a shave.
Jojoba oil keeps skin resilient by preventing excess oil production and inflammation. SHOP:
Dreadnought Cooling
Moisturizer
SHOP: 1. Wahl Lithium All in One
Trimmer, 2. Jack Black Epic
Moisture MP10 Nourishing Oil, 3. Proraso Beard
Hot Oil, 4. Baxter of California Clay Mask,
5. Dreadnought Cooling Moisturizer.
