Start by soaking the bristles of your shaving brush in hot water before you begin to shave. You only need a couple of seconds for the fibrous bristles to absorb enough moisture to react with King of Shaves AlphaGel. Allow the brush to drain itself of excess water by holding it upside-down over the sink. Just tip it over until the water starts to drip in an even, steady manner.
I always suggest to take the time to apply a hot compress (a folded flannel or towel) prior to shaving to moisturize your skin, relax your facial muscles, and soften your facial hair.
Fill your shaving mug with a thin layer of HOT water. (I suggest using a shaving mug or scuttle, but some men prefer to work up a lather in the palm of one hand.)
Squeeze a small amount of AlphaGel directly into the center of the bristles of your shaving brush. Then dip your brush into the hot water at the bottom of your shaving mug and swirl it around until you gather just enough lather to cover the tips of the bristles.
Move your shaving brush in a circular pattern throughout your beard, working up a respectable lather in the process.
The bristles of the brush will gently exfoliate your skin, removing dead skin cells, and lifting your facial hairs. Ensure that the lather is evenly applied and thick enough to completely cover the skin beneath.
Use the King of Shaves Azor to achieve the closest, most comfortable shave possible. Always shave in the direction of hair growth, NEVER TRY TO SHAVE AGAINST THE GRAIN! Shaving against the grain causes irritation and ingrown hairs. If you want to achieve a very close shave, try shaving ACROSS the grain of hair growth after you have already shaved with the grain. Feel free to re-lather your face with the shaving brush as needed.
Rinse your shaving brush in cold water after you are done shaving. Then place your shaving brush in its holder with the bristles facing down. Allow the shaving brush to dry thoroughly before storing it. This will ensure that your shaving brush will offer many years of service.
I suggest using a high quality badger shaving brush but they are also available in synthetic materials for those who are interested.
