A proper hot towel shave is the most-rebooked service on our menu. Once a guy tries it, he comes back. Here's what those 45 minutes actually involve, and why the result is nothing like a razor at home.
1. The pre-shave oil
Before any heat or lather, we work a light pre-shave oil into the beard. It softens the hair, protects the skin, and gives the blade something to glide on instead of dragging.
2. The first hot towel
A steamed towel goes over the face for about three minutes. The heat opens the pores, lifts the hair off the skin, and starts the relaxation that's half the reason guys book this service in the first place.
3. Lather, applied with a brush
We whip a traditional shaving cream into a warm lather and apply it with a badger brush. The brush lifts each hair upright, which is what lets a straight razor cut cleanly without the irritation a multi-blade leaves behind.
4. The straight razor passes
Two passes — first with the grain, then across — using a freshly stropped straight razor. Done well, you don't feel the blade. Done well, you feel the difference for three days afterward.
5. The cold towel and balm
A cold towel closes the pores, then a soothing balm calms any redness. You leave with skin that's smoother than any home shave will ever produce.
Why it's worth the time
It's not just a shave. It's 45 minutes of forced stillness in a city that doesn't let you sit still. That's the part we hear about most — guys booking it again because it's the calmest part of their week.
—SIR Management