Ward's Reviews - The Real Shaving Co. Pre Shave Hot Towel Mask

• Ward's Reviews - The Real Shaving Co. Pre Shave Hot Towel Mask by rward086 on 11 Jul, 2009 05:21
• Hot towel treatment. There's nothing more luxurious that having a streming hot towel being wrapped around your head and face before a great shave. The Real Shaving Company advertises that it can duplicate that feeling. How well though?
  
  

  
  

  
  First off, the claims and features:
  
  
  - 'Hot Towel' style treatment to soften facial hair preparing skin for shaving
  - Apply directly to face where it instantly heats the skin
  - The warming affect works to lift hair in preparation for a closer shave
  - Professional formulation since 1953
  - Use once or twice a week for maximum benefit
  - 125ml e 4.25 fl oz
  - Made in England.
  
  - This mineral clay mask is applied directly to facial hair where it warms gently softening and conditioning the skin ready for shaving, acting just like a 'Hot Barber's Towel'
  
  
  
  
  Now for the review
  
  Scent
  
  Clean and masculine. It's quite likeable by all standards. The scent is moderate however, so I'd think twice before combining 'sweeter' smelling products with this. (Hot Six for example)
  
  Texture
  
  This product is a thick paste that squeezes out from the tube. I've found it important to have my head wet before applying the cream. If you head is too dry, the product won't work properly.
  
  Ingredients
  
  
  The active ingredients are:
  
  Vitamin E, Zinc Oxide & Tea-Tree Leaf.
  
  Only the bare essentials come in this formula. I like this however, because I know there is A LOT of these few ingredients. I become slightly curious when I see more than a dozen different active ingredients in a product. How much of that stuff really is working and how much is just 'filler'?
  
  Performance
  
  Holy Sh!t! I was not expecting this at all! As you rub the cream into your skin, the cream WARMS UP! I'm not kidding! I don't know what ingredient is used for this effect, but it's amazing! Don't be afraid though, as it won't burn you. It's important to remember that you need a wet face (like water dripping off wet) for this cream to spread correctly.
  
  After the initial 'heat', your face begins to warm up on it's own. I like putting a coat of this stuff on right after my shower and let it sit for about 5 minutes as I whip up my cream or soap for the SOTD (shave of the day). While the directions say to rinse the cream off after 5min, I leave the stuff on! It doesn't clog your razor and I think it actually helps the quality of your shave.
  
  The only concern I have with the performance of this product is using it with certain mentholated creams, gels or oils. While there isn't any actual danger; combining the 'heating' effect of the pre-shave with the cooling effect of a highly mentholated shave cream (like Headslick) gives your skin a weird feeling. It's not a bad or painful feeling by any means, but it's something you should be aware of.
  
  Price and Packaging
  
  At around $8-9 a tube, this is slightly in the 'luxury' class. You can find this product along with most of "The Real Shaving Company's" line at Ride-Aid. I bought 2 bottles of this product because my local Rite-Aid had them on sale for 75% off. I couldn't pass up two of these bottles for less than $3 each.
  
  Final Thoughts and Gripes
  
  So this product is a sure shot. Go ahead and induldge in the luxury of a hot towel. Hell, go ahead and fantasize a little bit if you may be so bold! 
  
  
  

  

  
  
  Scent - 9/10
  
  Texture - 10/10
  
  Ingredients - 10/10
  
  Performance - 10/10
  
  Price and Packaging - 9/10
  
  Final Thoughts and Gripes - 8/10
  
  
  

  Overall: 9.3/10

  
  
  
  

  *All products reviews done by me are unbiased. I am not sponsored to promote products by any companies. My reviews are written to solely benefit the members of SlyBaldGuys.com with the latest information of products catered to guys like us. Please comment and let me know what you think.*
• #1 by Tyler on 11 Jul, 2009 13:43
• Good review!  Where can you buy the product?
• #2 by GaryT on 11 Jul, 2009 13:55
• Pay attention Tyler. Ward said at Rite Aid!!   j/k      I've been using their shave cream for the last week or so. I'm pretty happy with it!!J
• #3 by Tyro on 11 Jul, 2009 18:55
• Quote from: rward086 on 11 Jul, 2009 05:21

  Final Thoughts
  This product is a sure shot. Go ahead and induldge in the luxury of a hot towel. Hell, go ahead and fantasize a little bit if you may be so bold! 
  

  
  Thanks for the excellent review. This is one product I'll be buying.
  Twas your 'final thoughts' that sealed the deal.
• #4 by Mikekoz13 on 11 Jul, 2009 20:30
• Great review again my friend!
• #5 by rward086 on 11 Jul, 2009 20:40
• Thanks!
• #6 by dawgfan on 13 Jul, 2009 04:55
• FYI - They had this product in one of my local Rite-Aid stores, however it was located in the "Clearance" section.    According to the manager of this store, they hadn't sold much of this so they were getting rid of their stock and wouldn't be ordering any more.  Of course had I not asked, I would have never found it as the clearance section was located on and endcap and the back of the store. 
  
  If you don't find the product with the rest of the shaving items, look for the clearance section.
  
  Looking forward to using after reading the GREAT review!
• #7 by DogStar Guy on 13 Jul, 2009 16:47
• I found out Tea Tree Oil is Melaluca oil.
  I am very allergic to Melalueca oil.
  
  So while it seems to be in small amounts in many shaving products
  and doesn't seem to (yet) cause me any problems. Straight or high percentage Melalueca oil did cause me such a skin "rash" I had to go to a walk in clinic on a Sunday, the Dr almost made me go to the emergency room.
  
  He treated me and gave me 3 meds (2 were antibiotics) and made me promise to monitor my temperature every 4 hours for the next 24 with the promise to go to the emergency room if my temperature even started to rise. He was damn surprised I wasn't already with a serious temp.
  
  The skin infection was on my shoulder, upper arm, side of neck and peck region, he was concerned because it was so close to my heart and lungs.
  
  Anyway, all is well and sometime later I made the connection when I used a small amount of high % melaueca oil and the rash started  to return almost immediately. I dosed on antibiotics at once and for the next 7 days and caught it long before it got "bad".
  
  Anyway that is my Tea Tree Oil story...
  
  Eric
• #8 by Sooner Steve on 13 Jul, 2009 22:03
• Nice review.  I may give it a try.
• #9 by dawgfan on 19 Jul, 2009 09:12
• I just tried this product for the first time this morning.  The warming sensation didn't seem to be as intense as I expected, but the final result was impressive.  I had about as good of a shave as possible.  I do think that the 'mask' helped to soften the hair considerably.  I bought three bottles on clearance (for about $2.25 each) from Rite Aid.  I'll probably be using this during my weekend shave routine as I don't have the spare time each morning during the week.
  
  Thanks for the recommendation Ward 
• #10 by rward086 on 19 Jul, 2009 09:33
• Quote from: dawgfan76 on 19 Jul, 2009 09:12

  I just tried this product for the first time this morning.  The warming sensation didn't seem to be as intense as I expected, but the final result was impressive.  I had about as good of a shave as possible.  I do think that the 'mask' helped to soften the hair considerably.  I bought three bottles on clearance (for about $2.25 each) from Rite Aid.  I'll probably be using this during my weekend shave routine as I don't have the spare time each morning during the week.
  
  Thanks for the recommendation Ward 
  

  
  Way to find a deal! I'm glad it worked good for you too.