Over the years men have incorporated the task of shavirg into their daily routine.

Frequent
shaving has been a burdensome chore for men until recently when plastic coating of blades
and special designs help to make shaving less onerous. Each routine is as unique as the
individual himself depending on the implements used, the beard preparation, the type of
beard, the time between shaves, the time of day, the time constraints, and so forth.
Regardless of the process, the common goal is to obtain as close a shave as possible with the
least amount of trauma during and after the process.

In today's hectic world, which puts time at a premium, the ritual and the art of shaving
have been replaced by a scientific technology that addresses the needs of the shaver.

WET SHAVING PREPARATIONS

INTRODUCTION

Cosmetic preparations for shaving serve several functions. The most significant of these is
softening the hair to facilitate cutting. The observation that softening of hair is best achieved
by hydration gave rise many years ago to the concept of wet shaving. The hallmarks of a
good wet shaving preparation are twofold:

 to soften the hair

 to act as a lubricant between the shaving hardware and the face

Both of these attributes contribute to a trauma-free shave. For assessing the merits
of various preparations, one should evaluate foam stability during life of the shave; easy
spreading on the skin; rapid wetting of the beard; ready adherence to the skin; and easy
rinsability from both the shaving hardware and the face.

A number of factors promote beard softening. Absorption of water by the beard

effects changes in the mechanical properties of hair, which translates into beard softening
(see Chapter 2). Studies have been conducted to measure the softening of the beard in
water by various means-hair swelling, weight increase in water, and lengthening. All studies
showed that water softened the hair and that soap hastened the process. This concept was
confirmed by the conclusions of the subjective results of a shaving study conducted in 1937.