The Catalyst - Proraso Green

I remember the experience like it was yesterday.  It was the day all this nonsense started.  My friend Brian was getting married, and I was mistakenly asked to be a groomsman, and I was honored to accept.  We went to Hooters for lunch and I watched my friend who was about to be married gawk at the girls and make his usual awkward comments that make the hair stand up on the back of your neck, but also somehow make you love the guy even more.  The wings were decent.

We got into the car and he took us to a local barber shop where I met Rudy (he currently calls Cherry's Barber Shop in Saint Clair Shores home).  Brian, his father, and brother had been seeing Rudy for years, and we were in for a treat.  Not wanting his groomsmen to look like the slouches we were he treated us to a hot towel straight razor shave.

As the title of my blog would suggest, I am a red head, and we tend to deceive people into believing we don't have any facial hair owing to the fact the roots of our hair is mainly blonde or even somewhat transparent.  Also as the title would suggest I tend to look twelve even though I'm in my early 30s, but in my early 20's I looked younger still.  Rudy must have laughed a bit to himself at the prospect of giving me a shave, but he pulled the cover over me, and started the ritual that was all to familiar to him yet completely alien to me.

I wasn't uncomfortable at the prospect of having someone take a razor sharp open blade to my face, but right, wrong, or indifferent, I trust old people.  He applied hot lather to my face and wrapped it in a steaming hot towel which was enough to wake me up.  He made quick work of me (imagine that), and applied another hot towel.  He went to his station and grabbed a green glass bottle, splashed it on a cold, wet towel and applied it as well.  When he removed it he fanned my face and my life changed.  My pores felt about the size of dimes and for the first time my skin felt alive.

As I started wet shaving, that memory was seared into my mind, and I chased that feeling.  I did my research and ended at a very familiar point to any experienced wet shaver.  I discovered the Proraso Menthol and Eucalyptus products, more commonly called the "green" line.

Proraso is a classic line of shaving products preferred by Italian barbers, or so the marketing says, but my experience with the product leaves me no doubt that this could very well be true.  Proraso comes in a couple different varieties, but the world famous product is the "Green" line, packed with menthol and eucalyptus.  Their preshave cream is renown for its instant cooling effect and softening your facial hair.  Add the green shaving cream with a traditional shaving brush and the effect only intensifies leaving you feeling cool yet comfortable.

It should be noted that if you want to try Proraso, which is largely only available online, it still can be purchased in brick and mortar locations but you have to have a keen eye.  Proraso is sold in the United States under the C.O. Bigelow label at Bath & Body Works.  Yes, it is the exact same product that only lives in different packaging.  Given the fact that one can save on shipping alone, purchasing Proraso under the C.O. Bigelow label can be far more economical.

Proraso Green seems to be a very common catalyst in the wet shaving world.  It is one of the first products that will give the new wet shaver a physical sensation past the mental experience.  As such Proraso is a staple in the cabinet of every wet shaver, and it will always be a highly recommended product for the novice all the way to the most experienced and discerning gentelman.