The Ironwood Wet Shaving Routine
The Closest Shave of Your Life.
The Ironwood Wet Shaving Routine
A complete step-by-step wet shaving routine — from prep to aftershave. Built for men who take their shave as seriously as their beard.
Why Wet Shaving?
Wet shaving — using a shaving soap, brush, and razor — produces a closer, more comfortable shave than canned foam and a cartridge razor. The brush lifts the hair, the soap lubricates and protects, and the razor cuts cleanly. The result is less irritation, fewer ingrown hairs, and a shave that actually feels finished.
The 6-Step Ironwood Wet Shaving Routine
Prep the Skin
Shave after a shower or apply a warm, damp towel to your face for 60–90 seconds. Heat opens the pores, softens the beard hair, and makes the razor glide more smoothly. Never shave on dry, cold skin.
Load the Brush
Wet your shaving brush with warm water and shake out the excess. Swirl the damp brush on the surface of your shaving soap — Casino, Lucky, or Wealth Shaving Soap — for 20–30 seconds to load the bristles with soap.
Build the Lather
Work the loaded brush in circular motions on your face to build a rich, dense lather directly on the skin. The brush lifts the beard hair away from the face, allowing the razor to cut at the base. This is the step that separates a wet shave from everything else.
Shave
Shave with the grain on the first pass — in the direction the hair grows. Rinse the razor frequently. For a closer shave, re-lather and make a second pass across the grain. A third pass against the grain is for experienced wet shavers only — it increases closeness but also irritation risk.
Rinse with Cold Water
Rinse your face thoroughly with cold water. Cold water closes the pores, removes all lather residue, and reduces post-shave redness. Pat dry with a clean towel — never rub freshly shaved skin.
Apply Aftershave
Apply Dream Aftershave to the shaved areas. Press it into the skin with your palms — don't rub. Let it absorb fully. Aftershave soothes irritation, closes pores, disinfects micro-cuts, and conditions the skin. It's not optional — it's the finish.
The Ironwood Wet Shaving Kit
Shaving Soap: Casino, Lucky, or Wealth Shaving Soap
Shaving Brush: Geo Blue, Burnt Orange, Dark Emerald, or Dark Ruby
Aftershave: Dream Aftershave
Bundle: Rugged Shaving Bowl Bundle — soap, brush, and bowl in one
Shop the Rugged Shaving Bowl Bundle →