How do Italian Men Shave?

What is about those Italian guys, always so smooth, suave, and charming?

It might have something to do with the shave: Italian men take shaving very seriously.  The Romans were cleanly shaven and regarded everybody else barbarians — literally, someone with a beard.  During the Middle Ages, barbers in Italy were trusted confidants and advisers, like the barber in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia.  Today, shaving is truly an advanced art form in Italy, and it shows.  Just look at what a great shave these famous Italians have:

Marcello Mastroiani from MarshallMatlock.com
Marcello Mastroiani from MarshallMatlock.com
Giorgio Armani up close
Giorgio Armani up close from FashionBi.com
Silvio Berlusconi from DealBreaker.com

The traditional Italian shave is a complicated ritual involving, of all things, olive oil.  Fortunately, Proraso has made this into a simple system for the rest of us.  Here’s how the modern Italian shave works.

First, you dampen your face and apply the Pre-Shave Cream, which softens the beard and helps the razor to slide smoothly over the skin.  Let it rest for a bit and really sink in.  The distinctively refreshing Menthol tingle that Proraso is known for ought to make the little time-out quiet pleasant:Proraso Pre-Shaving Cream

Then, apply your choice of  Shave Cream

Proraso Shaving Cream
Proraso Shaving Cream

 

… Shave Foam –  this is a smooth and rich foam with just the right consistency, and with it my Gillette Mach 3 is giving me a much closer shave than I’ve ever had before.  Plus, after shaving, it doesn’t leave a thick residue in my razor like my old shaving gel did:

Proraso Shave Foam

or Shave Soap.

Proraso Shaving Soap
Proraso Shaving Soap

For a truly Italian shave, we recommend the Shave soap, which must be applied with this simple little brush:

Proraso Shaving Brush
Proraso Shaving Brush

Next, wash your face and apply the After Shave, but doesn’t “Lozione Dopobarba” make it sound better?

Proraso After Shave
Proraso After Shave

Proraso also makes specialized products for those of us with sensitive skin

Proraso Sensitive Skin Shave Foam
Proraso Sensitive Skin Shaving Foam

Or who have a beard, “Barba Dura” — masculine yet refined in that Italian way:

Proraso Nourishing Shave Foam
Proraso Barbara Dura Nourishing Shaving Foam

Try it, and let us know if your face says “Grazie!”


Comments

One response to “How do Italian Men Shave?”

  1. Great post about clean shaven men! Love that very much but nowadays you see so many unshaven male faces on pictures. Rather scratchy, ouch don’t think of pulling a cashmere sweater over their heads…
    Enjoyed this post!
    Mariette’s Back to Basics