Thread: Introduction and first question

Hey there, all!

My name's Richard, I'm a second-year student of applied mathematics and physics at the University of Houston, and I've been using a Gold Dollar full hollow for a few months now (I know it's not the best, but it works great after spending some time on a 12k grit stone). One of these days, I'll upgrade to something worth noting in the LW&T, but this one works for now (I'm a poor college student - haha).

I have been curious, but is there anyone here who has used neem oil? It's AMAZING as a fungicide/anti-microbial/anti-bacterial/anti-parasitic (read about it; it's awesome stuff), and I am going to start experimenting with making my own soaps and after-shave, and I plan to use it there too.

The question is: does anyone know how well it inhibits rusting as well? Since I've been using neem oil as a pre-shave lubricant, my blade gets a little treating during shaving; but, I also rub in a light coat after shaving every few days. Also, I haven't seen any rust/spotting yet, and I'm not sure how long that normally would take to develop on my blade.

Anyway, I'm glad to be a new member here, and I look forward to learning from the masters!

R. K.

Edit: I couldn't delete this post, and I don't want to double-post in the introduction thread that I just noticed (no idea how I missed it before). Sorry about that.

Hi, Richard, and welcome to SRP.

Since you are in Houston, PM Sharptonn with your questions. He is a local mentor and if he doesn't have an answer, who knows will. He might read your post and reply before you can PM him, but do so anyway and get a meeting with him and be prepared to be awed by his collection and knowledge (and he can fix your car at the same time).

Welcome Richard. As another Richard (Razorfeld) proclaims, I am also in H-Town. Neem? I spray that on my shubberies!
Might be better options. We had a meet last Sunday, so you just missed that! A honing/ shaving clinic shall be forthcoming soon. Watch the link in my sig for plans on that! (need to change my sig now that the meet is done!)

Welcome, from down the highway. Good to see another Texan.

Hi Richard,

Since Neem is a plant oil, it's probably going to do what all vegetable oils eventually do, and that's polymerize. Like linseed oil, the base for paints and many other finishes. Best to stay in the mineral world for oil on your blade. I favor gun oil because it spreads out over the metal, rather than beading up like mineral oil (baby oil) tends to do.

And, like the others have said, Welcome!

On a side note: this morning I shampooed and conditioned my brush for the first time (I didn't think to do it when I first got it - just rinsed it really thoroughly), and holy smokes does it lather up AWESOME now. Plus, the bristles were fairly coarse - not uncomfortable - before, but now it's like brushing my face with Angel hair. It's not an expensive brush - $12 on Amazon and the only thing printed on the side of the wooden handle is, "Escali."

Something I thought of today during my shave: when I rub in a little neem or olive oil before lathering up, it feels like the blade it sloughing through mud and pulling harder on the skin. There's no hair pulling, and the blade cuts nice and clean, but there's just a lot more resistance to the edge sliding.

Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by rkuchenbecker

Something I thought of today during my shave: when I rub in a little neem or olive oil before lathering up, it feels like the blade it sloughing through mud and pulling harder on the skin. There's no hair pulling, and the blade cuts nice and clean, but there's just a lot more resistance to the edge sliding.

Any suggestions?

Personally I'd Skip the oil before shaving!!!! Be sure to either apply some lather to your face and rub it in and then rinse it off and re-lather OR use some shampoo and then lather and go! I've found that this removes any body oil from the face and facial hair so that the lather can soak in to the whiskers and allows the lather to do it's job and lubricate the skin!!

Give it a go and see what happens!!!

Also, I use some liquid dish soap to remove any soap scum after shaving then dry the blade well and use Ballistol to lightly coat the blade and edge to prevent oxidization.

Enjoy the Ride! It's a long strange trip but it's worth the journey!

Yes, oiling before the shave makes a slippery mess. I use vitamin E oil, several drops rubbed into the face, the night before I shave the next morning. It has soaked in good before the shave, but seems to make the shave go nicer.
Try a hand towel soaked with really hot water over a lathered-up face (2 applications) for a minute or so before lathering up to shave.
Makes all the difference in the world.
What lather are you using? Many will benefit from 4 or 5 drops of Glycerine in the mug as well!

Gotta add my 2.5 cents (inflation you know). I cold shave. Before I lather I splash cold water on my face and rub a small amount of Cremo or Kiss My Fase into my beard. It mixes with the lather and forms a nice cushion for my shave..