Everyone talks about shaving soaps... any opinions on shaving oils?

Hi fellas!

I ditched the multiblade monstrosity four years ago and grew a beard. I've just picked up a new razor, for neatening the edges of my beard (those 6-blade disposable pieces of garbage could never have the precision needed).

However, back when I did shave I much preferred to use a shaving oil over a lather. I appreciate that with oil you can actually see the hair under it (which is more important for edging), and in my experience oils tend to be better on the skin than many other products.

No one seems to even be discussing oils in the straight shaving community; is there a reason for that? Are oils seriously inferior to a good shave soap and brush?

I'd say try it with the oil & see what you think. Being new to straights it may take a few tries to get the technique down.

I trim next a mustache and side burns without problems using soap. I just do a wipe swipe on the line with a finger after soaping to better see what I am doing.

i dont know about oils, but on the days/times that i dont do a full shave and just need a quick touch-up on checks or neck i use ZIHR shave gel. clear so you can see exactly what youre doing, slick as all get-out and works great.

https://www.amazon.com/Zirh-Ultra-Pe...6QRMC8NF6HDTVS

I found a little shave oil (Floids) with a thin smear of Cremo over top works pretty well. I shave the top of my mustache down a bit and needed something less foamy for that area.

No matter what you use the one thing that really helped me was to massage the lather (oil) into my skin. That seemed to "imbed" the lubricants into the skin cells and make for a smoother shave. Give it a try and see how it works for you. :)

Whatever works for you. SRP members are quite traditionalist. Part of traditional shaving is lathering. No reason why oils wouldn't work just as well. Keep us posted please.

I use shaving oil that I make myself. Softens the skin, makes for a smooth shave and keeps my hands from cracking during the winter as well.

I make my own shave oil. 2 parts grape seed oil, one part castor oil, and about 10 drops of sandalwood essential oil. Shake it up - let it settle and it lasts me for a few months. If you like it thicker - add more castor and less grape seed. If you want it thinner - do the opposite. Costs a couple of dollars and feels just like several of the oils for which I have over paid through the years. I rub into the beard prior to lathering - lather up with my favorite shave soap and scrape away.

Adam



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I'm with Randy! No matter what I use (although I never use oil) I really rub it into my whiskers. The longer my whiskers are the more I rub it in, after lather, cream or, in an emergency, a creamo like product. It always seems to soften things up and make the shave a little more pleasant (and closer).

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Originally Posted by randydance062449

No matter what you use the one thing that really helped me was to massage the lather (oil) into my skin. That seemed to "imbed" the lubricants into the skin cells and make for a smoother shave. Give it a try and see how it works for you. :)

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I too switched to help with lining up the beard. I use shave soap and do a first pass as close to the line as possible. You can actually feel the difference when you get to the edge of the beard. I will then wash off the soap and shave the last little bit with nothing on. After using soap and water the skin is still plenty slick to do that. I haven't had any trouble doing it and lining up the sideburns the same way. The neck line is a little different, but I have coarse hair on my neck that grows 1000 different ways. Usually I can get one pass on the cheek area, but 2-3 on the neck to get it where I like it.

My experience with several shave oils was not good, most ended up ruining the lather and completely gunking up my brush, I mean really clogging my brush - not good. Add in very oily hands, and all around it was a mess.

Having said that, I have used a Pre-Shave oil that neither gunked up my brush, ruined the lather, or slicked up my hands - Castle Forbes Pre-Shave Oil, recommended by Obie. It is water based, really preps the beard well, doesn't interfere with the lather of gunk up the brush, and doesn't leave your hands as if you've dipped them in oil - really the nicest stuff I've used....YMMV.

Shave oils do soften the beard, but so does good conditioner made for hair frankly. My personal reason for stopping their use early on in my wet shave re-acclimation was simply the nasty ring the oily residue left in the sink while, and after shaving. I would face scrub with a musgo presoap, then apply the oil by fingertip, to save my brushes, then shave normally. But since I fill the basin with hot water for the shave that nasty oil ring was just not appreciated.
Yes, could see the hair better, but I never shave by looking at the hair, I shave by feel and post blade residue on the skin after the pass.
So for the last few years, no oil at all before the shave. Conditioner on the face in the shower when I choose to do the scalp, but that's it.
Good luck on your progress.

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Originally Posted by Mvcrash

I use shaving oil that I make myself. Softens the skin, makes for a smooth shave and keeps my hands from cracking during the winter as well.

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What do you use to make your shave oil?

May try this myself, starting to look at some DIY oils and creams. Thanks

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Originally Posted by jlf634

May try this myself, starting to look at some DIY oils and creams. Thanks

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Started off using AoS sandalwood pre-shave oil and didn't feel like dropping another $25 for 2oz so, I decided to make my own. This is only my first recipe but it came out nice.

2oz Grapeseed oil
1oz Sweet almond oil
1oz Castor oil
1/2 oz liquid vitamin E
5 drops each of peppermint, tea tree, and cedar essential oils.

Careful with the essential oil...I dropped a half drop on the bathroom floor when I was mixing the oil. As I walked out, the wife was walking in and had a conniption over the smell. She accused me of showering with the christmas tree.