Thread: Safe Creams & Soaps

This question is going to reveal how "green" I actually am. I understand there are shaving creams that contain chemicals which could damage your brush if you use them. I have always understood these to be the creams one would typically used when saving with a disposable razor. In other words the creams sold in an aerosol cans. This leads to my two questions:

1) Is my understanding/assumption correct about the potential damage of aerosol creams?
2) Besides aerosol creams are there any other soaps/creams one should avoid using with their brush?

Looking forward to hearing your responses.

Jason

Any no or low foam shaving product should be kept away from a brush. Best practice is to look for wet shavers that have reviewed the product you are considering before buying it.

The main reason wet shavers avoid canned products is that they usually don't provide the moisture, lubrication, and cushion needed with a straight razor.

Jonathan

I got my first shaving brush in 1972 or '73. I have used a shaving brush since, with a puck or a jar/tube or cream. I have in the past kept a can of Barbasol in the med cabinet just in case but quit doing that years ago. Even then I didn't use the brush if I used the aerosol.

As far as chemicals that might harm the brush, in pucks of soap or creams I haven't heard of any that would do damage to a brush. I have heard of end users who were effected by essential oils, or whatever, in the mix. Usually irritated certain peoples skin. I've been fortunate that any I've used has been fine.

I would stay away from shave foam in a can, commonly referred to as crap in a can is some circles. Jonathan gave the reasons why.

Been using a brush off and on about as long as Jimmy and not found a cream in a tube or tube or soap puck that damaged my brushes. Haven't had a skin reaction to any of them either but some do. If you use a current manufactured cream or soap most are pretty good at not having any ingredients that may have a long term use issue for humans either.

Lots of choices out there and most work well.

Bob

yea, I've never heard of any soap or cream that will damage a brush. In the old days some people used different types of soap like brown soap and the old Octagon soap. Some of those were pretty heavy duty stuff with plenty of lye and I don't think the brushes were damaged.

Thanks for all the input gents.