Thread: products for softening whiskers

Originally Posted by MBR1965

I think you're right; I have the C.O. Bigelow cream and I like the menthol. So, maybe I should just buy a tub of the Proraso pre/post and give it a shot. Though, I suspect it will turn out like Phrank said- something for those "bells and whistles" days.

I'm also thinking that I may have to give the cold water shave a shot. The more I read about it, the more intrigued I am.

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

Ahhh yes, the cold shave. Try it, you'll love it, then us cold shavers can claim your soul and have another convert! Bwahahahaha!

Originally Posted by Phrank

You want your beard stiff, not soft, so that the razor can easily cut the whiskers. As the book say's, lather is used to stiffen and make the whiskers brittle for easy cutting.

That is not necessarily true for everybody.

I have a very coarse beard & for me, easily cutting the whiskers requires softening & for that, I use a good, long hot shower followed by using a soap/cream high in stearic acid (softens beard hairs) & letting the lather soak in for a few minutes. I'm also a big fan of Castle Forbes preshave (water based) as I find it actually does help soften the beard a little bit more. If not, the razor will pull something fierce even if very sharp. Warm water for me. YMMV & all that.


This hot/cold thing really is a personal choice (not universal) & I'm getting worried that taking it as universal might turn some new guys off to SR shaving if it turns out that CW shaving doesn't work for their faces. Everyone is different. Some guys really get good results from CW shaving; others need a hot shower & warm lather. As always, YMMV.

Originally Posted by MBR1965

Do pre-shave products actually help to soften the whiskers? My beard seems to be pretty coarse; that is to say that, if we compare beard hair to copper wire, then mine may be a thicker gauge than most. I haven't yet found a routine of heat, water, and lather that seems to soften the hair. I also am beginning to suspect that this is contributing to my edges dulling rather quickly.

So, do any products like Proraso pre/post shave help to soften whiskers?

I started off with Proraso and then stopped using it. Had more stinging with the alum. Went back to using it. Less stinging. As to WHY, I don't know. But feels better with. However, that's with a DE. Haven't experimented with the SE yet.

I don't find anything helps more than a hot shower or hot towels for 3 minutes. But when I don't have that much time I still use plenty of water on my beard and then a preshave oil while I'm stropping. Maybe it's psychological, but it seems to make my beard easier to shave then using nothing but the lather or soap. Seems like the heavier the beard the less it works and the less you need it the better it works. Still, it's part of my routine and while it's working some, I'm still using it.

I soften my beard by applying lather and massaging it with my fingertips. I leave it on while I strop my razor. Makes for a real comfy shave.

I routinely wash beard w/soap and water. Then two apps of hot towel, then Tres Semme hair conditioner on my beard. Then lather. Smooth shave. Works for me.

Hello MBR1965

Give this ago and tell me what you think. I have my 17 year old nephew into to straight shaving and now his father of Italian descents wanted to get into it as we'll.. So after giving it ago with every pre shave he could get his hand on it just didn't work, beard was just to corse. So I gave him this method that now works like a charm for his shave resulting in BBS shaves. If you tried it disregard my post..

1. Hot shower, wash beard with shampoo and also conditioner. Leave conditioner in as long as you can
2. Fill sink with hot water. Grab a wash rag
3. Mix up some lather
3. Splash some hot water on the face
4. Now apply some lather on hair growth
5. Take that wash rag and get it nice and hot and hold it against your face and neck for about 30sec
6. Wash off all that lather
7. Reapply that hot fresh wash rag for 30sec
7. splash hot water on the face reapply the lather and give it ago
8. Always keep the face wet with warm water in between the passes
AFTER ALL IT IS WET SHAVING

1905? and science has not progressed any further in 107 years. Hair is made of Keratin and sulfides. Keratin and Sulfides soften with heat and water and other stuff. I have very tough whiskers. I take a hot/warm shower. When i wash my hair, i make sure I get my whiskers. I use conditioner on my whiskers as well. After the shower, I use a warm oil and shave cream to help the razor glide. I get good results.

Cold shave....Nope. It actually hurts since the razor will pull.

For the guys who use hair conditioner to soften bear hair, do you leave the conditioner on your face when you apply lather?

Originally Posted by MBR1965

For the guys who use hair conditioner to soften bear hair, do you leave the conditioner on your face when you apply lather?

No.. I wash it off at the end of my shower