Thread: products for softening whiskers

Originally Posted by kettlebell

You want your whiskers stiff and brittle not soft.

Again, I take issue with that being a blanket statement. If some guys get best results from cold shaving, then certainly it should be listed as another thing to try, but many of us get our best shaves w/ warm water & more prep that involves softening whiskers.

Prep, like all other aspects has to be tailored to the individual as our faces are all different. I for one get horrible shaves w/ lots of pulling no matter how sharp the blade is (even a Feather will pull hard) if I don't soften my beard. Once, under the scope, after trying no prep for the sake of science, I actually had microchipping @ the edge. I checked the edge before the shave for that reason & it wasn't there before. I also had a lot of irritation & ingrowns (which I almost never get anymore) & wasn't able to shave for a few days afterward. For me, lack of beard prep is a big no-no. My razor wasn't too happy either afterward!

Again, I have nothing against cold shaving if it works for you, but it doesn't work for everybody. Everyone has to try lots of different things to find out what works best for them. For some it's cold shaving w/ minimal prep & for some it's warm water w/ lots of prep. Everything in this sport is YMMV, prep included.

Originally Posted by PA23-250

Again, I take issue with that being a blanket statement. If some guys get best results from cold shaving, then certainly it should be listed as another thing to try, but many of us get our best shaves w/ warm water & more prep that involves softening whiskers.

Prep, like all other aspects has to be tailored to the individual as our faces are all different. I for one get horrible shaves w/ lots of pulling no matter how sharp the blade is (even a Feather will pull hard) if I don't soften my beard. Once, under the scope, after trying no prep for the sake of science, I actually had microchipping @ the edge. I checked the edge before the shave for that reason & it wasn't there before. I also had a lot of irritation & ingrowns (which I almost never get anymore) & wasn't able to shave for a few days afterward. For me, lack of beard prep is a big no-no. My razor wasn't too happy either afterward!

Again, I have nothing against cold shaving if it works for you, but it doesn't work for everybody. Everyone has to try lots of different things to find out what works best for them. For some it's cold shaving w/ minimal prep & for some it's warm water w/ lots of prep. Everything in this sport is YMMV, prep included.

Agreed, there are those individuals that may need more preparation. However I think there are those who would benefit from simplifying their shaving routine. For them the answer is not in adding step after step after step to their preparation, (hot shower, conditioner, facial scrub, hot towel, pre-shave oil, lather, hot towel, re-lather then shave).

My Great-Grand Father shaved with a straight and my Grand Father a DE. I don't remember either of them doing any of this, they just lathered up and shaved. The time was spent working the shaving soap into the whiskers.

I also started out with this long drawn out prep routine, because that's what you're supposed to do. Then I started asking myself why I am doing this, when most of the old articles say all you need is a shave soap. So I gave it a try, and guess what they were right. But when this is suggested, the howls of heresy start.

I'm a big fan of keeping it simple, and for most people, shave soap, a sharp razor and good technique are all you'll need. and maybe some cold water. And I apologize if I'm ruffling any feathers.

Originally Posted by kettlebell

Agreed, there are those individuals that may need more preparation. However I think there are those who would benefit from simplifying their shaving routine. For them the answer is not in adding step after step after step to their preparation, (hot shower, conditioner, facial scrub, hot towel, pre-shave oil, lather, hot towel, re-lather then shave).

My Great-Grand Father shaved with a straight and my Grand Father a DE. I don't remember either of them doing any of this, they just lathered up and shaved. The time was spent working the shaving soap into the whiskers.

I also started out with this long drawn out prep routine, because that's what you're supposed to do. Then I started asking myself why I am doing this, when most of the old articles say all you need is a shave soap. So I gave it a try, and guess what they were right. But when this is suggested, the howls of heresy start.

I'm a big fan of keeping it simple, and for most people, shave soap, a sharp razor and good technique are all you'll need. and maybe some cold water. And I apologize if I'm ruffling any feathers.

You make good points but the bit I highlighted in red from your post is the thing that's lacking for most newbs hence attention to prep may well give them an advantage & better results.
Good lathering is crucial but takes some time to master.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

You make good points but the bit I highlighted in red from your post is the thing that's lacking for most newbs hence attention to prep may well give them an advantage & better results.
Good lathering is crucial but takes some time to master.

Agreed. And that's what the newbs should be focusing on, and guided to be focusing on, not adding more steps or buying expensive soaps and pre-shave oils. Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

Originally Posted by kettlebell

Agreed. And that's what the newbs should be focusing on, and guided to be focusing on, not adding more steps or buying expensive soaps and pre-shave oils. Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

Yes and no.
An unpleasant experience thru lack of perfection of skill will put some off continuing. Nothing wrong with getting all the help you can get while you learn. Absorb what is useful then reject what useless.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Absorb what is useful then reject what useless.

On This....we can agree

As I've stated before, I started with the whole routine, hot shower, pre / post-shave, worked lather into beard, then lather, shave, rinse, pre/ post-shave, alum block, then AS.

Now, cold water, lather into beard, full lather shave, splash some AS, done in under 10 minutes.

Now, if I want to do a shave parade, then it's the whole routine with the added enjoyment of one of my nicer razors.

Must say though, I've recently added the alum block back, it's quick and just feels soooooo goooood!!!!

But to each their own.

I just came back from Montreal, just bought a cheap disposable and some foam, sheesh, there was a flash back. Foam, won't call it lather, felt like dry cardboard flakes, shave went smooth enough, until two hours later it looked like I didn't even shave. The Gillette lather really got me though, tried to work it into my beard, and the stuff literally fell off my face, had to like smooth it on...what a disappoint...next time I'll bring a str8.

Cheers!

I've always been a fan of pre shave oils and have tried a bunch of them including making my own. I always felt that a hot shower was the best preshave prep though. Sometimes I shave twice a day and am not in the mood to take another shower before going out every time. I think I will also have to try the cold water prep. I've sure tried everything else and this prep has me curious.

Lately I've been using a product called Cremo Shave Creme that you can buy at Walgreens. It doesn't lather much and is very very slippery. I shower, apply Cremo while I strop and get my AOS lather ready. Then I apply the AOS lather over the Cremo and I shave. My shaves can be harsh at times when I skip the shower. The Cremo has helped a lot.

I'm going to try the cold water shave and see if I notice a difference. I've got some soaps I've had forever that I have to try as well. So many different products and techniques to go with so many different beard and skin types. What works for one doesn't always work for everyone else. Eventually you find a combination of products that works best for you. That's my humble opinion.

Maq

I just use a few drops of olive oil and let it sit for ten mins, lovely smooth skin and a smooth shave(and nice and cheap ).

So far my DE routine is pretty basic: soap and water for washing, then a warm-to-hot washcloth held to my skin for a minute, then on to lathering and it's game on. I'm not sure if this will work as well with a straight once I begin that, but so far this has been productive.

For after-care I have been using a small amount of Vitamin E oil all over- and as I have a goatee I work the oil down to the skin there as well and it has the secondary benefit of softening my beard. And, of course, I have a styptic pencil for those pesky nicks that show up every so often.

I've tried the complete cold-water prep and shave a few times, and although I can see some advantages to it I just can't get 'into' as much as a warmer shave. It's a never-ending process of finding what works, though!