1st try pre-shave oil: I guess one thing cancels another!

I tried pre-shave oil for the first time today, and got so excited, I completely forgot to strop my blade!

I'm guessing pre-shave oil does what it says, because even though I didn't strop first, I had a very nice 3-pass shave. I even got those sideways hairs in the hollow of my neck and the Fool's Pass on the mustache, all without significant irritation (and I struggle with irritation even with a good stropping).

I'll use the pre-shave oil again in a couple of days with a proper stropping, but this morning has me pretty well sold. :)

AoS scentless pre-shave oil (sample)
AoS scentless soap
Kent VS80 boar brush
Vintage Wester Bros Fraternity #33 SE
AoS scentless aftershave balm

(Three guesses where I went shopping yesterday for the first time.)

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Originally Posted by deepweeds

I tried pre-shave oil for the first time today, and got so excited, I completely forgot to strop my blade!

I'm guessing pre-shave oil does what it says, because even though I didn't strop first, I had a very nice 3-pass shave. I even got those sideways hairs in the hollow of my neck and the Fool's Pass on the mustache, all without significant irritation (and I struggle with irritation even with a good stropping).

I'll use the pre-shave oil again in a couple of days with a proper stropping, but this morning has me pretty well sold. :)

AoS scentless pre-shave oil (sample)
AoS scentless soap
Kent VS80 boar brush
Vintage Wester Bros Fraternity #33 SE
AoS scentless aftershave balm

(Three guesses where I went shopping yesterday for the first time.)

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I had exactly the same experience yesterday using AOS pre-shave oil. Except that I did strop my blade. Excited to try it again!

I have the AOS pre-shave oil in lemon and I've been enjoying it. I don't like the residue it leaves on the brush and sink, though. :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ne0nblakk

I have the AOS pre-shave oil in lemon and I've been enjoying it. I don't like the residue it leaves on the brush and sink, though. :(

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One clue - Don't know if you picked up on the chatter about sponges lately and wiping your blade on it? Serves double duty, makes for great cleanup in the sink too. I rinse my sponge off after shaving, give one pump of hand soap on the sponge and wipe the sink bowl down, presto! - PreShave oil residue problem solved

I noticed i got less irritation using olive oil on my face on the recomendation of an italian guy on here anby applying it an hour before and directly after a shave.

not trying to hijack the thread, but I have had my best shaves using only oils (grape seed, olive, castor mixed 5:4:3). I am waiting to add almond oil to the mix. Just let the oil set up on the skin for a while... come back and slick it up with some water from the sink, and proceed to shave (I primarily use a Fat Boy, but am working on my shavette technique). It was comments about old guys using only olive oil, observing the outrageous price of AoS preshave oil and the 'shave secret' product that got me experimenting. I'm not saying my ratio of oils is perfect, but it is relatively inexpensive and works extremely well with my sensitive skin.

I find pre-shave oil useful, as most of us probably get a shower then shave. We strip the oils from our faces with soap and now we have to add it back or it can make for an uncomfortable shave. I've heard some people bypass washing their face when they plan to shave, makes sense. My home made mix is Jojoba oil, coconut oil and grape seed oil a little Texas cedar E.O and I'm good to go. I'm thinking that next time I mix a batch up it'll be Juniper E.O and maybe something to give a cooling effect, camphor, eucalyptus maybe and replace one of the oils with argan oil or just add it to the mix.

This one is clearly a YMMV...I've tried the shave oils and found they just don't work for me. If anything, I find they degrade the shave, even the pre-shave balms like Proraso seems to just create a barrier between the blade and the beard. Splash of cold water and the lather are enough for me, but then again, I really like the alum block after a shave, and that's another YMMV...whatever floats your boat as they say!

In my first experiments with pre-shave oils, I'm using a little after washing my face (the restore-the-oils plan), and patting dry. By the time I've whooped up my lather, there's no feeling of oil on my face at all, it's all absorbed and lathering up just feels like it always does, but hopefully over skin that's ready for action.