Thread: Shaving cream from a can-Why not?

Like many things, shaving soap is a matter of taste. Although I mostly use a brush and cream I'm also rather fond of foam from a can. I started out shaving with a Trac II, Gillete Foamy and Old Spice aftershave so for me that combination is nostalgic.

I personally don't find the glide or cushion is as good from a can.
Not to mention I enjoy the variety available.

Man I remember the days when I would pull out the can oh goop now and again - usually meant I was going on a date or something lol. I had to be the laziest shaver in the world pre-wet shaving. Always shaved in the shower with freaking shower jell. Heck, I would even lather with a bar oh soap in the shower if I had too.

Yeah... canned goop used to be the hight of "fancy" for me at one time. But there is no comparison in my eyes between a good cream and a can of cream. It's fancy gone wild lol.

Acca Kappa has a canned version of their 1869 stuff too. I always say I'll pick some up for travel or whatever - never do though.

I haven't picked up a can and read it for years. The new razors have a "lubricating" strip, how ever many blades they're up to nowadays, and an aloe strip for skin care. Traditionally those are functions of the soap. So why do you have to use the foam again? Is it just to suspend the whiskers and carry them away? Is it just so P & G can get another $5 a month from me? When I first started with a DE razor it was a few days before I could track down a $2.50 puck of VdH Deluxe soap and a $6 clipped boar Burma Shave brush in this little hamlet I live in. For those few days I continued to use a can of Edge gel. It worked, but seriously, even the VdH blows it away as far as comfort and fragrance. I still use that brush once a month or so, and the soap is still part of my regular rotation. Come to think of it, I used it this morning! A brush and some soap are a great investment because even if you decide to go back to a cartridge razor, you can still use them. It feels better, it smells better, and lets face it, it's cooler than using a can.


I'm curious about the Proraso and Speick cans, too. Canned goo with a familiar scent, or the real deal in a can?

Originally Posted by Jmchugh

Been shaving for over ten years here, wet shaving for a little over a month.

I would try buying an omega boar and some van der hagen from CVS to give the bowl lather a try. Mitchell's will be cheaper but I cannot vouch for it since I haven't tried. Use your cartridge with the combo and see how you like it.

Angels won't sing when you use it, but it is fun and IMO produces a better end result. It doesn't add that much time to your day.

You will find out if this if interesting to you or not. Think of it like cooking, fast and easy always works but add some steps and do it the long way and you'll end up with a much better result. It will turn a chore into a hobby.

From there you can decide on equipment and trying soaps, aftershaves, etc... It's fun to explore and find out what you like.

Feel free to message for advice!

well said, coming from a guy who likes to cook and recently picked up this new 'hobby' as well!

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

We were out of town for a couple days,I had all my stuff sans my soap,my wife uses gel,I tried it with my badger brush.
It worked great actually.
Thru the brush in the trash upon our return,am still pure

You really should have burned it, someone else may find and rescue it

To the OP, first, don't be intimidated by the esoteric nature of this site. We are simply, as far as shaving, living in other time periods. All techniques are proven but the dialogue for perfection goes onward as does the manufacture of the implements of the past, from reproductions, restorations, to wholly original pieces. So, either switch right away to pens or trains or get yourself a NOS Filarmonica and a $10,000 Japanese hone, a Kanayama strop, some MDC....just foolin'......keep looking, asking questions...see what happens. If you are happy doing what you are doing now why change? But if you want to know things like what happens after we die, or about the origins of complex cultures....stick around....it's all here for the taking.

The one thing I've learned from all of this is that every step of this process can be viewed as "in the eye of the beholder." There's no universally accepted way of doing ANYTHING here. No matter how flat the pancake, there's always two sides. Like one said earlier the whole point here is to turn a chore into a hobby. Take the mundane and make it fun. If using canned shaving cream with your straight or DE puts a smile on your face while shaving, I'd say your doing it right. Experiment and find what makes you, and your face, happy. Personally I enjoy making my own soaps in scents that add something to the creams I use. Right now I'm using and almond soap I made with AOS Sandalwood cream. It's a wonderful scent. Does it perform better than the canned stuff? Don't know, don't care. It works great for me and puts a smile on my face. For now, that's all I want. Good luck, and have fun!

I'm not sure if it was the canned stuff or the multi blade razor but I would break out after ever single shave. I switched to a shavette and it helped a lil bit but still some breakouts. about a year ago went to a full on wet shaving routine and never hand the issue again. Now I'm on to full on SR shaving as well.

Moral of the story, the shave soap has saved my face and self esteem. Love the experience and result.