Thread: Shaving cream from a can-Why not?

I am a total newbie so please no name calling. I have never shaved with a straight razor but I admit I am a bit intrigued by the idea. What is the benefit of using the various lathers and soaps brushed on as opposed to the canned foam I use with my Trac II? Not trying offend anyone, just wondering. I actually use the gel stuff that turns to foam.

DO NOT CHALLENGE THE WET-SHAVE ORTHODOXY!

Just kidding For my part, I've never looked into the contents label of canned foam, so I don't have strong opinions about chemicals etc. in there. My dad raised me on a mug & brush (Williams soap), and while I used canned foam for convenience as a young adult, I gravitated back to real lather pretty quickly because I just missed it: the stuff just feels so good, it's worth the bit of extra effort. This is years before I put down the Mach # in favor of the straight razor or double-edged.

Whipping up your own lather is part of the ritual. I've tried canned stuff before and remember it being .... a little sticky; the DIY soap seems slicker. YMMV. Where making your own really stands out is the huge variety of scents available. Again not a piratical aspect but sensual part of the ritual. You could wipe some goo out of a can onto your face or massage your skin with a sweet smelling lather on a nice soft brush.

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!

Conventional/orthodox wet shaving thought is that canned foam/gel is inferior to a good shave soap lather made with a brush. It does not give a good enough glide and cushion.

There is only one way to find out and that is try it both ways to see which works best for you. I couldn't tell you because I have not used canned foam/gel in almost 30 years. Canned foam/gel may work with a straight for all I know but I do know a good lather from a shave soap works just fine for me with a straight or DE and even a twin blade cart razor.

Originally Posted by grover

What is the benefit of using the various lathers and soaps brushed on as opposed to the canned foam I use with my Trac II? Not trying offend anyone, just wondering. I actually use the gel stuff that turns to foam.

The semantics tell all. It is foam in a can but we make lather with soap & a brush. Very different consistency. One has glide & a consistency that 'cushions' the blade whilst the other is just... foam.....a bunch of air bubbles.

As it is said above, the best way is to try it yourself and see if there's a difference for you.
I can only speak for myself and personal experience with it.

When I went to the store to buy a razor, I told the owner that I looked forward to straight shaving because I always had very dry skin after shaving. The first thing they asked me was what I used as shaving soap/cream, at that time I used the Nivea Sensitive shaving cream. They told me that could be a consequence of the canned foam and I would make a big differenc using a soap. I bought everything, including Proraso soap and I have to say it made a big difference. The first weeks I still shaved with the casette razor but my skin was not so dry after the shave.

That's my experience with canned foam and real shaving soap.
So for me, personally, there is a big difference.

The canned stuff is made of butane and air,pick your poison

Wow! Great replies and quick too. I was afraid I might be attacked for talking such blasphemy.

Originally Posted by grover

Wow! Great replies and quick too. I was afraid I might be attacked for talking such blasphemy.

We're just gathering wood for the stake.