Originally Posted by
Obie
Pre-shave is meant to soften the beard further and to provide additional cushion and glide. The product is especially helpful for gentlemen with sensitive skin and tough beard.
Some feel it is waste of money, and some swear by it. To each his own; there is no argument here.
I have an extremely sensitive skin (new dress shirts must be washed five or six times before I can wear them, and wool sweaters is a nightmare on my skin) and find the pre-shave of immense help. Although I use nothing but top line soaps and creams, silvertip or super badger brushes, and spend considerable time preparing my face with luxurious lather, the pre-shave adds just enough cushion for my skin to make the product worth the money.
After testing scores of pre-shave oils through the years, from Caswell-Massey to The Art of Shaving and Truefitt & Hill, all have disappointed — they muck up everything, especially the brush. Products drowning in eucalyptus, such as Proraso, give me a headache and interfere with the soap's or cream's fragrance. Nor do I like the numbing effect the products give the skin.
My pre-shave of choice is Castle Forbes, a water soluble product that is perfect for me. The product is pricey, yes, but to me worth every penny. Also, living in Wisconsin, I find the pre-shave especially helpful in winter. Either way, Castle Forbes pre-shave is my friend.
Oh, it takes more than one shave to appreciate the pre-shave's value. As a gentleman traditional shaver, do you need a pre-shave? I don't have the answer to that; give it a try and find out for yourself.