Thread: Understanding Pre-Shave Oil

Every once in a blue moon will I use my AOS sandalwood oil for shaving, but mostly I use it like a cologne. . It smells great if you can stand to keep a little oil on ur skin but people have been doing it for thousands of years so why not. Not to mention its cheaper than the actual cologne they sell.

the only preshave oil that i have is "the bluebeard revenge".( i have modified it with 31 erbs oil)
After several attempts, the best way for me is to apply it on face damp( not wet) 5 min. before shave.
infact i do a shower, apply preshave oil , prepare razor and soap and then shave

I am currently using Noxema for my first pass, thanks to Obie. I use oil for the second and third pass. While I am still trying to balance the amount I use, I get varying results. Four days ago, I had a great shave. Two days ago, ended with a lot of irritation. There are, of course, many external variables that could have lead to this, but I will keep trying the oil til I get definitive results.

I have been using pre-shave oils since I started DE shaving. Recently I got a bar of clear glycerin soap. I have used this a few times as my "pre-shave". I will get it worked into my face/beard then rinse good before lathering up. Only used it about 4-5 times so far but I have had good luck.

I bought the soap before I saw the threads about Noxzema and I want to give it a fair shot before I spend more money on something else. I am TRYING to spend wisely

I don't know which way is "better" but I do notice the difference when I don't do something before lathering.

I still don't understand pre-shave oil, must be something like Dark Matter.

Originally Posted by WW243

I still don't understand pre-shave oil, must be something like Dark Matter.

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.

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.

Interesting, great perspective.

I've also tried various shave oils and not liked any of them for the reason's you state.

I really like the Green and White Proraso pre-shave, but won't use them due to the both overwhelming whatever nice soap/cream I've chosen. For me, the Proraso literally negates the very reason for buying a scented soap, which is a large part of my attraction to wet-shaving.

Since I cold water shave, the pre-shave would be a great addition for me, but have never been able to find one that fit the parameters, thanks to your post, I now have something to try.

I've tried a half dozen of these products with mixed results coming from each.
I used to use the Proraso Green & White pre-shave when I used a DE more frequently. I later found that if I worked up a quick, watery lather and put this on my face as a pre-shave it worked just as well.

More recently with my straights I have been using the T&H oil. I don't find a lot of benefit in using this as a pre-shave, but if I use a few drops just prior to my touch up pass it works very well.
It adds slickness and lowers skin irritation. The smell is nice and my skin does well with a little extra oil post-shave.

Originally Posted by thomasaaron

There is a glaring lack of people swearing by Pre- Shave oils so far.

I was thinking the same thing

It's not a glaring lack if many shavers find no need or use of them. It is not written in stone on a mountain side that pre shave anything must be used.

I am a user of inexpensive pre shave product, either a squirt of Kiss My Face, Aveeno Shaving Gel for Sensitive Skin or a dab of Cremo and work my lather of the day over that and I get a well cushioned face that lets the razor glide effortlessly over.

I sometimes wish I had a face that could take the rigors of non cushioned shaving, but them I'd look like a freshly skinned animal.