Thread: A shot in the dark

I have tried various pre-shave approaches. Preshave oil didn't do much for me. The approach I use recently with all my SR shaves is a kind of barber-shop prep. I wet my stubble with warm water, apply an almond size glob of Proraso preshave cream (I prefer the white or green), massage it in and then apply a hot facecloth for a few minutes and savour the scent and the heat. Then I wipe off the preshave cream and then face lather with whatever soap I am using that day. Does it make a difference? I think so. If barbers use that approach to prep for a SR shave...then that's good enough for me. Plus I love the scent and the warm facecloth on my skin.

I use Noxema to wash my face before shaving and it serves as a nice pre shave cream. I use Castle Forbes for DE shaving, not all the time, but for SR shaving I found out Noxema works much more better.

Castor Oil and Olive Oil, just a dab, does the trick.

I love a hint of oil on my face while I strop, then some Mitchell's Wool Fat over it. Heaven! Heaven I tell you!

Originally Posted by hrfdez

I use Noxema to wash my face before shaving and it serves as a nice pre shave cream. I use Castle Forbes for DE shaving, not all the time, but for SR shaving I found out Noxema works much more better.

I have used Noxema as well. It is just as effective and is less expensive than Proraso preshave cream.

WhizBang. Is Proraso something which can be bought locally, or is it a special order on line. I like your strategy. For nigh on 40 years I have, at first, used barbasol shaving cream then other squirt cans. In time I graduated to soap and mug. I am currently using menthol "Creamo" and "Pacific", each from a local grocery. I have searched locally for pre-shave and "Somerset Oil" is all I can find and it is not worth a poop! There are a lot of exotics on line, but I have held to local stuff as it tends to fit my pocket better and I don't have to worry about re-ordering.

Originally Posted by Glock27

WhizBang. Is Proraso something which can be bought locally, or is it a special order on line. I like your strategy. For nigh on 40 years I have, at first, used barbasol shaving cream then other squirt cans. In time I graduated to soap and mug. I am currently using menthol "Creamo" and "Pacific", each from a local grocery. I have searched locally for pre-shave and "Somerset Oil" is all I can find and it is not worth a poop! There are a lot of exotics on line, but I have held to local stuff as it tends to fit my pocket better and I don't have to worry about re-ordering.

In Canada we have a national chain of drugstores called Shoppers Drug Mart and they carry the Proraso products. You may just have to shop around. Alternatively, you can use Noxema Classic face cream. Dirt cheap, available just about everywhere and it works exactly the same as Proraso preshave cream. The only difference for me is the scent. Noxema is okay...I take it with me when I travel, but I prefer the lovely scent of Proraso products...especially the green...even though it is a bit more expensive than Noxema.

Whizbang: Thanks for the feedback. I have looked at Noxema but never made the attempt. If I can find a small jar, as all I have noted have been large jars, I shall give it a go. What grade of a towel do you use and how hot do you get it. I remember the towels at the barber shop. I have used a wash cloth and put it on my face, holding it there for 30 seconds before the cloth goes cold. I guess the wrapping of the towel into a big puddle on ones face the heat is contained. Also I shave at convenient moments. Don't know that I have ever shaved after a shower. My beard grows slow. I can go for about 4 days before I absolutely have to shave. When my beard gets longer it seems to cause me comfort disability so I catch it usually on the third day. Again thanks for the reply.

I have used Noxzema for years, but a couple years ago, my wife brought home a tube of Trader Joe’s Honey Mango shave cream with aloe, and I have been using it as a pre-shave ever since.

She saw a guy putting 4 tubes in his cart, so she asked him about it. He said he was buying 2 for himself and 2 for his wife, and they hate to run out.

I use a dime size dollop on a wet face, as I am getting my gear out and stropping a razor, then just later over it. The aloe makes it very slick and lasts the whole 3 pass shave. A large tube is about $5-6 in the store and last me about 6 months. It does not have a strong sent and does not interfere with regular shaving soaps or creams.

My bride uses it on her legs.

Originally Posted by Glock27

Whizbang: Thanks for the feedback. I have looked at Noxema but never made the attempt. If I can find a small jar, as all I have noted have been large jars, I shall give it a go. What grade of a towel do you use and how hot do you get it. I remember the towels at the barber shop. I have used a wash cloth and put it on my face, holding it there for 30 seconds before the cloth goes cold. I guess the wrapping of the towel into a big puddle on ones face the heat is contained. Also I shave at convenient moments. Don't know that I have ever shaved after a shower. My beard grows slow. I can go for about 4 days before I absolutely have to shave. When my beard gets longer it seems to cause me comfort disability so I catch it usually on the third day. Again thanks for the reply.

I bought a small jar of Noxema at Walmart...then when i realized how much I liked it, I bought a larger tub.

You call it a washcloth we call it a face cloth...same thing. I get hot water out of the tap and soak the face cloth and hold that up to my stubble (not over my whole face) and warm up the preshave cream and enjoy the scent and the warmness of the cloth, then I wipe it off and start face lathering. I suppose you could do an initial lather with soap, then do the face cloth routine and then face lather. I just enjoy the Proraso scent!

Euclid440. Thanks for that. The last time I noted a Trader Joes was in Florida a whole bunch of years back. Guess the only option is to order on-line.