Thread: remove oil before you shave?

Hi,

I was wondering if you blotted the oil off before lathering. I read in some forums that this helped reduce the slickness of the skin, which could otherwise interfere with stretching. Any thoughts?

Hello, Drawkward:

I am not quite sure what you mean. I assume you are speaking of removing pre-shave oil before lathering.

I use a pre-shave, though not an oil. I apply it over my wet face, massage it in, and then lather. I have used oil occasionally in the past and lathered over it as usual. You should use a tiny bit. Stretching has not been a problem.

Regards,
Obie

+1 on what my SRP friend Obie says. You only need a little pre-shave oil, massaged into your beard, to soften it. There's no need to slather it all over your face. Personally, I would just apply it to areas of my beard that are especially heavy.

IMHO the main precaution would be to make sure that you wash the oil off your fingers/hands before shaving so you can get a sure grip for stretching the skin.

Just my 2 cents.

For my skin I have found that pre-shave oils are a pointless exercise. They don't add to the slippiness of my blade - they add a sticky barrier on my face.

I really can't identify a single aspect of my shave that was improved by adding pre-shave oil. It sits on my skin and makes my razor feel sticky on my skin. It doesn't help my str8 razor slide at all. It makes it feel like it is stuck in goop.

For me, oil is not the answer. Good luck to those who enjoy it, but this is one product I will not be using again.

YMMV (and I hope it will)

Ian

The benefit of using pre-shave oil for me is slight, and only noticeable after a few days of not using it. I shave every morning. If I don't use the oil - just a tiny bit - then I start to get a little bit of burn by the 3rd day or so. I have very sensitive skin.

I use enough so that I can massage into the beard without running out of it. I don't use enough to really even see it anymore when I'm done applying. my face doesn't even look oily - just a bit shinier in certain areas. No visible line between oiled vs. dry, for instance.

after trying the aos preshave oil once.. i have to say.. preshave oil just isn't my thing.. it felt really disgusting.. although i prefer the lather of a cream.. i use soap most of the time for the feeling i get of it cleansing my face while shaving..

i also don't mean to go off topic.. but.. how does one use bayrum as a preshave?

So I started using two-three drops, which seemed like it would be too little, but found that it was just the right amount to get the benefits without having my skin too slick.

Now, to start making my own formulations...

I don't use a pre shave oil, so I couldn't say.

All I do is wash my face with warm water & a squirt of Kiehl's Facial Fuel Gel wash.

I then face lather with MWF & a Chubby-1 in Super & start shaving.

If you do it right it's designed to stay on the face during shaving. Of course too much of anything even cookies and ice-cream is no good for you.

I've tried the stuff but it didn't do anything for me.

Isn't that what the oils and emolients (sp) in the shave soap supposed to do??