Thread: Baby oil for pre shave

I once knew a guy who went door to door selling natural plant oils. He was a Jojoba's Witness.

when I saw shea butter mentioned I had to chime in. I use suave skin therapy moistureizer with coco butter (I might try the one with shea butter when this bottle runs out) which I put on pre shower then keep it there till the end of the shower when I use a combination shampoo/conditioner hair and body wash on every thing above the neck. so in two easy steps I have moistureized, oiled, conditioned, and cleansed my face before shaveing, and of course washed my hair too. I kinda figgured cutting down steps this way was a way to make sure I was trying to improve the process instead of just extending it.

So, if I've got this right, the benefit of pre-shave oil is softer whiskers and softer skin and this reduces irritation during shaving. So, the oil then makes it easier to cut the whisker and improves the glide over the skin producing a more comfortable shave?

Hmmmm. Water is what soaks the whiskers and opens up the little tee-pee cuticles of the hair, and soap must breaks surface tension, which allows for better penetration of the water. A good wash with hot water, maybe a hot wet towel, and some good lather should really be all that needs for the shave. Lather in itself, the stuff we buy for shaving, has a natural lubrication to it. Mine I get at Wal-Mart the $1.59 stuff has Shea Butter in it's formula along with Aloe Vera.

I use baby oil as a pre-shave and find that it works quite well. I did try a sample of the AOS pre shave as well and found the scent to be much more pleasing to the senses, but it was also quite a bit more money for quite a bit less product.

I don't really know anything about surface tension, water penetration and face lubrication but to tell the truth I don't think I need to know. as long as I know I get a better shave thats enough knowledge to keep me happy.

I will try the baby oil.

SkinnyChef, thanks for the info on "oil science". I use a mixture of shea butter-sunflower oil-grapeseed oil as a preshave and for dry skin. It's much better than mineral oils, which are made from petroleum, and we all know what happens when you drink mineral oil. LOL

Why do most barbers I see always recommend using about a dime or nickel size amount of oil? I thought that all you need was a couple drops?

Originally Posted by JandR

SkinnyChef, thanks for the info on "oil science". I use a mixture of shea butter-sunflower oil-grapeseed oil as a preshave and for dry skin. It's much better than mineral oils, which are made from petroleum, and we all know what happens when you drink mineral oil. LOL

You are very welcome. Just trying to do my part. Might I add that grapeseed oil is one of the best oils there is for your overall health. And there is recent scientific evidence that duck fat, of all things, is very similar to extra-virgin olive oil in its health impact, despite being an animal fat. I may try to find a way to incorporate this into my shave routine (you know what they say about water off of a duck's back...LOL).

Joe