Thread: Don't Be In Such a Hurry!

Having read positive reviews of the Art of Shaving products, I jumped at the chance to get two AOS kits (Unscented and Sandalwood) containing pre-shave oil, shaving cream, aftershave balm, and a badger brush at significantly discounted prices.

My first use of the AOS set found both the cream and balm to be outstanding, but I was a little less excited about the oil. I felt like it caused my straight razor to feel a bit sticky. So, I tried omitting the oil and used only the cream for my next shave. It was not a great experience. The cream looked beautiful but it lacked slickness and the shave turned out to be mediocre. It seemed that the cream really needed the oil to be effective. YMMV. How disappointing. I went back to my trusty Proraso/Bigelow creams.

Today, I decided to try the AOS Sandalwood products again. After showering, I carefully rinsed my face with hot water and applied the oil. The first time I used the oil, I applied it, immediately brushed on the cream, and started shaving. This time, I let it soak into my beard while I whipped the shaving cream and stroped my razor. Lo and behold, the shave was fantastic. It was equal to my Proraso/Bigelow in every way. By allowing time for the oil to soak in, the shaving cream seemed to be much more effective. My experience tells me that the AOS oil/cream/balm needs to be thought of as a package product. The AOS shaving cream seems to be specifically designed for use with the AOS pre-shave oil. IMO, the shave is better when both the AOS oil and the AOS shaving cream are utilized together. I just needed to slow down and give the oil time to soak into my beard. Afterwards, I applied the AOS balm, a fantastic product that I find to be equal to the T&H and Trumper shaving balms I have tried.

For me, the jury is still out on using shaving oils. I think I prefer using soaps or creams that don't require oil in order to be effective. That said, the AOS set does offer a fine alternative choice to my other shaving products. My final assessment is that AOS has produced a really effective, high quality product.

Happy Shaving!