Thread: Canola Conflict

Okay. I never wanted to use pre-shave oils. I don't like overly elaborate rituals, for me it's more about the shave, an interesting and close shave. I have keratosis pilarus, which mostly effects my body skin but it's obvious that this skin condition, along with natural imperfections (permanent) which may or may not be attributable to chickenpox from the age of 15, leads to a difficult terrain to shave with any kind of razor.

I typically use a lather on the beard for around 10 minutes as a pre-shave softener. After a shower I don't bother, just lather and shave. My finishing hone is a Spyderco Ultra-Fine and it gets the blades screaming sharp. So sharp it can effortlessly cut the tippy tops of my raised follicles (bumps), no pain, just like a fresh DE blade.

I'd been shaving off blades finished with the Spyderco UF, which is usually estimated at around 12,000 grit. Whatever, microscope pics are very clean compared to many other hones in the same grit range. No chromium oxide pasted strops for me during this time to more accurately evaluate my honing. I've finally begun to use the chromium oxide again and it is very sharp, much like my finisher. The only tallow-based soap I have is Williams, which isn't good for the cushion, unlike many traditional tallow soaps. I don't have much money and I'm not about to buy yet another soap.

I'd read a bit here and there on pre-shave oils, it works for some and not for others. The first 1-3 shaves (usually 1-2) with my fresh edges leave a pink bloom, not real razor burn but it may show up as pseudo-folliculitis barbae, or razor bumps. I just find myself being very careful for the first few shaves, they are a little on the rough side. Maybe my stropping needs improvement (like do more of them) but they're still really really sharp. It's really the sharpness.

The last time I refreshed an edge with chromium, which was the second time in over a year and a half, for the first shave I decided to use the simplest home-made pre-shave oil: kitchen food-grade oil. Canola. I did the full beard-prep with lather, hydrating to suitable softness. Then dried face and hands well, dabs of oil and spread around to fully cover. Slapped on the lather again, some collapsing/gunkiness but to be expected as it runs into the plain oil, which was a very light sheen, not a "layer" on the skin, just as I'd seen described on the forums. No perceived difference in glide of the razor, my shaves are usually quite painless anyway...

No irritation, no pink bloom, typical sting from alcohol-based aftershave but not the level typical of a fresh edge. Success. No next-day bumpiness or irritation. It worked.

I hate using stupid vegetable oil before my quality shaving gear. What a cheap trick. But it worked very well. I'll try it again, that's for sure. I'll probably only need it for the first, harsher shaves. It wasn't messy or anything, just another drying and applying and washing afterwards, as if I don't have enough washing sessions during pre-during-post shave.

I hope this counts as rock bottom. I just don't know if I can deal with this pogonometry "sport" progressing any further. Please: pray for me.

Well, I pray that you don't end up with clogged pores and teenage-esque acne from the use of cooking oil, as I'm sure that would happen to me. But hey, if it works then what the hell...

You.. you.. you Canadians.. the great con. You... you put your rape seed into my mouth, now it's infused inside all my cells. That's what Canola is! No wonder they came up with a name change. Why, it practically sells itself! I think we both know who isn't the boss of who, Ryan82. I'm due for another shipment from Canada.. I'm aching for my achenes, man. I have to be all str8 on it, ya know? Be mindful to fully grind it up in the blender before I put it into my body. It may not be as digestible as an oil extract. The hard shards of evil seed can rip through your intestines, leaving certain sensitive regions irritated and raw, not unlike razor burn... Ohhhhh... Canada.. how you've graced my body. Kalerolf, are you out there? Are you listening?

Seriously I found an affordable source for sterilized hemp seeds many years ago (Canadian) and it is a really solid food. I literally have to dance around the strong, mineral-rich taste profile. It's difficult.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Well, I pray that you don't end up with clogged pores and teenage-esque acne from the use of cooking oil, as I'm sure that would happen to me. But hey, if it works then what the hell...

Well, it's been a few days and I used a DE yesterday. No problems with acne/clogging. But only did this once. How are the rapeseed crops doing up der, eh? I also love that it's LEAR (low-erucic acid rapeseed). Nothing like a learing rapeseed oil to put into your body or slather all over yourself. Thank you for the caution, we can overlook adequately washing the face with all the soap we're putting on but part of the pre-shave oil thing is to keep a functional, residual amount on the skin for the entire shave and then get it off. I don't seem to have suffered but the issue remains and we must be diligent to take care of new alterations to the shaving routine. I wouldn't want to become dependent on pre-shave oils, it worked well for a new edge. I'll pursue developing a better lather with my soaps/creams (enough water for slickness but not diluted too much to reduce cushion/protection).

That was my concern Ryan, the clogged pores. But if AxelH makes sure he washes and rinses his face well after the shave and use an astringent, I think he'll be fine. And yes, if it works, go for it!

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Well, I pray that you don't end up with clogged pores and teenage-esque acne from the use of cooking oil, as I'm sure that would happen to me. But hey, if it works then what the hell...

Originally Posted by AxelH

You.. you.. you Canadians.. the great con. You... you put your rape seed into my mouth, now it's infused inside all my cells. That's what Canola is! No wonder they came up with a name change. Why, it practically sells itself! I think we both know who isn't the boss of who, Ryan82. I'm due for another shipment from Canada.. I'm aching for my achenes, man. I have to be all str8 on it, ya know? Be mindful to fully grind it up in the blender before I put it into my body. It may not be as digestible as an oil extract. The hard shards of evil seed can rip through your intestines, leaving certain sensitive regions irritated and raw, not unlike razor burn... Ohhhhh... Canada.. how you've graced my body.

Oh dear, I don't even know what to say to that..... :W

I might be throwing gasoline on the fire, Canola is also a biodiesel, it's Canadian oil.
The name "canola" was derived from "Canadian oil, low acid" in 1978.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Oh dear, I don't even know what to say to that..... :W

Originally Posted by pmburk

I might be throwing gasoline on the fire, Canola is also a biodiesel, it's Canadian oil.
The name "canola" was derived from "Canadian oil, low acid" in 1978.

I guess I shouldn't mention that if you drive a couple hours south of my home you'll run into yellow fields of canola as far as the eye can see, and it has a very distinct smell too....

(Damn, I guess i DID mention it afterall )

No irritation, no pink bloom, typical sting from alcohol-based aftershave but not the level typical of a fresh edge. Success. No next-day bumpiness or irritation. It worked.

With that result, I'd ignore the low price! Just tell the rest of your gear it'll have to accept the insult.

If you want something more expensive, try almond oil. It costs several times as much as canola, and probably works just as well.<g> But it's still "food-priced", not "cosmetic-priced".

Charles

No offense to you Canadians or Canada, I always thought canola came from corn as another form of corn oil.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

I guess I shouldn't mention that if you drive a couple hours south of my home you'll run into yellow fields of canola as far as the eye can see, and it has a very distinct smell too....

(Damn, I guess i DID mention it afterall )