Thread: How Sweet the Pre-Shave

Gentlemen:

About two weeks ago I ran out of pre-shave. This morning I promised myself to never again.

My preferred pre-shave is Castle Forbes. All the others I have used come nowhere near what, to me, is the celestial pre-shave.

In the days that followed, whether I used a straight or a DE, a soap or a cream, my face felt a bit raw during the shave, and windblown for much of the day. I rotate a treasure of topnotch soaps and creams, lathered with superb brushes. So it wasn't that. I hone my straights into a silky edge. It wasn't that either. Nor was the problem with my DE razors and blades, all top of the line.

I could not figure out what was happening. Never stopping to think that I had not been using my celestial pre-shave. A few days ago finally reality dawned on me. Somehow that had slipped my mind — a long senior moment, you know?

I had used pre-shave for years, although sometimes questioning the merit of it. There have been many threads on the effectiveness of pre-shaves. Nothing has been conclusive, with opinions varying from one end of the spectrum to the other. Like just about anything else in traditional shaving, personal preference dictates the use of pre-shaves and their effectiveness.

After realizing my sin, I ordered a bottle of Castle Forbes. It arrived yesterday. I used it today — along with Penhaligon's blenheim bouquet cream, a 24 mm. Shavemac silvertip and a Carl Schlieper 6/8 stropped on a Neil Miller 2.5 shell cordovan strop. Oh yes. I am convinced that there had been a good reason for using pre-shave all these years. Today life is sweet with my face feeling Hollywood.

So how convinced am I about using a quality pre-shave? Convinced. Completely. It works for me. I have an extremely sensitive skin and a tough Assyrian beard. Lynn says I have tree trunks for a beard — and how right my good friend is. And much as I will never be without an alum bloc, the possibility of ever being without Castle Forbes pre-shave just went down to zero.

And you, gentlemen? Any thoughts on your use of a good pre-shave?

I've tried a few and found the difference minimal at best. I have NOT used Castle and Forbes. What is in it? The oils seem counter productive to me in that adding oil to your face keeps water away. And if the idea of wet shaving is the water.....well, you get my logic. Trumpers Skin Food never seemed to do much either. Just another layer of wetness that I get from the tap at much more agreeable price. Musgo Real Lime soap was the best thus far. It added a little extra glide but not enough for me to continue buying it. The best pre-shave has simply been exceptional beard prep by working my lather onto my face very thoroughly. I'll use up the Musgo I have but I don't see myself buying more.

Well, Obie first I'm sorry to hear your face feels Hollywood. That's so second rate. When it feels Broadway then you will have attained the ultimate state of nirvana.

Cousin Festus agrees wholeheartedly with you about the need for a great preshave and he being very particular about what goes on his face only uses the best natural ingredients. He wanted me to tell you, for the most luxurious pre-shave here is what you do.

First you drain the oil out of your crankcase and filter it with 5 layers of cheesecloth. Then you go out back in the forest and collect some of those large toadstools you see and grind them up real fine. Then sneak over to the Beaver pond and while they are out you get into their lodge and retrieve some beaver slobber.Then you carefully get that beehive and get some of that royal jelly out.Then you save some of your beard clippings (you know hair of the dog thing). Then a few drops of battery acid (not too much now). Then mix all that up and boil for 15 minutes. Then add a pint of moonshine and you can collect some local herbs to dial in the scent.

Now you have the best pre-shave this side of the four corners.

Next month when you report back you will be proud to say you have a Broadway face.

My friend, just the thought of blending your pre-shave concoction is already working to prep my face. By tomorrow morning I'll be singing "Happy Days Are Here Again" in the shave den.

Obie,
You and I both have tough mesopotamian beards, although yours is of a more ancient lineage. I also see the merit in pre-shave. I use proraso and certainly helps the blade glide more easily.

Originally Posted by Badgister

Obie,
You and I both have tough mesopotamian beards, although yours is of a more ancient lineage. I also see the merit in pre-shave. I use proraso and certainly helps the blade glide more easily.

Yes, Proraso is also good stuff. I don't like the oil pre-shaves. Proraso is a cream. Castle Forbes, my favorite, is a light cream that is water soluble.
By the way, what is your heritage? I am full-blooded Assyrian. My avatar is the image of the ancient Assyrian god Ashur (Alaha Ashur).

Obie,
I am Iraqi, from Baghdad.

Originally Posted by Badgister

Obie,
I am Iraqi, from Baghdad.

Small world, my friend. I was born in Baghdad, but lived into my early teens in Iran. The ancient Assyrian empire was located in the present day Iraq, with the Assyrian capitol, Nineveh, located in the area of present day Mosul in the north. I was named after the great Assyrian king Ashur-Ubalit I (1363-1328 B.C.). My Assyrian ancestors certainly could have used a touch of Castle Forbes pre-shave and a good obsidian knife for a razor.