Thread: Pre shave oils and soaps

Hi KCC088,
I had a similar problem with my soap drying out. But what really got me was the nicks and razor burn because of it. I did some research and decided to try pre shave oil. Instead of spending a lot of money on a pre packaged one, I made my own and it has proven to be a tremendous help. I mix about 30% castor oil with 70% grapeseed oil and then a few drops of essential oils for fragrance. It's cheap and extremely effective. The nicks are now minimal and razorburn completely gone. The soap now does not dry out at all. In fact, I have to be careful about how much oil is applied before lathering. Just the tiniest bit is enough.

Hope this helps.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by CraigC

Hi KCC088,
I had a similar problem with my soap drying out. But what really got me was the nicks and razor burn because of it. I did some research and decided to try pre shave oil. Instead of spending a lot of money on a pre packaged one, I made my own and it has proven to be a tremendous help. I mix about 30% castor oil with 70% grapeseed oil and then a few drops of essential oils for fragrance. It's cheap and extremely effective. The nicks are now minimal and razorburn completely gone. The soap now does not dry out at all. In fact, I have to be careful about how much oil is applied before lathering. Just the tiniest bit is enough.

Hope this helps.

Good luck!

Thanks Craig - that sounds like it's worth a try, especially in that I also get some razor burn on my neck b/w jaw line and adams apple, and I suspect it's from the dry soap as you've found.

cheers,
Kevin

I've just started trying a pre-shave oil myself, and currently I am testing Dreadnaught oil. Can't say it's made a huge difference as of yet, but I don't see any negative impact on my lather.

Steve

Originally Posted by mikeadams

I've just started trying a pre-shave oil myself, and currently I am testing Dreadnaught oil. Can't say it's made a huge difference as of yet, but I don't see any negative impact on my lather.

Steve

Hi Steve - by any chance have you found the pre-shave oil helps soften (or at least make easier to cut), those hard bristle areas? (another minor issue I'm working on..)

thanks,
Kev

I use liquid vitamin E, it's a tad thick so after applacation, a small splash of water does the ticket for me. Skin feels great afterwards, less burn, fewer nicks. Lather stays wet, but this also depends on the soap IMO. As to making tough wiskers softer? Not much in my case. Still a better overall shave

notshaveready

I'm a newbie but I started with gelette sensitive skin shave gel. It was good but not good enough. So I started with a neivea preshave (energy and condition), hot towel n then shave. it is working great. I bought the walmart brand of soap cake with 40%aloe and 30 shea butter. I can't wait to see how that goes. I've got really thick coarse facial hair and sensitive skin. Even as I am a begginer I've yet to get razor burn. I do have pinaud (pink) but I haven't found out how to lather it

I've found using pre-shave oils/creams do help on my sensitive skin. I'd recommend the oil from the Village barber, great stuff. Also the pre-shave cream by Proraso and the pre/post cream by Santa Maria Novella.

Originally Posted by KCC088

Hi Steve - by any chance have you found the pre-shave oil helps soften (or at least make easier to cut), those hard bristle areas? (another minor issue I'm working on..)

thanks,
Kev

I have a pretty tough beard and found over the years the fastest way to soften it was a hot shower. While in the shower I use a shampoo/conditioner. I make sure I rub it into my beard as I rinse off. I then rub Stephan's Stay Soft shaving cream well into my whiskers. Once out of the shower I use a pre shave oil of my own making. It serves two purposes: Helps with the shave and keeps my skin from drying out in the winter.

The best way to soften a tough beard is a steam room, but I don't have one in my house.

Hey Kev,

For myself, the oil does not soften the whiskers. Of course, it does help the blade glide on the skin, which makes the shave easier.

Steve

Hey Kev,
I am a newb to this and was having a very similar issue in that my lather would dry out as I was shaving and ended up getting sticky which would cause a suction like effect on the razor. the recommendation of making sure the water mix was right combined with some preshave oil that SirStropalot helped me out with, has made the whole problem disappear and my shaves are getting progressively better as time goes on. I also subscribe to the hot shower and conditioner for the beard right before as well. (this also gives me time to soak my brush for a while) the conditioner really seems to help soften the really wiry whiskers.

Murmle