Pre shave oils and soaps

Hi all and Merry Xmas..

As a newbie, I'm still trying to get the pre-shave approach right, to help with that nice glide and would appreciate some feedback on a problem I'm having. Current approach is:

1. Hot towel for a minute
2. Trumpers Sandlewood skinfood for pre rubbing into face (just started doing this, as I wasn't getting any glide and had a bit of pulling)
3. Trumpers Eucris shaving soap, lathered up well in a scuttle and applied to face
4. Trumpers skinfood applied post shave.

The shave is great, gliding over the skin and cutting very nicely. The problem is, that since I've started using the skinfood as a pre shave, the shaving soap is drying out quite quickly, so that by the time I get to the difficult areas (chin), the razor is no longer gliding, even with a fresh lather..

I understand that some use oils rather than the skinfood, so any feedback on getting that nice glide from pre-shave something, that doesn't dry the shaving soap, (or possibly correct something I'd doing wrong) would be much appreciated.

thanks and cheers,
Kev

I use a pre-shave oil, but as a post shave skin conditioner. I use it on my hands also. It's great stuff, but not very effective for me as a pre-shave.

I use a pre-shave oil as well. If your soap is drying up too fast you probably need to add more water and whip the stuff up a bit longer. I started shaving with creams since they were easier for me to get a better lather. You could also try to add a small amount of cream to your soap to get a better lather.
I find that each soap and cream has their own sweet spot. Sometimes it takes time to find just the right amount of water. Try experimenting a little, it will really help.

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Originally Posted by Mvcrash

I use a pre-shave oil as well. If your soap is drying up too fast you probably need to add more water and whip the stuff up a bit longer. I started shaving with creams since they were easier for me to get a better lather. You could also try to add a small amount of cream to your soap to get a better lather.
I find that each soap and cream has their own sweet spot. Sometimes it takes time to find just the right amount of water. Try experimenting a little, it will really help.

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Thanks Mvcrash, I'll try that with the water. My lather I must admit is average and not yet the whipped cream consistency that I'm aiming for. Also, I have some Trumpers creams from a sample pack, I'll experiment with those too. Cheers, Kev

I had some issues w this as well. I've purchased some Kheil pre shave oil and did some serious h2o addition experimenting w the wool fat I've been using and seen better results with the gliding/cutting.

I can't say much since I have been using pre-shave oil since day 1 but something i saw on a video today was to mix the oil with the water in the scuttle and creating your lather with it.

Maybe this could help the dryness?

Just my 2 cents...

Hi
I usually use TOBS pre shave gel which is great. I tried some oils but I found out myself using too much of it every time to get my skin the same as from the TOBS gel.
They (biotherm) said add 2-3 drops of oil - I have to use about 8 to get my skin smooth but it works fine for me as well after.
Comparing these two product I prefer TOBS for sure although it has some really strange scent on skin :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mvcrash

I use a pre-shave oil as well. If your soap is drying up too fast you probably need to add more water and whip the stuff up a bit longer. I started shaving with creams since they were easier for me to get a better lather. You could also try to add a small amount of cream to your soap to get a better lather.
I find that each soap and cream has their own sweet spot. Sometimes it takes time to find just the right amount of water. Try experimenting a little, it will really help.

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Update on this post. Tried adding water and playing with the different consistencies and that did the trick, meaning the lather stays moist now. Also found that the glycerin levels vary greatly dependent on the soap/cream. For instance, I use GF Trumpers Eucris soap, and with that one, only add 2 drops of glycerin (already has some in its base) and a few drops of water, whereas with TOBS sandlewood cream, the same 2 drops of glycerin requires quite a bit more water, to stay moist.

Great tip, thanks Mvcrash..
Kevin

Hi Kev,

I now use Proraso pre-shave cream with mentol which shakes-up the skin in the right way for me. But before that I soak my brush in very hot water and than apply that to the face, just like lathering up. After this hot-cold experience I lather up with Trumper. This works quite fine.

Rgds, MP

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Originally Posted by Powerreserve

Hi Kev,

I now use Proraso pre-shave cream with mentol which shakes-up the skin in the right way for me. But before that I soak my brush in very hot water and than apply that to the face, just like lathering up. After this hot-cold experience I lather up with Trumper. This works quite fine.

Rgds, MP

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Hi MP, I actually have some of the Proraso pre-shave cream and really liked the coolness and menthol, but could not get it to stop drying my lather up too much. Hadn't thought of your method though, with the hot water and brush on. I'll give it a go! thanks, Kev

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!

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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!

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

Attachment 119628













The most important ingredients four pre shaving LANOLIN,GLYCERIN,OLIVE OIL,VASELINE mixed in a shaving cup.

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Originally Posted by Murmle

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

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Thanks Murmie - I've managed to get the water/lather mix working and no longer drying out (most of the time) and found it easier to stick with the one cream for a while (TOBS shaving shop) to knock out some of the variables. I've had less success with combining preshave stuff to get that super glide and also address the tougher chin bristles (though I'm finding a super sharp razor fixes the latter nicely). I tried the Proraso pre-shave cream and also the GF Trumper's skinfood, which I currently only use post shave. Both of these change the mix of water/lather quite substantially, so I put it on the backburner for a while. So thanks for the post and suggestions, it's reminded me to give it another go, now that I've got the mix about right. My own prep includes (like yours), a shower beforehand, soaking of my brush in the scuttle in the meantime and a hot towel for the whiskers, just before I lather up.

thanks again..
cheers,
Kev

Any time i've used olive oil for anything it absolutely destroys my lather. I'd personally stay away from it, but that's just me.