Thread: 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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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