Prepping with conditioner

[pbsd]

Has anyone tried using conditioner to soften up your beard in the shower before your shave? I figure it softens up head hair why wouldn't it work for your beard?

Anyway, just putting it out there.

[DerekB]

Barber I use for head shaves uses conditioner, he says it works fine.

[pbsd]

yea I thought so. Just curious...After you prep in the shower do you need to use a hot towel again prior to shaving?
As of right now I strop, get all materials out, put razor in warm water so when I step out of the shower I am ready to make the lather and start shaving. I tried making lather prior to showering but it kind of deteriorates by the time i'm ready to shave. Still not sure if I should towel off first or just rush over to the sink and go at it.

[DerekB]

I've found the hot shower does the trick and don't use a hot towel, if I shave during the day I use a hit towel instead.

Hot shower
Brush in hot water and lather dish in hot water, while showering.
Dry off
Lather and apply
Strop
Shave, usually 2 or 3 pass

Generally a lot quicker with DE but I've started using straight razor, that takes me some time so I use a hot towel between passes.

[RazorFang]

Just my 2 cents, I have very irritable skin, and due to the grain of my beard growing in every direction, to get a close enough shave to be presentable at the workplace I try to shave against the majority of the grain. Because of this, I found that replacing shaving creams/gels/foams with conditioner the stubble stays softer for longer, so by the time my facial pores shrink and cool down, the hair isnt that sharp to cause irritation. I can even skip a day or two, because its that close.

And here is something that might sound strange, but my mother told me when she was young, before conditioners were invented, they used diluted fabric softener as conditioner...so I gave it a shot...closest shave ever, but the fragrances irritated my skin and gave me sinusitis for a week.

Regards

[pbsd]

Interesting I never thought of making the lather in the shower but it makes sense. Never thought of using a hot towel in during the shave. I will try that before my third pass. Also ever strop again mid shave? Bad for razor?

[pbsd]

I was thinking of just using conditioner for a preshave. Using it instead of lather is an interesting idea.

[Hollywood67]

I must say, the conditioner idea is something I have heard and tried before while using a cartridge razor. I have no idea the effects with a straight razor as I have yet to even do a straight razor shave myself yet. When I was in school in Michigan, the air was so dry that no matter what i did with the cartridge razor I would get razor burn. Someone there told me try with conditioner IN the shower. So I did, it worked lovely. I used only the conditioner when shaving in the shower, no cream, and I was extremely surprised with the results, very close, no irritation/burn, great stuff. I wouldn't use it as my "shaving cream" out of the shower though.

[pbsd]

Rub it on your face during the shower then use cream during the shave. Let me know what you think.

[Raulski]

Ill give it a try. Seems so simple. Almost embarrassed I didn't do it before I read this thread.