Thread: vaseline in your shaving cream

I am new to straights so please forgive me if the answer to this is obvious, I read somewhere on this forum that someone mixes some Vaseline with their shaving cream, just wondered why? And am unsure where I found the original thread. Thanks for your help.

I haven't heard that, but it's funny you should being vaseline up. My barber who shaves my head with a shavette uses it for his second pass. He rubs a really thin layer on, and by the time he's done, it's all gone. Then some talc and I'm feeling brand new. Never tried it on my face though.

Do you maybe mean glycerine? A shaving soap, shaving cream and glycerine mixed together is known as an Überlather. Some soaps, by themselves, in mine and probably others' experience, leave a little to be desired. However, a mix can really make an excellent resulting formula.

I normally put some cream in my bowl as it sits in the hot water in the sink, then put a little bit of glycerine in the bowl, then load the brush with soap and make the mix from there. Glycerine helps with the taking up of water, sort of 'oomphes' up the lather and I think also adds to the glide.

Of course Vaseline may work too, esp if you got it hot so it melted. Again, I think if one did use Vaseline it would be the glide that one would be improving.

When I first started shaving with a straight I always used Proraso pre-post shave cream. That cream in itself really helps with the glide...

There's a video about making an Überlather in the Wiki (library) here

Will try and find the post, am pretty sure it said Vaseline, but did only get about 2 hours sleep last night.

Post was from corgi, definately said Vaseline, I sent him a message and asked what it is for.. will post answer. Unless it is a secret

Haven't had a reply yet, so thought I would give it a go. I put a a teaspoon of Vaseline in my lather bowl and left it to warm up (i put about 2 mugs of boiling water in another bowl and sit the lather bowl in it) while I had my shower, I mixed some shave cream and glycerin with it and lathered up, was a reasonable shave (only my third with straight) but not remarkably better. However I had a fairly greasy face and now have a greasy brush, fortunately it is only a cheapy, will wait to see if corgi gets back to me before I do it again.

I was a little confused by the idea myself, I would be rather hesitent to use anything that is not water soluble with my brushes... A cleaning in the shower with shampoo should get your brush clean again..

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I was a little confused by the idea myself, I would be rather hesitent to use anything that is not water soluble with my brushes... A cleaning in the shower with shampoo should get your brush clean again..

Thnks glen, even if it doesn't wash out I have a spare brush with me and a new one on the way from the bay. But none the less of the two brushes I currently have I experimented with my favourite..... Lesson learned:-)

Hmmm, trying things yourself with shaving is always the way to go, but it's also important to consider the well trod path. Have you tried glycerine yet? You should try glycerine. Give glycerine a go. I think glycerine is what you're after....




Glycerine...

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

Hmmm, trying things yourself with shaving is always the way to go, but it's also important to consider the well trod path. Have you tried glycerine yet? You should try glycerine. Give glycerine a go. I think glycerine is what you're after....




Glycerine...

Hi there, if you succeed you are a pioneer, if you fail you save someone else the pain of failure (or your just a looser)
Yes, I have tried glycerin, and glycerin did work, my first SR shave- cream only, no glycerin or anything else. Second SR shave cream and glycerin, pre shave oil, witch hazel and aftershave balm. Third SR shave as second but no oil pre shave and Vaseline and glycerin added to cream. So yes I definately am doing the whole glycerin thing, I haven't had a chance to get the prosario pre shave yet, got to keep my new thing I am doing AD somewhat in check :-) glycerin, glycerin, glycerin. There I beat you on "glycerins". but just for good measure glycerin :-)
On a serious note thanks for the various advice, it has been really useful,