Thread: preshave oil fouling brush

I have used pre shave oil and dont like it. If your beard is not well hydrated before you put it on, it will actually coat the whiskers with oil and prevent the water from softening and swelling the whiskers. I have used AOS water based and Proraso which is water based also, although I dont use a pre shave anymore(dont need it). It served its purpose for a while but now its just something that doesnt bring anything to the shave for me anyhow. The brush can definitely get fouled if you get alot on it. Im sure the lather will break it down though. And who needs slippery hands?

your skin is porous it by definition soaks up oil. glycerin soap also by definition breaks down oil and traps it so it should wash off the brush.

Thought I would contribute to this thread with my experience.

I have been using shaving oil (sometimes pure jojoba oil and other times Somersets) for over a month now. I find the shave quality, comfort and post shave are all improved.

There has been no ill effect on my badger or boar brushes. The brushes don't feel gummy at all and I think this is because the large amount of lather that sits in the knot disolves the oil so it doesn't leave a residue on the brush. I have also noticed the more I work the brush on my face, the less I feel the effects of the oil, which again indicates that the lather is emulsifying the oil.

Originally Posted by tunamanb52

I bought some expensive preshave oil, then read that the oil will get on the brush and cant be removed. what is a good way to use up the oil?

One of the first things I learned when I started "retro shaving" was to simplify matters as much as possible. For me that meant eliminating pre-shave oils and other preparations. My face is so much healthier since I ditched the Fusions, Mach IIIs, goo, and gel, that I find it unnecessary to complicate the shaving process.

Try cleaning your brush with OxiClean. That was the only soap that was able to eliminate the stench of my horsehair brush.

I'm using a Lab Series shave oil I got at Dillards and put on a few drops after a shower and my hands rinse clear quickly, so maybe you're using too much. I think it helps but after reading this may go to glycerin when the oil runs out... Where do you get glycerin?

Originally Posted by RVShave

I'm using a Lab Series shave oil I got at Dillards and put on a few drops after a shower and my hands rinse clear quickly, so maybe you're using too much. I think it helps but after reading this may go to glycerin when the oil runs out... Where do you get glycerin?

If you have a WalMart nearby, you can get a 4 oz bottle of glycerin for around $4. It's located with the foot care products.

I feel that pre-shave oils leave a residue on my brush, which is surprising when there is still plenty of left over lather.
A few drops of liquid castile soap worked into a lather with the brush on the palm of my hand - and it rinses clean.

I'm firmly in the don't-care-for-oils camp, but when I was experimenting with them I never noticed any ill effects, provided I didn't use too much. If I did, a good wash w/ castile soap cleaned the brush right up.

For me, lathering is a continuation of beard prep that started w/ a nice hot shower (to remove waterproofing oils that coat the hair shaft & then let the hot water soak in & start softening the beard); the last thing I want to do is prevent my lather from soaking in & continuing to soften the beard by re-waterproofing it with a new layer of oil.

I do however like the water-soluble kind of preshaves (Castle Forbes etc.) & use them whenever I can get them as I find they do contribute a little extra to beard-softening.

This is just my opinion & everyone is free to disagree, but I personally think if you need oil to shave for better skin glide, your lather is not right for your particular face.

I personally don't use oil. I find it pointless since you're lathering on top of it, which to me would wash it off. I think oils are used instead of cream by some people.