Thread: What Should I Change?

So I am just getting in to true wet shaving, and getting away from my Mach 3 and shaving gel. And wanted to know what I should change about my pre-shaving prep.

I always start with a hot shower, and move on to shaving after that.

Should I add any steps?

Are pre shaving soaps/oils necessary for a good shave when starting out?

Also I will not be using a straight at first, but a DE, if that makes any difference.

Thanks,
Derek

Pre-shaving routine is probably different for each one of us. Everyone has a different skin and beard, although we may certainly say there are procedures working for all of us.
You should consider "wet shaving" in its very words: it must be "wet" and it must be a "shaving". Rule number one is that everything must be "wet". Whiskers must be well imbibed with water as this makes them very soft and easier to cut.
Hot shower certainly is very good and works very well in softening whiskers because, remember, wet and water are everything during the whole process. Of course, you should also consider the blade and its effects on skin. It is a cutting tool and it does not cut whiskers only but it also exfoliates your skin and this is just one of the many good things of using a straight razor.
However, too much is just too much, and no matter the exfoliation of skin, you should protect it from excessive stress. Oils are a good way to do that also because of their emollient effect on the skin. Moreover, some of them have nourishing elements for the skin, such as extravirgin olive oil which is also very compatible to human skin. In my opinion, using a oil as a pre-shave treatment is a good thing and this is what I personally do.
I usually use extravirgin olive oil - sometimes argan oil as well - because this is what my grandfather taught me. Using olive oil is a very old trick people living in my region (Umbria, Italy) used as a post or after shave treatment. It was cheap and they had plenty of it all year long (money at those time was a primary concern for them) and it is however very effective for the skin.
I do not use anything else than straight razors for shaving - it is now about ten years since I started using them - but no matter you are using a straight razor or a DE or disposable razor, it is however a blade you are going to pass on your skin. You should therefore protect it no matter how you shave.

I never would have thought about using olive oil, I am going to have to give that a shot! Thanks!

Originally Posted by Dim5Bck

I never would have thought about using olive oil, I am going to have to give that a shot! Thanks!

It works wonders! It is very compatible to human skin and has an excellent emollient property. One more advice: whether you are going to use olive oil as a pre or post shave, do like this:

• Make sure your face and neck are wet. This is what you usually get when you are done with your shower or at the end of shaving
• Wet both your hands
• Put four or five drops of olive oil in the palm of your hand (one palm, left or right, not both)
• Rub the palms of your hands together in order to have both them well oiled
• Pass your oiled palms on your face and neck
• Allow the olive oil to get absorbed by your skin. This usually takes few minutes
• Enjoy your super smooth face!

In case you are using the olive oil as a pre shave, you can use it before mounting the lather. By the time you are done mounting the lather the oil will be completely absorbed by the skin and you are now ready to lather up your face. If you are using olive oil as a post shave, use it and wait few minutes before applying your favorite after shave. I usually use this time for cleaning all the stuff and when I am done, the oil has been completely absorbed by the skin and you are ready to splash your favorite after shave.
Last but not the least, enjoy!

Something you might want to try is putting some conditioner in your beard and letting it sit there for a few minutes while you're in the shower. It softens up the whiskers nicely and makes them easier to cut. I sometimes also use a glycerin face wash like Nivea. Same thing, just let it sit on your face for a few minutes. Either one seems to give me about the same result.

Just as an example of YMMV, I tried the olive oil for a while but found it didn't really make my shaves any better than just softening up the whiskers did.

Originally Posted by feeltheburn

Just as an example of YMMV, I tried the olive oil for a while but found it didn't really make my shaves any better than just softening up the whiskers did.

Olive oil is not meant to soften the whiskers. It is a skin treatment.

He's converted me to it. Combined with a smooth shave, it makes the skin incredibly soft but also has a nice soothing effect.

I did my first DE shave today, I used both the conditioner in the shower, and olive oil before my shave! My face has never been so smooth! Thank you everyone for your awesome Pre-shaving ideas!!

i agree with every thing the razorguy said, great advice. another thing you may want to give a try is cold water shaving. i switched from hot to cold water shaving and i really enjoy it. below is a link

Cold Water Shaving: The Benefits and Pleasures of a Splash of Cold Water | The Art of Manliness

Originally Posted by Dim5Bck

I did my first DE shave today, I used both the conditioner in the shower, and olive oil before my shave! My face has never been so smooth! Thank you everyone for your awesome Pre-shaving ideas!!

Good news! I am glad to know everything went well! This is also what makes this forum a great place for all of us: sharing experiences so we all can progress together.