Thread: preshave oil bad?

This morning I skipped the oil as I've been having problems face lathering with SRD EO soap and lo and behold I had the best shave so far. So if I get rid of the oil is there some other pre shave that will make the experience even more enjoyable?

I used to be a fan of the oil, now I'm not so sure.

In all honesty, I cannot give informed advice on pre-shave oil as I have never used it. Although I suppose I could say that as a man who has never used pre-shave oil I've never felt its want.

In any event the best thing pre shave is beard prep really. I hear lots of people get lots of enjoyment from hot towels, for example, or showering before the shave. If you search around the site you'll come across lots of pre-shave rituals and suggestions and I'd suggest you try a few to see which ones you like and which you don't.

Me, I'm a horrible pre-shave prepper. A splash of warm water on the face and then the lathering itself is all I do really. Although I suppose making lather on the face is kind of like a massage - just with a brush. It works for me in any event, but as with everything YM may and probably will V.

James.

I have tried various pre shave creams and found they added nothing to my shaves. I wound up doing the same as James only using cold water instead of warm water.

Bob

I gave all my pre-shave oils away. My prep, including a warm water splash and face lathering, takes about 20 seconds. It seems to work fine.

I tried the pre-shave oils the first month, hated them, too oily for my skin, no noticed difference in the shave result.
I did go to this cream, Udderly Smooth, I like it, low scent, not greasy, washes off easily & most of all, it does soften my whiskers. I have used it every shave since.
Low cost & a tub lasts me over 6 months.

Thankfully I only bought a small shave oil to try as a preshave, used it under half a dozen times, it then resided in one of the common laundries where I stay for work with a large cardboard sign that said "free".
I didn't really get on with it, soaps break oils down, which in turn breaks down the soap.
I use glycerol, don't know if it actually does anything, but it doesn't undo anything for sure.
I want to bin this step eventually but until I get better at angles and such I will keep it.

it's all about shaving technique. you can use the most expensive pre-shave oil, shaving cream, and after-shave, but if your technique is bad then the shave will be bad. don't get me wrong, i enjoy shaving with truefitt & hill, castle forbes, and xpec, but it wasn't until i went to walgreens, a few years ago, and picked up a $2 puck of van der hagen and really practiced on my straight razor technique that my shaves got better.

Originally Posted by kettlebell

it's all about shaving technique. you can use the most expensive pre-shave oil, shaving cream, and after-shave, but if your technique is bad then the shave will be bad. don't get me wrong, i enjoy shaving with truefitt & hill, castle forbes, and xpec, but it wasn't until i went to walgreens, a few years ago, and picked up a $2 puck of van der hagen and really practiced on my straight razor technique that my shaves got better.

You know, I think there is more than just a bit of truth to that. I knew I was getting there when I could get a decent shave with no prep and crappy Williams.

Bob

Did I miss something in the Wiki, is there a thread that speaks to angles on different parts of the face? A body can watch vids all day and it's hard to pick up on those little things and those doing the vids go rather quickly as they've been doing it for awhile.

Yea, it is in the library Shaving passes - Straight Razor Place Wiki . Scroll down a bit and you will see the different angles for the different passes.

Bob