Thread: Pre-shave oil question

Hi,

I just purchased Caswell-Massey Almond pre-shave oil, have not tried it yet. It smells bad - strong and corny. Reminds me that I had to throw away a tub of Caswell-Massey Sandalwood shave cream and a give away a bottle of sandalwood cologne, which was suffocating me. Hopefully, the oil shall improve my shave and not make me sick...

I was comparing the C-M oil to a bottle of Vit E oil I use for my hands sometimes after rockclimbing. Both bottles contain some oils and acetate (Vit E). The pre-shave oil has a bunch of oils (almond, olive, rosemary, sage, camomile) and Parfum, and the other (bought from Target for $6 or so) has *only* coconut and soybean oil. The difference is that the C-S has Benzaldehyde (Parfum).

I was wondering if I am safe using the Target Vit E oil for shaving?

After all, it is half the price, 15 ml more, and doesn't smell bad. It's not that I hate almond, I just have the suspicion C-S is going to stay way too strong. I wouldn't have bought the C-S oil but I didn't want to drive the 30 miles for nothing, and the store didn't have the pewter silvertip brush I wanted to see in person.

Thanks
Ivo

I think the purpose of pre shave oil is to add lubrication to your skin so the blade glides over your skin easier similar to those pre shave solutions for electrics that they sell. I would imagine any light oil would do the trick no matter the type. Hell, you could probably use some olive oil if you want.

Personally, they have never done anything for me so I don't use them and if you do get that fancy brush be aware the oils are detrimental to badger hair brushes.

I already use a badger brush (but it's a smallish one). I do have one from Burt's bees (I think boar) but it seems pretty coarse for my sensitive skin. Bought it a while ago and haven't used it for quite some time, not even sure where it is...

Can I hear more about the harmful effects from pre-shave oil on badger brushes? And what would be a good brush for use with pre-shave oils - boar? I saw Lyn use one of these in his video, because (he said) it works up lather faster. I am not in a hurry usually, but would not want to destroy a good badger brush, which should be usable for my lifetime of shaving.

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by izlat

I already use a badger brush (but it's a smallish one). I do have one from Burt's bees (I think boar) but it seems pretty coarse for my sensitive skin. Bought it a while ago and haven't used it for quite some time, not even sure where it is...

Can I hear more about the harmful effects from pre-shave oil on badger brushes? And what would be a good brush for use with pre-shave oils - boar? I saw Lyn use one of these in his video, because (he said) it works up lather faster. I am not in a hurry usually, but would not want to destroy a good badger brush, which should be usable for my lifetime of shaving.

Cheers
Ivo

I have just always heard that it is bad, probably because it somehow deteriorates the hair?

I dont understand why it would harm the badger fur if the brush was regularly shampooed and dried well

Curious how many use pre shave oil. hummm

If the brush soaks up the oil, it will repel water, thus not being able to absorb that great-lather-producing hot water. That's why I'll take a pass on pre-shave oils. They may be beneficial to those who use canned shaving gels though

In my experience any facial cream or even hand cream will do as a pre-shave. I would not use olive oil, or anything with large amounts of pure oils because the shaving cream or soap will dissolve the oils in water at the expense of the amount of lather. Similar to the process of washing up: the suds disappear when the grease of the crocks and cutlery gets dissolved in the washing up water.
Creams have the oils already dissolved in water. So if you use oils you'll need more shaving cream or soap for a good lather.

Originally Posted by Kees

So if you use oils you'll need more shaving cream or soap for a good lather.

that's great - I get to finish my soaps faster and try new ones and nobody can accuse me of hedonism! just kidding, but using more soap is not really an issue for me (but not being able to get good lather, regardless of the amount of soap used is a BIG concern, of course)

Cheers
Ivo