Thread: Conditioner...wow!

What a revelation I just had...

I'm about three months into the addiction, and so far I've been having a lot of trouble my neck area. The stubble there is pretty coarse, and I can't go ATG without really irritating the skin. Even on my cheeks, I find that my WTG pass doesn't quite cut it. No pun intended.

I read the advice Gravitas was given a few posts back about conditioner, so I decided to try it out. My ex left a bunch of toiletries here so I grabbed her conditioner and gave it a try in the shower. At first I was a bit discouraged. Even after applying a generous amount to my beard and letting it sit for a few minutes, my beard still felt stiff to my fingers (in fact, my stubble feels stiffer since I started using a straight. Anybody else have that happen?).

But then...the shave itself.

I lathered up with Colleen's Oak & Moss soap(mmmmmmmm), stropped up my trusty Creutzberg 11/16 and went to work. Halfway into the shave, I noticed that I was getting a much closer shave on my neck than ever before. In fact, all around I was getting a really great shave only going WTG. Seeing as how all other variables were constant (no new stropping technique, familiar razor, soap, etc) it's gotta be the conditioner. I am truly astounded at what a profound difference it made to my shave. The facesturbation is getting a bit out of hand

The conditioner trick is the only thing that allows me to use a straight or DE--it makes a huge difference. Make sure you wash your beard with a gentle soap first, which will remove the oils and allow the conditioner to really soak in.

Congrats!

Josh

Noam about your stubble feeling stiffer. i asked a barber this once he said when you stretch your skin and bring the razor down at around a 30 degree angle your cutting the stubble almost flat instead of at an extreme angle like a cartridge would.

Yeah that conditioner works wonders. Noticed a difference any time I used it.

I've tried using conditioner with limited success. I was wondering if anyone might be able to recommend a specific brand that is particularly good for softening stubble? Also, what kind of soap would you recommend before hand? Thanks.

I just use Dial, my regular shower soap. I don't scrub my beard with with a washcloth, though, as this was drying my skin out. I just use my hands to lather up, then rinse off and apply the conditioner.

Josh

Originally Posted by Evan15342

I've tried using conditioner with limited success. I was wondering if anyone might be able to recommend a specific brand that is particularly good for softening stubble? Also, what kind of soap would you recommend before hand? Thanks.

I've been using Pantene Pro-V Ice Shine conditioner that my ex-girlfriend left behind, and I use SoftSoap Ultra Rich Shea Butter moisturizing body wash for washing my face prior (I'm a total Shea Butter slut, I must confess). This combo has been working well, a long with hot towels and Colleen's soap.

Originally Posted by Noam

I've been using Pantene Pro-V Ice Shine conditioner that my ex-girlfriend left behind...

Behind every cloud there's a silver lining...

I'm going to give the conditioner thing a go, see if it makes a difference.

My own personal experience - I get the same result with conditioner on the beard as I do when applying later, rubbing it in, and applying a hot towel for a few minutes. But the conditioner trick works really well during the week when there's limited time in the morning.

I picked up a tub of
Queen Helene
CHOLESTEROL
Hair Conditioning
Cream

the other day in Target (no Proraso) and just out of curiosity I dabbed my brush in a little before working up a lather.
It comes in a tub and is sort of cream colored with big red letters and a white top.

I must say that for about $3 this stuff works super good !!

The directions say to wash and towel dry hair then apply conditioner, add a small amount of water and work up a lather then cover head with heat cap.

It seems like a hot towel would be the same as a heat cap. Even without the towel it worked up a super rich lather when mixed with soap.

It made such a good lather that when I wiped a clump on the towel it was still there after 4 hours !!