Shave oil = less close shave?!

I think I just accidentally discovered why I can't get a BBS shave if I have less than 2 days growth. It's because the shave oil causes the blade to glide over stubblies that it would otherwise bite into. This morning I tried going for my 2nd ATG BBS shave in a row & I forgot the shave oil. The edge felt grabbier, and I am sitting here with a BBS shave. Unfortunately I also have some irritation (which, for me, is normal for going ATG 2 days in a row, probably compounded by the lack of oil). Anyone else notice this phenomenon?

As a side note, I'm going to go back to saving ATG for my nights out, b/c I don't like the irritation.

Interesting. I noted in your other thread that I don't see any difference in closeness between a shave of one day's growth than 3 or 4 days' growth, but I don't use shave oil.

I guess I'll have to try it and see what happens

I personally have only used shave oil once and I didn't like it. I grab my skin to pull it tight and the oil was too slippery for me to do that. Plus the last thing I need is grease on my face. (I have oily skin to begin with) :D

I used Aveda shaving cream (non foaming...it doesn't actually build a lather) as a preshave treatment last time I shaved and also mixed some of it with my AOS lemon essential oil lather. I got a pretty darn good shave out of it too and I think it was more comfortable than with the AOS preshave oil. Saves me $22 bucks right there.

if the oil makes the razor "glide" over the stubble, is the oil sticking to the razor? does using shave oil mean you need to clean the razor more?

try not as much oil and rub it in good before you lather i put mine on and let it soak in while i buld my lather.and i get a bbs shave every time.

The only oil I've found to be of any value is T&H pre-shave oil. It's not slippery, washes off (hands and fingers) very easily in warm water, and does an adequate job of softening the whiskers. But for an adequate job, it's pretty expensive. I've found other pre-shave products as good or better. The best is a hot shower before the shave and/or hair conditioner on the beard!

I agree with Mark with both his oil choice and his good preparation. Good preparation in softening the beard is the pre curser to a good shave.

If you go down the oil route, the problem is that good shaving oil is expensive.

I quite like the REN shaving oil. I used this under what I call a dry soap but if you pay the extra for a top quality soap like Floris or a decent top shelf shaving cream, you really shouldn't have a need for oil as the better products are usually comprehensive and have an oil already in the soap. That's why they cost that bit extra.

Some products stand alone but some products work best if you use the pre and post products with the soap. An example of this is the Proraso product. Use all three and you get a great shave with a great feeling face as well. Use the soap by itself and although its good, it not that extra bit special.

If the shaving oil is olive oil based e.g. Art of Shaving, it very clingy and IMHO useless. It's also unbelievably expensive for such a poor performing shaving product. All shaving oils tend to dirty the sink as well.

In the USA, the Pacific Shaving Company does a shaving oil that receives high praise from its users and this is probably worth a try. Although, living in the UK, I haven't tried it myself.

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Originally Posted by majurey

The only oil I've found to be of any value is T&H pre-shave oil. It's not slippery, washes off (hands and fingers) very easily in warm water, and does an adequate job of softening the whiskers. But for an adequate job, it's pretty expensive. I've found other pre-shave products as good or better. The best is a hot shower before the shave and/or hair conditioner on the beard!

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Yes that is what I have found to be the best.

I tried the C.O. Bigelow pre-shave oil for a couple of weeks and really couldn't tell the difference. According to their sight it contains Grape Seed Oil 38.5%, Jojoba Oil 6.5%, Aloe Extract 0.2% which adds up to only 45.2% which is strange. The soap I use affects the shave more than this stuff ever did.

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Originally Posted by DogHair

I tried the C.O. Bigelow pre-shave oil for a couple of weeks and really couldn't tell the difference. According to their sight it contains Grape Seed Oil 38.5%, Jojoba Oil 6.5%, Aloe Extract 0.2% which adds up to only 45.2% which is strange. The soap I use affects the shave more than this stuff ever did.

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I say if it ain't adding any fun, ditch it. If you find that you don't need it to have a great shave and enjoy the process then you are one step closer to your own personal "shave-vana"

Lynn says it all the time: Have Fun!

-Rob

I have had good luck with shave secret from walmart

I enjoy using shave oil. Generally I take a bit of time to prep after my shower, so I put the oil on right away, on a damp face to make sure my beard stays soft until I'm ready to shave.

However I recently stopped using shave oil, since I was getting ingrown hairs around my chin. Not sure if it was the oil or not. I'm trying to rule things out, starting with the oil.

I've used both T&H and AoS. I prefer the T&H. As mentioned above, the T&H isn't slippery, and washes off clean. Also, there's no scent so it allows for the SC and AS to stand out.

I have only used the shave secret oil from Wal-Mart, I like it fine. Though I haven't not used it in a while so maybe I'll drop it for a couple shaves and see how it goes. The only thing with the SS is it has that menthol feeling, so combined with some proraso and a close shave it can be quite intense. :eek:

Well I can not stand paying through the ass for small bottles of "shaving oil". I buy Grapeseed oil six bucks a pint, and then add lavender or lime essential oil if needed.(you could use jojoba, almond etc. different oils work on different people). It works great and gives me a very comfortable close shave with less nicks........

I really hate the sensation of oil on my hands when I'm handling a Str8.I've tried Castle Forbes "The Pre-Shave" which is water soluble and not SO slippery.

Frankly, I see no difference whatsoever in the "closeness" of the shave. I shave everyday or I get asked, Are you growing a beard? BBS is all about technique and SHARP razors.:tu

I don't use oil any more but back "in the day" I noticed that if I put on a little too much the hair would tend to lay down and stick to my face.

I've also noticed that when using very slippery lather (such as Proraso) you have to be more careful with your technique in regards to blade angle or you don't remove as much hair with each pass.

You don't use oil for a close shave. You use it to protect a dry skin, lubricate a dry skin and allow a razor to glide over a dry,rough or chapped skin.

So don't expect a closer shave with oil. It just won't happen. Only folks with either sensitive skin or dry chapped skin need to even think about oil. The claims by some manufacturers that you will get
the best of shaves using oil are totally false. You will get the best of shaves using the creams and soaps that are consistantly recommended by forum members who have no reason to promote the product other than to pass on their experiences.

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Originally Posted by Johnny J

I think I just accidentally discovered why I can't get a BBS shave if I have less than 2 days growth. It's because the shave oil causes the blade to glide over stubblies that it would otherwise bite into. This morning I tried going for my 2nd ATG BBS shave in a row & I forgot the shave oil. The edge felt grabbier, and I am sitting here with a BBS shave. Unfortunately I also have some irritation (which, for me, is normal for going ATG 2 days in a row, probably compounded by the lack of oil). Anyone else notice this phenomenon?

As a side note, I'm going to go back to saving ATG for my nights out, b/c I don't like the irritation.

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Thank you, Johnny!

I have been using homegrown shave oil for some time now (mix of Jojoba, sweet almond, grapeseed, vitamin E, dash of olive oil), I had enjoyed the glide that it provided, and the super moisturizing was an added benefit. But I was always having to do a blade buffing pass to get BBS.:thinking:

So, last night I didn't use the shave oil at all, (it was hard to give it up, as it had become part of my routine, you know....:o) and I got a top shave in two passses-WTG, ATG-bang, done!

Razor didn't feel grabby, but I could definitely feel the edge alot more without the oil than with it. That's not a bad thing, as it actually allowed me better fedback for modulating pressure & angle.

Thanks for posting your findings, it helped me get a better shave!

I love this forum!:tu

I tried using only a drop of oil & massaging it in better, as suggested. That does indeed solve the problem, but it's so little oil that it's debatable whether it's doing anything. I think I'm going to give the oil the heave-ho. Maybe I'll use the oil I've got left as a post-shave moisturizer instead of pre-shave. I really do like the smell!