Thread: 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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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....) 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!

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!