Conditioner OK?

So I've been shaving with a straight since January, typical newbie mistakes, trying to take on the the entire art at the same time. I recently sent out some razors to be sharpened by another member because I wanted to eliminate that variable. Got the razors back and shaved - nice but a bit razor burnt at the end - not good.

While I was showering I accidentally grabbed my wifes conditioner and instead of rinsing it off I massaged it onto my beard, felt good and was kind of like a pre-shave oil I thought. I shaved with one of the recently honed razors and dang, it was smooth, so smooth I shaved again the next day because my face felt so good! Prior to this I had to wait a day between shaves :(

The conditioner really prepped my beard well. I've also recently found my rythm with the hones and honed up a smiling blade Torrey. Shaved with it this morning and WOW, first BBS shave!!! :tu

I have a couple places that are bowl shaped on my neck and it was like the whiskers just fell off!!

So I shower and use a bowl that is big and kept warm for my lather as I shave, but the conditioner so far is the best prep I've found. Does anyone else do this? I almost feel like I'm cheating?? :confused:

The last time I went to a real barber shop, they used an organic hair conditioner on my face that was fantastic and had a great cooling effect. I haven't thought of it in a beard prep kind of way, but that might just be a good idea.

I do it! It works on the top of your head, why not on your beard too?

Check this out: YouTube - Preparing For A Shave

Mantic59 weighs in. This is where I got the idea. Works great for me!

Yes, I'm using a conditioner and like it very much too.
No cheating at all. Only thing what matters is that you get your whiskers off comfortably and enjoy your day.

I haven't had any success with conditioner on my face, unfortunately. What usually happens is it mats down my facial hair and makes it more elusive for the razor to grab well. Weird how it works for a lot of guys, but not for me. Maybe it's the brand I have in the shower at the moment.

What I find works the best is just rubbing in the lather on my face with my fingers (After the brushing) and then apply the hot towel. Using your fingers really cakes the lather in the hairs.

I have done it once or twice, I didn't get any wow factor, but I will probably do it again when I remember.

Somebody gave a list of conditioner ingredients that make for a great pre-shave treatment. But what I'd really like is a list of brands that do the job well. I'm not organised well enough to print out the good ingredients and scan through the conditioners in a shop.

Edit> This may be the list I was thinking of.
Edit2> Aha! This is the real one.

I haven't tried conditioner before, but perhaps I'll give it a
go...

- Scott

After thinking about my pre-shave process and the results I have achieved before I used the conditioner ( It's an Aveda brand ) I think I see why it helps me.

My old process:

1. I take my hot shower, bathroom door closed. Good and steamy.
2. Massage face with hot water
New: 2a. Massage conditioner into beard.
3. Get out, build my lather
4. Lather up and start shaving.
5. First pass is usually pretty decent.

It's the second and/or third that my blade would skip and I know my face is in no condition to shave.

I know many who lather up and use a hot towel and then re-lather. For me, I don't want to take the time to let my face soak under a towel for 1-5 min. The conditioner seems to keep my face/whiskers soft enough to just lather and shave and then repeat without that sticky/skipping problem. I tried using pre-shave oil between passes, but it just ruined my lather. :td

I imagine if I had a better lather/hot towel/lather system like others I may have gotten better shaves sooner...but I like being able to skip some of the prep and get to the fun part...Sliding a blade across my face that could easily remove an ear or chunk of lip before I ever felt it! :y

For me, just adding the conditioner has made me a very happy guy! Cheers to finding whatever works eh?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Disburden

I haven't had any success with conditioner on my face, unfortunately. What usually happens is it mats down my facial hair and makes it more elusive for the razor to grab well. Weird how it works for a lot of guys, but not for me. Maybe it's the brand I have in the shower at the moment.

What I find works the best is just rubbing in the lather on my face with my fingers (After the brushing) and then apply the hot towel. Using your fingers really cakes the lather in the hairs.

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Do you rinse the conditioner off or leave it on?

On another hand, some conditioner are designed to make the hair stronger, with is the opposite of what you want.

I use the old barber prep (or Kyle's prep on B&B), mantic made a vid about this recently. It works great for me, and I always make too much lather anyway (only 2 WTG passes usually).

Most of the after shave balms have a conditioner.
They are great as a pre shave as well. Especially for sensitive skin.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cybrok

On another hand, some conditioner are designed to make the hair stronger, with is the opposite of what you want.

I use the old barber prep (or Kyle's prep on B&B), mantic made a vid about this recently. It works great for me, and I always make too much lather anyway (only 2 WTG passes usually).

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The link I gave earlier was for barber/Kyle's prep.

Reading through the thread it makes perfect sense. Conditioners can have many ingredients, some help and some hinder a good shave. Shaving soap/cream on the other hand is tailor-made for the job.

There was a great challenge in the thread. Follow Kyle's instructions religiously for a week or two and see if it works for you. No skipping stages! Do the hot towel, do the massaging of lather into the beard with fingertips.

Kyle also avoids washing the face beforehand - all that lathering and massaging does all the cleaning and exfoliating you are likely to need. Again, this is an approach that is worth trying to see if it suits you.

Anyone who has had good results from conditioner may as well keep using it - but please tell us the brand so the rest of us know what to try! :)

... I have tried VO5 and Herbal Essences.

I regularly use this and it works for me...

Another thing I do is sometimes to use some skin cleanser for approx 3-5 min just before the shower while preparing etc.

Probably it depends on the ingredients whether thats an overkill OLD_SCHOOL.
I can imagine it works pretty good with mild stuff.
With a lot of chemicals in it my face would probably just fall off, LOL
(Tetrasodium anything, EDTA, Sodium Laureth and Lauryl Sulfate, etc.)

I gave this a shot this morning, no real difference
that I could discern.

- Scott

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sebell

I gave this a shot this morning, no real difference
that I could discern.

- Scott

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I tend to agree. The two most notable improvements to my preshave routine have been the addition of 'Hacketts' preshave oil (not for everyone, but cheap) and applying lather before the hot towel - I actually apply the oil before my ATG pass as well, I really believe it makes a difference, whether it does or not is not the point!

I have long hair and condition anyway, so when I remember I rub a bit into my stubble, but I don't believe the differences are noticeable.

I have used conditioner when I haven't shaved for a few days. I think it helps.

I've been trying conditioner on my face lately myself and I've been having great results as well. It truly does seem as if the whiskers are much softer than if I don't use it and just rely on hot water and lather sitting on my face for ~2 minutes before shaving. I still do plenty of hot water and let the lather sit, but the conditioner was a noticeable improvement IME. I massage it in before I wash my hair, and let it sit on my face while I shampoo and rinse my hair, and then I rinse it off. I have no idea if it matters how long you let it sit in your beard, but it works for me and it's easy enough so I'll stick with it.

I don't normally use conditioner by itself, so I'm using a hotel bottle at the moment. I'm going to go buy a "real" bottle when it runs out though, so any suggestions of some good stuff that won't break the bank would be great!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pjrage

I don't normally use conditioner by itself, so I'm using a hotel bottle at the moment. I'm going to go buy a "real" bottle when it runs out though, so any suggestions of some good stuff that won't break the bank would be great!

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I use the cheapest I can find. I really don't think the brand makes a difference. Just my 2cents.:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RichZ

I use the cheapest I can find. I really don't think the brand makes a difference. Just my 2cents.:D

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I just know that conditioners for girls is a big thing. Some of the ones they use get to be very expensive, and evidently there's quite a difference. I wasn't sure if anyone experimented already with this. I've seen such a nice improvement with the basic conditioner I have that I'm wondering if I can take it to the next level. It's like I've already taken the hairs on my face from thin copper to regular hair, but I'd like to go straight from copper to silk :rock: I might have to do some experimentation myself.