Thread: What does pre-shave oil do?

Please don't call me a moron.... eh, you can call me a moron. I don't mind, I can take it. What does pre-shave oil do? Does it make the beard softer and easier to cut?

You must be confusing SRP with another forum. You call somebody a moron over here, you're toast.

I use AOS's pre-shave oils, and they very much do what it says on their website (which is, by the way, conveniently available via google):

Item 10000 - Pre-Shave Oil Unscented - The Art of Shaving
Pre-Shave Oil is the first step in The Art of Shaving. It softens the beard and prepares the skin for a close and comfortable shave without leaving an oily residue. The Art of Shaving Pre-Shave Oil is ideal for men with sensitive skin, ingrown hair, razor burn or tough beards. It is formulated with a unique blend of botanical ingredients and essential oils.

You're right. I do get it confused with Yahoo Answers.

Makes the blade glide more smoothly across your skin. If you use too much, it may cause you to get a worse shave as the blade glides over stubble instead of grabbing & cutting it. So don't use too much.

Interesting. I actually have some AOS preshave oil and though I only used it a few times I found it left my face with oily residue. Maybe I used too much.

Doesn't using pre-shave oil gunk up the brush? I haven't tried it for this reason.

Chip,

I have used a variety of pre-shave oils and treatments and my brushes are still in top condition. After the shave I rinse my brushes thorough and that seems to take care of the gunk build up problem.

Whether using oil or another pre-shave product, I would be concerned more about finding the right product for my skin rather than whether the product would damage my brushes. As is, the pre-shaves I use don't seem to.

There are two schools of thought on this issue, however, the yes's and the no's. Perhaps I can recommend devoting one brush to use with pre-shave products to see what happens. If pre-shaves will work wonders with your shave, you should not deprive yourself of their use.

Explore. Part of the pleasure in the world of wet shaving and straight razors is getting to your destination.

Of course, I cleanup thoroughly after the shave: the brush, razor, soap dish, counter, everything. My mama always taught me to be a good boy and cleanup after myself.

Regards,

Obie

but for me the value of using preshave oil is in the following:

1. It extends the time and enrichens the "pampering " and "ritualistic" aspects of the shave.

2. Applied directly after any other preshave prep, it "seals" water against the follicle and preserves the benefit of the prep. Valuable if you spend a couple minutes between prep and shave, as I do, making lather.

3. It further softens and provides extra glide to the blade. This allows (if one is so inclined) a couple extra swipes over an area before relathering -- the lather may be gone, but some of the oil is still there.

I've been using oils since I started and have not seen an effect on my blades. However, it will leave a ring in the basin which takes an extra 10 secs to clean up. Worth it, IMO.

Originally Posted by frustratedSRuser

Please don't call me a moron.... eh, you can call me a moron. I don't mind, I can take it. What does pre-shave oil do? Does it make the beard softer and easier to cut?

Far from being a moron, you've saved me asking the same question.
I've been thinking of trying Proraso pre/after shave cream.(think that's what it's called)

Originally Posted by charlie762

Far from being a moron, you've saved me asking the same question.
I've been thinking of trying Proraso pre/after shave cream.(think that's what it's called)

I tried the Proraso Pre/Post shave cream and I found it didn't work too well. Their shaving cream is great, highly recommended. I just ordered a bottle of The Art of Shaving Pre-Shave Oil. I hope that works better.