Thread: Art of Shaving

would you say use the pre-shave oil or poraso pre-shave cream before a hot towel or after the hot towel and before lathering up? I noticed lynn did the hot towel, lathered up, hot towel, lathered up again, and then shaved. Did that first lather followed by the towel serve the same purpose as the pre-shave oil or cream?

Originally Posted by saladbar2000

would you say use the pre-shave oil or poraso pre-shave cream before a hot towel or after the hot towel and before lathering up? I noticed lynn did the hot towel, lathered up, hot towel, lathered up again, and then shaved. Did that first lather followed by the towel serve the same purpose as the pre-shave oil or cream?

Lynn, can speak to this better but my thoughts are that the first hot towel was to start the bread softening. The second continued this and removed the oils from the whiskers with the lather. The final lathering is to provide the lubrication and protection for the shave so adding a pre-shave right before this final lathering makes sense. It wouldn't make sense at any of the earlier steps because it's function is to increase the cushion and slickness as well as anestitize the skin.

Regards,
EL

I don't think anyone has mentioned St Charles Shave or Tabac soap yet ... but they are worth a look.

The first soap I ever bought (I guess about a year ago now) was a puck of AOS Lavender. Yes it was expensive, and it's possibly not my favourite soap, but it's the only puck I've almost used up. It still has a regular place in my rotation even with all the other soaps I've aquired, very nice stuff.

I'd probably rate it above Trumpers soap, or a close equal. Hard to say if I'd buy another one when it runs out, maybe, but maybe not as I'm trying to slim down my soap collection.

I highly suggest you look into col. Conk shave soaps. Great stuff, not expensive.

Originally Posted by Steelforge

The first soap I ever bought (I guess about a year ago now) was a puck of AOS Lavender. Yes it was expensive, and it's possibly not my favourite soap, but it's the only puck I've almost used up. It still has a regular place in my rotation even with all the other soaps I've aquired, very nice stuff.

I have the same situatuation with a puck of Taylor of OBS Sandalwood soap. I also don't know if its my favorite but it's in my rotation and almost gone.

I've tried quite a few more soaps and creams since I started this thread and some are pretty good but the more creams and soaps I try the more I like the AOS cream. I'm also starting to agree with the statement that the cream isn't that expensive. You can get an ass-ton of lather from just a little of this stuff and there is a lot of it in the tub. That isn't saying that every other item that they have ever sold isn't expensive to the point of being laughable (like those soaps! HOLY JESUS!! WTF!!)

im a big fan of AOS, there scents are superb. and the girlfriend loves the Sandalwood which is my favorite as well!

Originally Posted by saladbar2000

That isn't saying that every other item that they have ever sold isn't expensive to the point of being laughable (like those soaps! HOLY JESUS!! WTF!!)

+1 on this

I actually do not want to buy anything from AOS (even if it has good soaps and creams). First, what a pretentious name for a company whose salespeople (as far as I can tell from personal and other people's experience) don't know crap about shaving! Second, the prices on almost everything! To me this just screams that the target audience is the uninformed yuppies. Well - they can have it all.

I'm sticking to my Tabac soap. Sure, I have Trumper's Violet soap and am not thrilled with it but at least it doesn't irritate my skin. Some time I may buy T's Rose soap (as the Rose cream isn't bad)... L'Occitane CADE soap is not cheap either and still pretty nice, if one wants to focus on expensive soaps (but batches of L'Occitane CADE cream are worthless, fwiw). I just don't want to spend any money on AOS.

If AOS had really knowledgeable people, with good attitude, selling great products at more reasonable prices - I would try something, of course. Even though the name is a bit corny. Little like a painting called "The Masterpiece" or something

Cheers
Ivo