Thread: Soap,Soaps,and Oils

As a relative newcomer(and by the way,thanks to everybody for the warm and genial welcome that I've received),I'll first of all start off by describing my technique,and then see about any further suggestions and/or advice from the rest of the gang.
As I wear what is known as "...a short,boxed beard...",I start by lathering my cheeks with a wet cloth well lubricated by Dove facial soap.This is done twice.Then I lather and rinse twice with Williams shaving soap in a mug,using a badger hair brush.This gets things very soft,and then I use one of Grandpa's straight razors.I find it best if all of the soap(s) is off,so that i can see the edges.
So,would using an oil as the first step eliminate the need for lathering?

Hi Hans,
I've heard of people saying preshave oil works, while others don't. I've used baby oil before and didn't notice a huge difference between it and prepping my beard normally by lathering my face, stropping, rinsing off and lathering again.

Some people 'lather up' with conditioner on their beard, you could always try that as well.

Hi Hans
Try Taylors preshave gel and Taylor sandalwood shaving stick direct in your face without lathering or lather a very thin film of it.(There is not any reason than optical for lather to be thick)

_Prepare your face with HOT water for 1-2 min
_Aply a very small amount of preshave gel to the wet face for 1 min(it is water solluble)
_Aply direct in your face the soap of the shaving stick and wait for 1 min
_for more pases wet your face and aply soap with stick

or after that saturate a brush with hot water shake it VERY WELL and lather direct in your face a thin film of lather

I guess my question is:Would using an oil make using soaps and/or cremes superfluous?

No, I believe.
I have "...a short,boxed beard..."and I, I am in straight shaving from 19 (my grandfather was a barber) and now I am 49 years old and the best way for me is the clasical way with lather from a very good shaving soap, not cream, not shaving stick -that I suggest you to see the edges of your beard- not oils.
sometimes I put in my face Taylor shaving gel instead of hot towel.
Oil not works for me

Originally Posted by Hans

I guess my question is:Would using an oil make using soaps and/or cremes superfluous?

I want to add I tried oils but didn't like them. It made it hard to pull the skin taunt as it kept slipping. Just my 2cents.

Originally Posted by Hans

As a relative newcomer(and by the way,thanks to everybody for the warm and genial welcome that I've received),I'll first of all start off by describing my technique,and then see about any further suggestions and/or advice from the rest of the gang.
As I wear what is known as "...a short,boxed beard...",I start by lathering my cheeks with a wet cloth well lubricated by Dove facial soap.This is done twice.Then I lather and rinse twice with Williams shaving soap in a mug,using a badger hair brush.This gets things very soft,and then I use one of Grandpa's straight razors.I find it best if all of the soap(s) is off,so that i can see the edges.
So,would using an oil as the first step eliminate the need for lathering?

I understand that Feather makes a shave gel that is basically clear and non-lathering: http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...60/1020563.htm
I have not used it, but it may be useful for your purposes.