Thread: Why are traditional soaps/creams better than canned creams?

I agree with all of the reasons previously given in favor of soap and brush. I used canned stuff for several years, tried soap and a brush on just a whim and noted a difference right away in the closeness of the shave, cost and longevity of the product.

One thing not mentioned so far that I also noticed was that the blade lasted much longer with the use of soap as opposed to the can. I would get 4 or 5 shaves per Mach II blade using the can; using the brush I would get at least two months on a Mach II. Before I went with a straight I was using a Schick Quattro IV and got 16 months out of the last blade and it was still going strong.

Well I just used some Proraso for my very first straight shave, then again for a multiblade shave. WOW what a difference! It feels GREAT with a multiblade compared to canned stuff!

For me it's the satisfaction of doing it myself. Using a can, mass produced in a cold factory is very impersonal! There's the joy of seeing the foam start to form on the brush and soap, then lathering it on your face, the foam YOU just created! It makes the shaving experience, whenever you do it, a personal experience each and every time. Sort of like driving a manual shift versus an automatic. You have a hand in what you do!

I think most men at some point find themselves in posession of a cheap synthetic brush, e.g. as a Christmas present. They decide to try it out so they pick up the nearest bar of soap, whisk the brush around on it and apply it to the face. Not surprisingly the result is prety poor and they conclude that canned foam is much better.

So manufacturers of canned foam have it easy. They can produce really poor products because their target buyers have low expectations to start with. All Joe Public wants is something that puffs up nicely and shows them where they have shaved already.

I have never enjoyed applying canned foam and never got a great shave from it. I learned a long time ago that shaving oil works better (especially if you put aloe vera gel on top to prevent clogging.)

I haven't tried any canned foam since I tried a badger brush and good shaving cream. Maybe - just maybe - if I apply some of the lessons I've learned about good prep before I use canned foam I could get a decent shave.

But let me bounce your question right back at you - what reason is there for me to try canned foam again?

I think that rrp1501 have pinpointed one of my major reasons of using a straight, that is: It's up to me.
It's up to me to:

Keep the razor shaving sharp
Lather up real good
Evolve my shaving technic, eg. angel, pressure and motion of the razor.

Plus I think a straight razor is not only a tool to remove hair, it's also a fine piece of "practical art".

Sorry, slightly of topic...


Best regards

Clas

Originally Posted by honedright

While I prefer traditional mug soaps, I don't think that they are always better than canned shaving cream. Sometimes, when traveling, a mug and brush has been impractical for me and I've packed a can of Barbasol instead. The Barbasol worked great. This is definitely a YMMV area.

Scott

I hear this reason all the time for using cream. I think the only reason would be availability. If you lose your luggage and cannot get anything else, like a stick of Williams and a $3 boar brush from Wal-mart.

Other than that I carry this stuff. Smaller than a can and VERY slick. I don't use it with a brush. I am not sure it's even meant to since I can't get lather like that.

Pre de Provence Shave Cream [SC-PRE-001] - $15.50 : West Coast Shaving, Double Edge Blade Sampler Packs

There are also the various sustainability/environmental arguments against the need for metal/plastic casing and hydrocarbon propellants...

The difference between the canned goo and a quality soap or cream is like the difference between real butter and those butter substitutes (qualitatively - never mind the health stuff). Try one, and then try the other. Which is better? I think it's no contest.

Jordan

I think one of the biggest differences is that the canned stuff uses a lot of chemicals (most notable the propellants that help it squirt from the can and foam up), whereas the real shaving cream doesn't need that junk, and is thus gentler on the skin. I use a nice shaving cream that I buy in a little tub from TheBodyShop. It works great, smells great, and last a LOT longer than the canned goop. Definitely NO comparison what-so-ever!

Dave

I agree with what's been said, especially with regards to hydration and lubrication.

However, let's not forget about scent and exfoliation. Applying a lather with a brush as opposed to your hands with canned lather, helps straighten the whiskers for a closer shave, as well as naturally exfoliating your face i.e. cleaning pores and wiping away dead skin.

And the scents! I find that most canned shaving cream smells very anonymous, very generic, and very similar. They smell like deodorant to me. Compare that to things like avacado, lavender, sandalwood, lemon, almond, and so on, and there's really a big difference.