Thread: Pre-shave reccomendations?

Originally Posted by Bloodnativ

My last shave (my 3rd and only decent shave to date) gave me some TERRIBLE razor burn/irritation. I do realize that my skin will need to get used to being shaved so close but I need to something in the meantime. Can anybody reccomend a Pre-shave oil/gel that will help with razor burn/irritation that I can use with a brush?

I would say that you are still decent shaves!
Richard at SMF and B&B has been using Pacific Shave Oil for quite some time. And to an extreme! He applies it before each pass. No damage to the brush as long as it is properly washed and rinsed after use. I've used it, not to the same extent, and have seen no ill effects. As previously mentioned, I would be looking at technique and reaction to the products you are currently using.

RT

I think, like everyone else, I can echo the importance of using hot water or shaving right after a shower (but, to insert a small disclaimer - you might want to put something on, because dropping a razor in the nude can be dangerous to all sorts of body parts you want to keep.)

As for pre-shave oil, I've heard the same thing - that it's dangerous to use it with a brush. I don't know what about the oil it is, and the way I use the brush, I can't imagine much transfers anyway. I also note that some firms which make oils (Taylors, for instance) also make brushes, and give no such warning. Really, the choice is yours and depends on a lot of things like how much you want to keep your brush and for how long. I'd certainly be more inclined to be careful with a $500 Plisson than with my current $50, three year old Taylor's.

If you do decide to try a pre-shave oil, the Truefitt and Hill oil has an intoxicating smell that I don't think can be beat. However, it is much thicker than some others. Pacific Shaving's oil is all natural and works very well - some people shave with just that, though I don't know about with a straight razor. King of Shaves is popular, but contains a lot of menthol, so you might get a bit aggressive. I've also tried Caswell and Massey, but it seems like smearing motor oil on your face because it's a mineral oil base, rather than something lighter like a grape seed oil.

I have been thinking, it is probably due to the razor not being sharp enough. A razor that is not sharp enough causes you to press too hard and go over the same area several times.

After today's shave, I can almost guarantee it's the blade! I have some pretty bad razor burn today, and I know it's from using too much pressure to get that d#*m chin! Also on my neck, I went over it too many times with way too much pressure. After reading everyone else's comments on this post, I know that I was trying too hard with a "not sharp enough" blade. Back to the hone! T'is how we learn...

Tim

When I started shaving all those years--two months ago to be exact. I got terrible irritation on my first shave. The razor shaved like a cheese grater. I honed the razor and got a great shave with almost no irritation.

Today I shave with razors that give no irritation. I don't think it is my skin getting used to it. It is improved honing and stropping skills. If one starts being a little less smooth, I hone it. BTW, today I would not even consider my first great shave as acceptable, much less great.

I do use Feather pre-shave, Proraso pre-shave, Truefit & Hill and Coral Skin Food. All are good but none will compensate for a dull blade. On the other hand a shave with a sharp blade is only slightly improved by pre-shave oil.

One of the smoothest shaves I get are with Kiss My Face shave products. They hardly lather, no preshave and the smoothest shaves in a single pass with touch up. I would use them exclusively if I did not love using the brush.

Vladimir,

I use my brush with my Kiss My Face products. No problems at all!

RT

My prep consisted of hot shower, washcloth, lather, washcloth, lather, shave with grain. I did a wet pass, lather, CROSS grain pass, lather, against grain pass, styptic, cold water rinse, and Witch Hazel as aftershave. I started with NO pressure but found that a LITTLE pressure did seem to help it shave a little better. (Maybe that's the problem)

My razor is a Dovo that came with my starter kit from Tony Miller. Given his reputation and his help and knowledge when I talked to him I wouldn't imagine I would get a razor that needed that much work to get to shave. I have already run it over the pasted strops (1micron and .5micron) and then finish strop. It did seem to shave better but also gave me the horrible razor burn/irritation. I certainly don't hold it against him(you if you're reading this Tony) as I would have (and would again) buy the kit even if the razors' weren't sharpened before they are sent out. It's perfect for us new guys. I think I am going to try again tonight. I will go through the pasted strops again and see if that helps.

Just got done with my shave and the results were much better. I went back to the pasted strops again and could definately notice a difference. It still pulled, in fact it was more noticable than before. It didn't pull worse (quite the contrary) it was just more noticable. I still got some razor burn but nothing like what I got last time. No worse than any other razor I have used. Still got a few spots that give me trouble but I'll live with that. I'll keep stropping on the pasted strops before each shave until it stops pulling.

Speaking from my own experience, things are so much more pleasurable with a sharp razor. My first shave was pretty much a disaster, too, and as a result, the Filarmonica razor I first bought is still in the box. Though I don't think it's too far off - maybe when I get my own pasted strop, I'll see if that helps.

Good luck!