Thread: Pre-shave oil or no pre-shave oil?

Hi, I'm new to straight razors and I'm wondering what percentage of people use pre-shave oil and what benefits it can provide. I'm curious as to which brands are best and which are overpriced copies of things that can be found cheaper. Also, I've heard the oil can gunk up a shave brush, and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with that. Any help would be much appreciated.

Jordan

You may want to do a poll instead. I personally don't use a pre-shave oil, but I lather up with a cheap soap/brush first, strop my blade, rinse, lather up again with the good stuff, play some chillout music and start shaving.

I use the proraso preshave every now and then. I've started not using it though and just steaming my face really well instead.

-- Gary F.

I like to use Lime Skin Food as both a pre and post shave

Although I use Skin Food, I've never tried it as a pre-shave item. I've used Pacific Shave Oil, King of Shaves , and Shave Secret. PSO was the easiest to use. Apply to a wet face with damp hands, work it into the skin, and the more water you use the more you activate the product. Both PSO and King of Shaves are not true "pre-shave" oils, but are actually designed to be used instead of shaving soap or cream. Shave Secret was the most effective at eliminating any type of razor burn and helping to "slicken" the face. But, Shave Secret was VERY greasy feeling on the hands and made holding a razor very difficult. However, after the shave, Shave Secret left my face feeling the most moisturized.

RT

I've tried a few pre-shave oils and they don't seem to add much benefit.

I use Proraso pre shave cream, it wakes you up like nobody's business and you can really see the hairs pop up ready for slicing with a nice sharp straight. It smells a bit antiseptic but I go over this with Trumpers coconut Oil shaving cream anyway. Also a quick rinse of the hands and it's gone, so no slippery fingers.

There again everyone has their own preference.

Gary

I've tried the eShave oil (Xmas gift from the wife). Personally, I can't tell much difference if any. Fairly slick but not easy to rinse off. One of the big brush manufacturers cautions against using pre-shave oils with their brushes. With good prep you can probably avoid pre-shave oil IMHO.

I used to use a few drops of jojoba oil applied directly to the soap and then I whipped up a lather. That worked really well for me, but I've since moved on to slicker soaps.

I have oily skin to begin with the last thing I ne on my face is oil. I use either proraso or feather pre shave every day. It helps.

Lately I've been experimenting with soaking an olive oil soap for a few minutes, and then using the brush to scrape off the slick film that develops, then working up my lather. This has made for some slick shaves!

RT