Proraso - Green, Red or White? Which should I chose?

Hello everyone

Im still relatively new to straight razor shaving (4 months or so) and so far I have only used what I got at an Art of Shaving store (pre oil, cream, aftershave balm) all in sandalwood. I love the scent, and I think it does a good job for me, but as Im sure alot of people on here can relate to, i want to try something new. I have read ALOT of mention of proraso. Alot of you folk seem to think of it in high regard and almost use it as a benchmark from which a cream or soap should perform.

My question, what color should i go with? I tend to have sensitive skin (which is why i took up the straight razor and brush/cream over the aerosol and mach3) so the White sparks my interest. Also the Red sparks my interest, because I like sandalwood, but I want to try something different. The Green is the original cream and has the menthol. I like the idea of trying the ORIGINAL, but since i have a history of sensitive skin, the idea of an intense menthol tingle on my face sorta scares me, i dont want it to cause alot of irritation or to have my skin to react weirdly to it.

Anyways, has anyone, with or without sensitive skin, had any bad reactions to the menthol/euculyptis in the Green? Should I just play it safe and go for the White, which is formulated for sensitive skin, or go for the original.

Sorry that was long winded, I appreciate any input. Everyone this site has been extremely helpful in my recent uptaking off the straight razor, thanks for everything.

James

I have been using the Green. It is different than anything I have used. Even with warm lather, it is very "cooling". It gives great lather and Ubers well too. For the summer months it seems the way to go. It seems to rinse off better than some and, along with the menthol, makes me feel cooler! Lots of soaps and cremes do not get along with me, but the green Poraso does! I recommend it!

Of note, the white tub has a menthol cooling effect too but just not as strong as the green tub.

I use both the red and the green but I've not tried the white. You can't go wrong with either the green or red. I have had no adverse effects from either one. So part of the fun in this hobby is trying different stuff out like shaving creams. So how about trying them all? What have you got to lose unless you have allergies? A couple of bucks? Proraso sells at the lower end of the price spectrum for shaving creams but it's great stuff. Try 'em all let your face sort 'em out!

Hi James,

I admit to having all of them. I really like all Proraso products and rate them up with the best.

You might as well try them all and make up your own mind which you like best. After using Proraso products for over 20 years I am still to decide which one to use today, tomorrow, next week, no this one, that one. No too hard, MWF today....

Cheers,

Sunbird

I have sensitive skin and have had no problems with the green Prorasso. The menthol isn't extreme, just enough to cool the face.

Thanks for the input everyone.

Id love to try them all, but the wife already thinks i spent to much money on my new hobby, and if she saw three more tubes of cream she would give me "the look". but, proraso is fairly inexpensive so I will likely get both green and white, save the red for another day.

any recommendations on whether to get the bowl of the soap/cream or get a tube of cream. I have been starting to face lather, which i think i prefer over building my lather in a bowl, so I am thinking the bowl would be a better option. is there a real difference in the texture?

also, while we are on it, if I wanted to get the pre shave cream, would you recommend getting the green? I have heard some people use it as an after shave balm, for the cooling effect after a shave, which i think i would really enjoy. and im assuming the green would be the best option there. any thoughts for or against using the pre shave cream as a post shave cream?

thanks again everyone

james

Hello James. If you have a Bath & Body Works store near you, you should check out their C.O. Bigelow shaving cream in a green tube. It's Proraso, made for C.O. Bigelow, and is stated so on the tube. It's the same stuff as the Proraso green shaving cream. You can probably get a sample to give it a try. It's normally $10 a tube, and it will last a LONG time. While you're there, you can pick up something for your wife.

BTW, I also have the AOS Sandalwood Shaving Cream, and I agree, it's good, quality stuff. The Proraso/C.O. Bigelow is good stuff too, just different.

I don't use any pre-shave products, so I can't help ya there.

I usually use Mitchells wool fat because of all the wonderful lanolin in it...that being said I switched over to proraso green because it was a bit cheaper.I bought the tub(not the cream)it works great for either face lathering or lathering in a bowl.Nice rich lather,smooth glide and slightly cooling(not like putting Vicks Vap O Rub on yer face at all).Nice cool but not overpowering scent. :D West coast shaving sells it for 10 bucks a 150 g tub

Oh yes also........if you have sensitive skin,I might recommend Thayers unscented,no alcohol toner witchhazel with Alo Vera.it really soothes and is great for aftershaving. Also about 10 bucks and the bottle will last you a while.

White.

I have somewhat sensitive also, the green tea and aloe smells nice and doesn't irritate. Layers up well even with my hard water. Tends to like a stiffer brush but I haven't had a problem even with my softer silver tip's. Don't be shy when loading it up....lasts a long time.

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Originally Posted by IamSt8ght

Hello James. If you have a Bath & Body Works store near you, you should check out their C.O. Bigelow shaving cream in a green tube. It's Proraso, made for C.O. Bigelow, and is stated so on the tube. It's the same stuff as the Proraso green shaving cream. You can probably get a sample to give it a try. It's normally $10 a tube, and it will last a LONG time. While you're there, you can pick up something for your wife.

BTW, I also have the AOS Sandalwood Shaving Cream, and I agree, it's good, quality stuff. The Proraso/C.O. Bigelow is good stuff too, just different.

I don't use any pre-shave products, so I can't help ya there.

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Our local B&BW is always out of the C.O. Bigelow shave products, darn it!

I just received a tube of the Red and a tub of the White along with a scuttle from SRD. I haven't used the red yet, but the white is great. It lathers well (with my Edwin Jagger Best Badger), smells wonderful, and is very kind to my old skin.

Green sold in the bowl. Not my favorite soap, but I like the one sold in the bowl better than the one sold in the tube or bag.

I am in the same boat. I used to always have terrible razor burn and very sensitive skin. I use the prorasso white pre-post and white aftershave balm in my daily routine. Works great, smells great and gets the job done.

stopped at the bath and body works to pick up a tube of co bigelow (thanks for the heads up that its the same as proraso green). 5 bucks for a travel size, perfect to just try it out. im shaving tomorrow morning but couldnt wait to check out the cream so i did a "practice lather" and spread it on my face WOW i think im gonna love it, that cold feeling is just awesome. cant wait to start my morning tomorrow with this stuff, i really hope it performs well, will report back.

thanks everyone for the input. ive said it before, but this site and its users, really have helped me out alot and help make learning to shave with a straight that much more enjoyable. thanks again.

James

boy that was my favorite shave since i started shaving with a straight. i just ordered the proraso green pre/post, red cream, and white soap. it was that good, i had to see what the others were like!

thanks everyone

If you like the Prorasso soaps, you should look into the RazoRock line of soaps. They are the same type of soft Italian soaps, lather as easily as Prorasso and come in a wide variety of scents. Welcome to SAD.:)

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Originally Posted by Theseus

If you like the Prorasso soaps, you should look into the RazoRock line of soaps. They are the same type of soft Italian soaps, lather as easily as Prorasso and come in a wide variety of scents. Welcome to SAD.:)

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Indeed! RazoRock is most awesome! ALL of it!

I kept (note the past tense) a tube of the green for traveling. SWMBO decided to try it on her legs.
POOF
It is now gone.
Guess I will travel with tubs for a bit.

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Originally Posted by jgrunst

Thanks for the input everyone.

Id love to try them all, but the wife already thinks i spent to much money on my new hobby, and if she saw three more tubes of cream she would give me "the look".

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I think we all have this issue! My 'mentor' Ironsidegnr is already disliked by my wife and she hasn't even met him yet...

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Originally Posted by brooksie967

I think we all have this issue! My 'mentor' Ironsidegnr is already disliked by my wife and she hasn't even met him yet...

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Weird! The person keeping me from buying too much shaving related stuff is myself. I keep telling my wife that I want X but I don't want to spend the money on it and she says "I wish you would stop complaining about it and just buy it. I just spent $30 at the thrift store." She's going to be the death of my pocketbook. Lol!

Is the green proraso the same as co bigelow? I thought I had heard that.

I use white, for everything, pre, shave and post. I guess I am a bit biased since I haven't tried anything else! It's the only product on the shelves here that is suitable. I'll be asking for some other stuff at xmas but can't afford to try anything else yet.
Personally though, I love the stuff!

Maybe there should be a poll with this, but it seems to me that the green formula is the most popular Proraso. I use it too, and it has no adverse effects on my skin. My opinion is you won't know unless you try it, and it's cheap enough to risk it.

Hi gents, just a quick question. I just got some Proraso in the green tub, I'm going to give it a shot this evening. Do you/should you put a layer of water on top while soaking your brush? Or just use the moisture in the brush to wet the soap? Thanks much!

Hey Nick. Is this the soap? If it is I usually put a bit of warm water on top of my soaps as it softens up a soap and makes it easier to lather. I pour off the water before trying to lather. Of course I don't do this with creams.

I use the very same procedure as Ignatius. A little of warm water in order to soften it, pour off the water and then lather with a wet brush.

I have the proraso green in the squeeze tube. I love the smell of it, and get a great shave using it. All there stuff has been re done and is now parabin free. They also have the new sandelwood with shea butter cream. If you already love sandelwood, maybe this is the one for you.

I have tried them all. I think they are all great, and give great shaves. green is definitely my favorite, just love that menthol cold feeling on my face. the white is a good cream and i will definitely use it regularly. ive heard some people say they dont like the scent of the red, but i like it quite a bit, sandalwood is one of my favorite scents and this has a deep sandalwood scent which i enjoy. it doesnt smell all done up and fancy like some fragrances and creams can (that makes any sense).

so, i love them all!