Bummed with Bigelow

[ladder44]

I recently decided to buy some Bigelow/Proraso from Bath & Body Works. I expected great things, but I was disappointed. I think the coolness I feel does something adverse to my follicles. I just can't seem to get a close shave. I normally use Arko Sensitive and Commando, and they are great. Any advice?

[DavyRay]

I have had disappointing results from Bigelow shave cream. I think I am not using enough water with it. It is sometimes dry and sticky, actually too thick to allow the razor to get to the whiskers.

Try using a bit more water?

[SP120K]

I'm anxiously awaiting my Bath & Body Works order of Bigelow and I hope I'm not disappointed too. I'd think if your lathering it up too thick and dry to where the blade can't properly cut whiskers, it should be an easy fix. Probably just adding a bit more water and building proper lather would fix that. As for the menthol feeling I've read it all comes down to personal preference. With the winter coming I'm beginning to think that it may be a little intense as the weather gets colder. Good thing the Bigelow version has less of a menthol "medicated" feeling (or whatever it's called) than Proraso.

[Beerman]

Have either of you fellows tried Proraso? It's been a while, but I found it to be very user friendly. I've read here that there are slight differences in the Proraso and Bigelow formulations, but can't speak as to what practical effect these differences would have.

If you've tried Proraso and didn't have these problems, you either got a bad tube or have a sensativity to whatever is in Bigelow that isn't in Proraso.


Beerman

[atison]

YMMV, but proraso is a no brainer performer for me. Maybe because it is what I started with.

Lately I even switched over to using it brushless in the shower to shave my head (w/ a headblade) in place of the KMF Mint I usually use on my head. The proraso gives a noticeably much smoother shave then the KMF.

[Go West Young Man]

How much did you use it before giving up? I find it takes a week to learn a new product, especially if you're not regularly using any other cream.

[kfralin]

Sorry to hear it didn't work well for you...did you use with a brush or brushless? I love the stuff but I have found it works much better for me when I make lather in a bowl like I would do with shaving soap. I sometime add just a touch of shave gel (I use Nivea unscented) to increase the volume of lather as the Bigelow/Proraso doesn't always yeild the richest lather.

[Luc]

The shave wasn't close? Was it because the razor skipped? If so, you didn't use enough water. Make a few bowls of lather on the side before your next shave, I always get an explosion of lather with Proraso.

[Marco]

I always get an explosion of lather with Proraso.

+1 Proraso is one of the easiest shaving creams to lather up and an excellent performer when you get the right water/cream mix.

[rdh1223]

I like mine but if you dont use enough water it def will gum up the blade and cause the razor to skip. I almost always dont use enough water with creams dunno why exactly I think its because being new my brain tells me that a thicker lather is better even though I know that if its too thick it wont work correctly. Usually I just end up adding abit more water to the brush and lathering up again. Also I noticed it became less of a problem when I started palm lathering instead of face lathering.Time to go mug/bowl shopping. Happy Shaving!!

[OldSchoolYoungin]

You may not get along well with menthol. Even though many of us love it, it can irritate the crap out of some people and be very drying, which can cause the razor to skip.

[guitarslinger]

add more water. I'm serious. I get a better Proraso shave if it's a little runnier than other creams.

[Doug123]

I recently decided to buy some Bigelow/Proraso from Bath & Body Works. I expected great things, but I was disappointed. I think the coolness I feel does something adverse to my follicles. I just can't seem to get a close shave. I normally use Arko Sensitive and Commando, and they are great. Any advice?

I used a tube of C.O. Bigelow straight through until it was gone once, so I shaved with it for months, don't remember how long now.

I have a tube of Arko Moist right now.

They are 2 very different creams. C.O. Bigelow is much thicker and you definitely need more water.

But to get to the point, if you are used to the Arko and you are trying to get the same shave from the Bigelow, you might not.

Personally, the tube of Arko Moist I have right now might be my favorite cream and I have tried several. I think I might possibly be getting some of the best shaves I've had yet with this stuff.

I have a tube of Omega right now, and to be honest, it is seeing the least action of all my creams. Although I have started to shift more to soap.

Not bashing Proraso and it's offspring at all.

Just saying if you are getting great shaves with the Arko, you might not be able to duplicate it so easily with another cream...

[scg1981]

I agree w/ the "add more water" comments. I have this cream in my rotation along with TOBS lavender. I find the C.O. to hold quite a bit more water than the TOBS.

It is really a great shaving cream. Don't give up!

[Speedwell68]

+1 Proraso is one of the easiest shaving creams to lather up and an excellent performer when you get the right water/cream mix.

+2

Out of all the creams and soaps I have tried (Wilkinson Sword Soap, Erasmic Soap, Cyril R Salter Essential Lime, TOBS Rose, Boots, Palmolive, Real Shaving Co.) Proraso produces by far the best lather.

[FL shaver]

Hey! If it doesn't agree with you, let it go! Way to many other soaps to give a try! Proraso and Bigelow get a lot of love here, and I do get a great shave from both, but I don't think I've used either in over 2 weeks. (Actually, I think I'll use some Proraso tomorrow!) Give it a couple more tries to see if you can get it to work better, and if it doesn't perform for you, don't look back!

[aaronjw124]

I've used the Bigelow, and Proraso bowl. The Bigelow being the tube cream, and the Proraso I'm using the squishy stuff in a tub. They both work equally well, however, they can bite back. What I've found is you MUST keep things warm/hot. If you let the lather get cool, combined with the koala food, and menthol, it will super chill your skin, and create goosebumps, which you will promptly shear off with your blade, resulting in a disaster.

I tend to like a more thick, dryish lather, sort of the consistency of Cool Whip. I find that both products produce just that with a supremely slippery texture which allows the blade to glide across the skin, shearing off the hairs. Once the pass is made, your left with well cooled, smooth track of barren skin.

A buddy of mine had the super cooling issue... Ended up with terrible razor burn, and nearly gave the stuff up. Told him to heat things up, and now he's gone evangelical on me, and I'm the one that bought him his first tube of the stuff!

Anyway, try to devise a way to keep things HOT in the brush and lather department. I have two bowls that nest together beautifully that I use, that keeps things good and hot. When I travel, and am not in a position to bring my kit, I'll simply use my VDH as I get a decent shave, hot or cold from the stuff.

Give 'er another try good and hot, and let us know how it works out...

Aaron

[Cliff Porter]

My wife totally digs it. She simply hand lathers with it in the shower and said she has never had closer shaves. I bought it as part of my noob kit and have not switched from the Dr. H I bought as I want a couple of weeks minimum on a given set of products to ensure if something goes "wrong" its easier to isolate....so the only thing I plan on switching for awhile is blades.

[PanchoVilla]

Along w/ a bunch of others, I have both Proraso and Bigelow. They are slightly different, but certainly my everyday go to creams. The Bigalow is also one of my wife's favorite. Just keep experimenting with density (water). By the way, I often cold shave in summer, so I'm not sure if soap temp. has a lot to do with it. JMHO

The Bigalow is locally available, often 3 for the price of 2. Can't beat that.

[guitarslinger]

I shower-shaved with Bigelow today. I just love it!

[twoods]

I've never tried the bigelow version, but the proraso version is an awesome cream. I love how it smells, lather, and how readily available it is here in Canada. Our main pharmacy chain, Shoppers Drug mart carries most of the line.

[SP120K]

Bigelow is my favorite cream. I've tried a handful of creams and soaps most everything I tried was very good. I think the Bigelow/Proraso (I haven't tried regular Proraso yet) is such a quality product. I love the clean scent and the way the lather tingles once on my face for a couple minutes. I have been getting the best shaves of my life with it. I'm glad I bought 3 tubes of Bigelow because everything else has been cleared from my den for now.