"Menthol closes pores and stiffens your beard"

[waliguy]

I ran across this statement on http://haircutsformen.org/buzz/pages/tipsshave.htm and wanted to know your thoughts. Truth or utter BS?

Stay away from gels or products which contain menthol, which will close your pores and stiffen your beard.

[da0acer0]

Doesn't prorasro have menthol in it?

[yardpup01]

Doesn't prorasro have menthol in it?

I believe it does, however not being a specialist on menthol I have no clue as to whether it stiffens hair or closes pores.

[joel]

Menthol is a bad thing to have in shaving creams and soaps for a myriad of reasons. Not only does it counteract, or lessen other additives in a soap/cream from softening hair, it numbs your face, which often causes fellas to add MORE pressure. When i'm shaving, I don't want a numb, or "pulsing" face - I want to feel the blade and what it's doing as best as possible.

An aftershave? Menthol it up baby! For shaving creams/soaps - in my opinion at least, it's a big no, no and is somewhat pointless.

[Henchman]

WHAT!!

You are shaking the foundation that my entire shaving experience is built upon.

I love Proraso.

Hench

[Baloosh]

I've been doing a bit of research, and perhaps this link (and especially the "Related links" along the right side) might help us find out:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1414120&dopt=AbstractPlus

No mention specifically on pores, but I found the information on how it causes the skin to feel and react very interesting.

[Henchman]

Whats the difference between menthol and camphor?

hench

[mozart]

I think the idea behind using compounds that close pores and stand stubble up straight is that it gets easier to cut. Some gents use witch hazel for a similar purpose. Whether that works probably depends on the individual. Proraso Pre/Post contains other ingredients that soften stubble. One can argue about the usefulness of mixtures with counteractive ingredients. However, in the end it comes down to simply trying it out.

For myself, Proraso Pre/Post doesn't seem to be doing anything that hot water wouldn't be able to do too. I actually use Trumper's Skin Foods as a pre-shave, mostly for their moisturizing properties (well, they smell good, too).

Best - MM

[moses]

I'm with Joel on this one. During shave - No. After - Absolutely.

-Mo

[Lynchmeister]

Are you guys mistaking the eucalyptus in Proraso for menthol, or does it in fact have both?

[Handy]

Are you guys mistaking the eucalyptus in Proraso for menthol, or does it in fact have both?

It has both.

[Lynchmeister]

It has both.

Duh! Linux has been causing my brain to have more brain farts than normal lately. Now I'm remembering the "mentolo" on the label.

[solloron]

NOOOO!!!!! This means proraso is bad :tongue_sm haha it may be bad for your skin but i havent seen this issue i get great shaves with it...and will continue to get great shaves :biggrin:

[singlemalt65]

+1

I to will continue to get great shaves with Proraso!

Bruce

[Handy]

Proraso is going out of buisness now.
They have had a nice run selling shaving cream with menthol in it. How long have they been around anyways.......?

[paydepst]

That site also recommends using the Mach 3...:rolleyes:


This is another YMMV. I enjoy my menthol creams and I plan on continuing to do so God willing. Menthol figures in a number of creams so it can't be all bad. If you like it use it I say. :smile:

[ScottS]

Proraso is going out of buisness now.


Are you sure?? Where did you hear this??

[joch]

I'm with Joel on this one. During shave - No. After - Absolutely.

-Mo

Well, the following companies make shaving creams with menthol:
Proraso, Gillette, Williams, Palmolive, Ingram, Arko, Boots, Noxzema and I am sure many others that I do not remember. Are the research labs of these companies not aware of the pitfalls of having menthol in a shaving cream? I honestly want to know.

[mozart]

Are you sure?? Where did you hear this??

We need a "sarcasm" emoticon!

Best - MM

[SteveS]

If you've been happily using mentholated creams with no ill effects, why worry about theoretical problems with using it? :confused:

[TrueTillBrew]

I ran across this statement on http://haircutsformen.org/buzz/pages/tipsshave.htm and wanted to know your thoughts. Truth or utter BS?


Utter BS.
I've been using Ingram cream for 20 years and it softens the beard just as nicely as non-mentholated creams.

[rafikz]

Menthol is a bad thing to have in shaving creams and soaps for a myriad of reasons. Not only does it counteract, or lessen other additives in a soap/cream from softening hair, it numbs your face, which often causes fellas to add MORE pressure. When i'm shaving, I don't want a numb, or "pulsing" face - I want to feel the blade and what it's doing as best as possible.

An aftershave? Menthol it up baby! For shaving creams/soaps - in my opinion at least, it's a big no, no and is somewhat pointless.


400 % agree

[badgerman]

The guy says to stay away from mentholated goo and then says 'brush is better'. The point is not whether the goo is mentholated or not: the point is goo vs. brush. I think the mentholated goo he must have tried failed to soften his beard (hence the 'stiffening') not because it was mentholated, but because it was goo.

[vespergo]

WHAT!!

You are shaking the foundation that my entire shaving experience is built upon.

I love Proraso.

Hench

last winter i used it exclusively so don't feel bad... i think it does a great job. it's just not what i'm currently into at this moment though.

[Treadstone]

Jeez, I added menthol EO to my SC this AM. The beard was nice and soft and the shave was great. And this was AFTER I used mentholated Prep Pre-shave cream.

Or maybe I can't tell cuz my face is numb.......:biggrin:

Sorry, but this is utter BS, IMHO.

[shadow]

Proraso is going out of buisness now.
They have had a nice run selling shaving cream with menthol in it. How long have they been around anyways.......?

is it seriously?

[krayziehustler]

i think the menthol is only there for the cooling effects, any other side effect it may have is canceled out by the other ingredients

[mozart]

is it seriously?

I repeat my request for a "sarcasm" emoticon :lol: :lol:

Best - MM

[Steerpike]

I think it's quite clear that the article in question is mainly there to sell products, and is written by someone without much of an understanding of how shaving soaps work on the hairs. Note that he suggests pre shave oil for softening the stubble.

[Bahamianlvr]

If you've been happily using mentholated creams with no ill effects, why worry about theoretical problems with using it? :confused:

This I agree with. Just like red meat and too much wine, I'll take my chances!

[Nancy Boy]

I'm not a huge fan of menthol, but it is nice in the summer. I haven't had any bad shaves just because it had menthol in it.

I say stop the madness. Next they'll be saying that non-mentholated shaving cream makes you impotent. :blushing:

[Consettmag]

I'm a big fan of menthol and can't believe all this talk of it being not suitable in creams.

I shaved this morning with the ultimate menthol boost, Ingram Cream, a 7, yes, 7 day old Derby blade in the Slant and had no ill effect...

You just can't whack that last cold rinse of cold water regardless of the season.

FWIW, for me it's all about prep....

[waliguy]

The response seems to be split a little here.

I happen to really enjoy menthol. Just from personal experience I've never thought it stiffened my beard at all.