Proraso questions.

**DeepOvertone** · 05-26-2012, 10:40 AM

I'm a total newbie and I have a couple questions that I didn't notice anyone mentioning before. The first and only shave soap/cream that I have purchased is the Proraso in the green tube. I've seen mention that there are different packagers or manufacturers?? I'm not to clear on this. Anyway, on to my main question.. I noticed that the Proraso is rather "scummy". It leaves a nasty film on my razor as well as my mug and I'm sure my sink and brush too. Is this common for most soaps? Just Proraso? Or is it because of my water? I'm pretty sure I have hard water. I don't have any trouble getting a decent lather out of it but the film it leaves is nasty. Are there indeed different versions of the same Proraso? If so, how can they be identified? Is there a difference in performance/scent?

Thanks for the info!

**DeepOvertone** · 05-26-2012, 03:48 PM

No opinions?

**nrv216** · 05-26-2012, 04:04 PM

While I am no expert, in my experience Proraso leaves no more or less residue than any other soap or cream I have used. For me the place I really notice the "scum" you speak of is on the blade of my straight in between strokes. I find that if I use running water to rinse my blade instead of stagnant sink water I eliminate the scum. I do not think the scum is really an issue anyway. It is just a film of soap water and sometimes facial hair. Rinse everything well so it is not sitting on your equipment and you will be fine.

As far as your proraso questions there are whole threads on the subject if you search. It seems that the general consensus is that the new is slightly different but ymmv in terms of performance. Most sellers label their product either new or old formula.

nrv216

**jazzguy** · 05-26-2012, 04:12 PM

Proraso is a maker of shaving soaps and creams. They make several different formulations with somewhat different properties and scents. Every shaving cream and soap I've used from every manufacturer leaves some residue on my razors so I don't think you are having an unusual experience with this product. You can search the forums for threads on cleaning your razors and brushes. I use toothpaste and a toothbrush on my razors when I want to clean them up.

**DeepOvertone** · 05-26-2012, 04:13 PM

I see. The scum doesn't just rinse off even with hot water. I had to rub my razor down with a paper towel to get it off. I'm not talking a gentle wipe either.. It was stuck on there. I'm worried about that stuff gunking up my brush. I think I'll try distilled to see if it has the same effect.

**Sunflake** · 05-26-2012, 05:00 PM

You will also find C.O. Bigelow at Bath and Bodyworks is made by Proraso. And I have hard water after the shave I rinse the razor under hot water and wipe the residue off on my terry cloth hand towel. Comes off easy. Proraso also makes the green (Eucalyptus) in a soap Green tub. Also a Green Tea & Oat soap in a white tub. Red (Sandalwood/Shea butter) cream in a red/white tube. Hope this helps.

**bpire2002** · 05-26-2012, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by jazzguy

Proraso is a maker of shaving soaps and creams. They make several different formulations with somewhat different properties and scents. Every shaving cream and soap I've used from every manufacturer leaves some residue on my razors so I don't think you are having an unusual experience with this product. You can search the forums for threads on cleaning your razors and brushes. I use toothpaste and a toothbrush on my razors when I want to clean them up.

I use a toothbrush and dish washing soap

**Bobtrumpet** · 05-26-2012, 10:00 PM

Proraso is somewhat "scummier" in the hard water here in Dallas than are many other creams. I'm not sure why this is, but there you go. This is more apparent to me when rinsing out the lather bowl than the razor or brush.

I've found that Neutrogena Anti-Residue shampoo does a very good job of getting the hard water soap/cream residue out of the brush. I use it to clean my brushes every few months.

**bpire2002** · 05-27-2012, 12:08 AM

Same here in Houston.....Water so hard it hurts to drink it

**Clovis Man** · 05-27-2012, 07:10 AM

My water is plenty hard, too, but I find that if I use enough water, then my Bigelow doesn't "scum up" nearly as much. And Bigelow is made by Proraso, so I suspect you can try the same.

I've been using stagnant sink water (thanks, NRV216!

) to rinse my razor for several months now, and I can simply touch the tips of my brush to the surface of the water a time or two, until there's enough water to work properly. It's easy to let it get too dry.

**VerbaVolant** · 05-27-2012, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by DeepOvertone

...Is this common for most soaps? Just Proraso? Or is it because of my water?...

It is your water.

**njpaddy** · 05-27-2012, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by DeepOvertone

The scum doesn't just rinse off even with hot water. I had to rub my razor down with a paper towel to get it off.

If I'm not in a rush, I take the blade out and wipe my razor down with a paper towel most days, especially if I'm using a cream. With my well water, the buildup is worse with creams than soaps. If I'm using my gold plated Merkur HD it's even more noticeable. For rinsing the brush I squeeze from the base of the knot as seen in Mantic's video. Every 3-6 months, depending on use, I may give it a deeper cleaning with dish detergent and vinegar rinse as shown here. I've used Borax as shown in Mantic's video, but find dish detergent is just as good and faster.

**fine wine** · 05-27-2012, 08:14 AM

Film? scum? Try cleanimg your bathroom from top to bottom. The militry way of-course..................

................JR

**DeepOvertone** · 05-27-2012, 08:21 AM

Thank you all for the replies! I'm definitely going to try the distilled water and see if it reacts the same way. And thanks for the tip about the residue cleaning shampoo! I hadn't thought about that!!

I wanted to ask the fellow proraso enthusiasts about the scent. I find that the tube I have is very very mild. I've heard others talk about it being jam packed with menthol goodness.. I can barely detect any menthol.. And my friends usually regard me as being able to smell things most other people can't. Did they reformulate recently? Did I perhaps get a dud? I went give it a smell just now and again I can barely detect menthol. Its mostly just a soapy smell. Thanks

**Go West Young Man** · 05-27-2012, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by DeepOvertone

Thank you all for the replies! I'm definitely going to try the distilled water and see if it reacts the same way. And thanks for the tip about the residue cleaning shampoo! I hadn't thought about that!!

I wanted to ask the fellow proraso enthusiasts about the scent. I find that the tube I have is very very mild. I've heard others talk about it being jam packed with menthol goodness.. I can barely detect any menthol.. And my friends usually regard me as being able to smell things most other people can't. Did they reformulate recently? Did I perhaps get a dud? I went give it a smell just now and again I can barely detect menthol. Its mostly just a soapy smell. Thanks

The Proraso soap has a menthol-y hint to it, but not much. The CREAM, on the other hand, is a giant menthol bomb!

Also, note that Proraso sells some product to a few other companies (Omega, C.O.Bigelow, iirc) who sell it under their own name/brand/packaging. As far as we can tell it's the same product all 3 ways.

**DeepOvertone** · 05-27-2012, 04:51 PM

What I have is the cream in the tube. Not the soap in the jar and I'm fairly confident that there is barely any menthol in it. The ingredients do list it on the box it came in but I can barely detect it.

**Mad Man** · 05-27-2012, 08:15 PM

I guess the question here is what EXACTLY is soap scum???

It is the formation of insoluble calcium and magnesium salts from hard water. Soap scum is formed when a calcium ion from hard water binds to the soap. For basins and some tapwear vinegar is recommended as a reagent to remove the "scum" but for shaving gear like razors etc I would hesitate putting vinegar ANYWHERE near the parts as there are horror stories about vintage razors losing plating/chroming etc after cleaning with vinegar.

So, soap scum is a BIG clue that water is hard.

And, vinegar GOOD for clean basin; BAD or MAYBE for razors. Recommend an old soft bristled toothbrush and some green detergent.

**DaveMartell** · 05-27-2012, 11:12 PM

I've had a similar problem with Proraso in that it's kunked up a couple of my brushes in a way that they wouldn't build lather when used with other soaps & creams. I finally turned to vinegar to flush the scuz out of my brushes and they went back to normal.

**Clovis Man** · 05-28-2012, 06:11 AM

You have to use plenty of water, that's for sure.

**Aaron W.** · 05-28-2012, 05:20 PM

Been my experiance that all soaps/creams do that.I have good city water.I wipe off my razor when I change the blade and once a month an old toothbrush and some toothpaste makes it shine like new.Proraso just changed it's formula other than that it was the same stuff in Omega and CO Bigelow.I've used my simpson daily for two years and it hasnt been gunky.I think I've cleaned it once.I've used Tabac and Proraso steady for a year now.