Check-in and a question

**Jotun** · 09-11-2006, 07:11 PM

Hi all,

I've recently gotten interested in trying a de again, I think last time was in the early 70's and with Dad's razor.

The brush and lather routine sounds like a relaxing ritual for many here, but I'm curious if any are using or have experimented with using a shaving oil with a de. I currently use a m3 with oil and find it (eventually) removes the hair with no irritation, though it takes me many passes atg usually. Only three drops of the oil and no reapplication between passes.

Thank you,
Al

**MasonM** · 09-11-2006, 07:18 PM

Welcome to the classiest forum on the net!

I don't have any experience with oils but I'm sure one of the fine gentlemen here can answer your question.

**Jim** · 09-11-2006, 07:22 PM

Hi Al Welcome!
Why not jump in with both feet and give it a try with the full rig? Lather is key for me and I could not get the shaves I do without it. You will get a lot of support and advice here.do you still have your DE razor?

**PalmettoB** · 09-11-2006, 07:28 PM

Welcome aboard, Al. I second the lather impulse, but whatever works for you. But you'll never go back to the multi-blade manglers again if you start back to using a DE.

**gc_30286** · 09-12-2006, 05:22 AM

welcome to B&B

I have never tried shaving oil but i have heard many here say they did not like it. im sure someone with experince will be able to shed more light on it.

matthew

**GeeQue** · 09-12-2006, 05:26 AM

I've tried it...but for me a nice, wet, slippery lather works best - especially if the soap itself contains good lubricants.

**J_P_K** · 09-13-2006, 09:09 AM

Welcome!

**rusirius** · 09-13-2006, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Jotun

Hi all,

I've recently gotten interested in trying a de again, I think last time was in the early 70's and with Dad's razor.

The brush and lather routine sounds like a relaxing ritual for many here, but I'm curious if any are using or have experimented with using a shaving oil with a de. I currently use a m3 with oil and find it (eventually) removes the hair with no irritation, though it takes me many passes atg usually. Only three drops of the oil and no reapplication between passes.

Thank you,
Al

Welcome to the site first and foremost! As for your question, I think it comes down to the effect on your beard. I myself have not used oil, but can imagine a comparison between it and cream/soap.

When your talking about shaving, particularly wet shaving, the "wet" is there for a reason.

The BEST prep you can give your beard before shaving it is to clense it with something to remove the oil from it and your skin, followed by heat and water (and possibly some pre-shave or conditioning). The reason for this is simple. Whiskers are actually quite "hard". I've heard the comparison made between them and copper wire of comparible diameter. Now imagine "shaving" a face full of copper wire. Not a pleasent thought huh? The only way to "soften" the whiskers is to get them warm and let them absorb water.

The water is why it's good to clense the oil off first, oil repels water, therefore preventing the whiskers from absorbing any.

Once the whiskers have absorbed water, they become fairly soft and therefore a quite easy to cut. Being easy to cut not only means an easier time shaving, and a longer lasting blade, but it also means you can do it with far less irritation.

Ask anyone who wet shaves and they'll tell you, PREPARATION is where you MAKE or BREAK a shaving experience....

The lather acts as a lubrication and "cushion" between the blade and your skin. This helps prevent irritation. It also helps to "keep" water on the whiskers so that they remain soft, and actually continue to get softer.

Now on to your shaving oil. It acts much the same as a lather in that it acts as a lubrication and provides a "Barrier" between your skin and the blade. This will help prevent irritation.

I can't for the life of me think of how an "oil" could possibly soften the whiskers. It isn't getting "absorbed" by them, since that would lead to it drying out and needed multiple applications, etc... The fact that it "stays" on the skin tells me that it's doing just that.

Which means your whiskers are just as hard as they are if you were shaving dry. That's going to be VERY hard on your blades.

I guess it also comes down to pampering as well. For me, when I rub Proraso pre-shave on my face while standing in a steaming shower, the feeling is remarkable. Then to top it off with a steaming towel over my face after the shower. Sitting back and "feeling" the morning... It's fantastic. Rinsing it off, and lathering up with a terrific smelling english cream... Closing your eyes and breathing in deep breaths of it's scent... Feeling the warmth of the lather and the soft bristles brushing against your face... The bite of the alum bar... The sting of the splash...

It's something I wouldn't give up for anything. That's what the experience is all about to me. Take all those things away, and I might as well be back to using goo out of a can.

**moses** · 09-13-2006, 10:36 AM

Al,

I have actually shaved with just shaving oil. Specifically Pacific Shave Oil. It worked ok, I found, but frankly I get a better shave with a good lather. If I use just the PSO, I have to use quite a lot of it to get good coverage. Also, I find it slightly sticky, as opposed to slippery. This may not be inherently a bad thing, but I like the feeling of less resistence with a more slippery medium.

As a result, for me, I would use shave oil in a minimalist kit, for example if I wanted to shave while backpacking for some odd reason (maybe if my GF was along - she does like the smooth feel better). Otherwise, I prefer lather with a brush, or for speed, a good brushless cream.

Really, if you don't want to always take the time to use a brush (once you try it, you will though), I would go the brushless cream route, rather than the shave oil route.

Good luck.

Moses

**vox_rox** · 09-13-2006, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by moses

I have actually shaved with just shaving oil. Specifically Pacific Shave Oil. It worked ok, I found, but frankly I get a better shave with a good lather.

I find the same thing. I used to get fairly close but irritating shaves with my Trac II and oil, but they were better than Trac II with lather. With my DE, the oil just didn't seem to work very well, not comfortable or close at all, I'm not sure why. Maybe it was because of what was mentioned earlier, there's just no softening of the whisker, or not as much, and the DE blade is much different than a Trac II balde.

Originally Posted by moses

As a result, for me, I would use shave oil in a minimalist kit, for example if I wanted to shave while backpacking for some odd reason (maybe if my GF was along - she does like the smooth feel better). Otherwise, I prefer lather with a brush, or for speed, a good brushless cream.

Again, moses is right. In a pinch, if that's all you could get, and you had a DE, it would work - in a pinch. I would certainly do it again, it's just not as good as a rich lather, nothing beats it.

And the idea of just bringing along a brushless cream, although I'm not a fan of those either, would still be preferable to an oil, for me anyway.

Of course, this is really one of those YMMV things, but my experience has moved me away from the oils. My wife likes them for her legs and pits, so she can have them. Give me a bowl of nice thick lather any day.

Peace,

Pierre

**moses** · 09-13-2006, 02:38 PM

One thing I did forget. I have had decent success using it straight for touch up only.

**Jotun** · 09-13-2006, 08:34 PM

I'm not sure about the whiskers not having been softened, because I shave in the shower after shampooing, but it's a possibilty. One of the reasons I do like the oil, is that I'm shaving around my beard and can see where I want to shave perhaps better than if there were a lot of lather. I plan to order a de soon and will probably experiment with both lather and oil. Thank you all for the information and ideas, this seems like a very involved and supportive crowd. :)

Al