Question about pre-shave, post-shave oils and creams
- Thread starter tinpanalley
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I'd say skip the pre-shave oil. I've never found it provides much help, anyway. As for the aftershave, I'd recommend Nivea Sensitive Balm.
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- #23
Is this really a sentiment shared by everyone? I've been getting a different impression.
I share it, but then again I'm a cream guy. Of the British creams, I also prefer DR Harris. For whatever reason, DRH products across the line work really well for me.
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- #25
Understood... well, I was just hoping for a more Truefitt sandalwood smell with a soap that wasn't as hard to lather. Nothing but problems with Truefitt.
Pre-shave oil must be one of the least understood elements of wet shaving. It's purpose is to help hold the water in your skin, thus keeping it more supple and less likely to be nicked. See the wiki explanation here for a good explanation of the principle: http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/How_Pre-shave_Oil_Works. Pre-shave oil is also one of the best examples of YMMV as everyone seems to have a clear opinion of yes or no on their value. If it works for you then use it. If not, don't. It's that simple.
You'll see the wiki also has a section on after shaves for different skin types. My own opinion is like yours - no alcohol. I'd also suggest trying some that contain shea butter for it's healing qualities.
You'll see the wiki also has a section on after shaves for different skin types. My own opinion is like yours - no alcohol. I'd also suggest trying some that contain shea butter for it's healing qualities.
Maybe you are ready to make the move to soaps. Arko packs the best bang for the buck IMHO. It lathers well if you simply store a puck in a vintage mug and lather it right there in the mug. If you don't want to put up the money for a mug, maybe you can try chasing the puck around in a lather bowl. I've learned to bowl-lather by flecking off just as much soap as I did cream, and just add more water while stirring. Many if not most people find a good soap to be slick without any pre-shave oil. If ordinary soap does not sting or burn, there may be a chance that shaving soap won't either.
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- #29
I am on soaps. I'm asking about oils and after-shave treatments. I know, it's a long thread. Thanks for the tips.
I also have the coarse beard/sensitive skin combo and after a year of experimentation I have settled on a routine that yields close comfortable shaves with little to no irritation.
I don't shower before I shave unless I'm pressed for time. I start by lightly massaging about 6 drops of rice bran and camellia oil into my beard. These are light and very skin nourishing oils. I then put a few drops of lime, spikenard and sometimes helichrysum EO in a bowl and fill with water. I soak 3 barbers towels in the solution wring them out then warm them in the microwave for 2 minutes.
While the hot towels are on my face I warm my full scuttle for 2 more minutes.
After I remove the towels I head into the bathroom and start making a lather. I have found that nothing is as satisfying or performs as well as an uberlather. So I put a bit of cream and glycerin in the bowl and start loading my brush with soap. When I get some lather going from the soap I take a bit in my hand and massage it into my face as a pre shave. Then I go back to making my uberlather while the soap sits on my face.
Once I get a nice rich lather I work it into my beard first with circular motions then painting.
Now comes the razor and I have found that SE razors give me the closest and least irritating shaves so I have switched almost entirely to Schick injectors. I have a couple or E types and G they all shave great - especially with NOS Schick platinum or even more so with Personna 74s which are the sharpest blade I've ever used including feathers.
I usually only do one pass on my neck never more than 2. Sometimes I will use a Sensor on my neck only and the SE on my face. On my face I usually do 3 passes sometimes 4 when I get carried away.
I try to never leave my skin unlathered for very long. Even after I've finished my last pass I will relather and leave it on my shaved face while I brush my teeth then into the shower. The lather is so rich and soothing its like a post treatment and I hate wasting beautiful lather!
In the shower I rinse off the lather and let the warm water soothe my face. After the shower I leave my face damp then apply Lucky Tiger after shave - no alcohol no burn.
The next step is QC unscented balm which I mix with rose water to which I have added some helichrysum EO. This is pretty floral but incredibly soothing.
Last step is LT moisturizer. Sometimes I will follow with a light dusting of pearl powder on my neck. PP is also very healing and anti bacterial.
Its a pretty involved routine but it feels great and I get great shaves and my skin looks and feels great too. The whole thing takes about 35-40 minutes.
I don't shower before I shave unless I'm pressed for time. I start by lightly massaging about 6 drops of rice bran and camellia oil into my beard. These are light and very skin nourishing oils. I then put a few drops of lime, spikenard and sometimes helichrysum EO in a bowl and fill with water. I soak 3 barbers towels in the solution wring them out then warm them in the microwave for 2 minutes.
While the hot towels are on my face I warm my full scuttle for 2 more minutes.
After I remove the towels I head into the bathroom and start making a lather. I have found that nothing is as satisfying or performs as well as an uberlather. So I put a bit of cream and glycerin in the bowl and start loading my brush with soap. When I get some lather going from the soap I take a bit in my hand and massage it into my face as a pre shave. Then I go back to making my uberlather while the soap sits on my face.
Once I get a nice rich lather I work it into my beard first with circular motions then painting.
Now comes the razor and I have found that SE razors give me the closest and least irritating shaves so I have switched almost entirely to Schick injectors. I have a couple or E types and G they all shave great - especially with NOS Schick platinum or even more so with Personna 74s which are the sharpest blade I've ever used including feathers.
I usually only do one pass on my neck never more than 2. Sometimes I will use a Sensor on my neck only and the SE on my face. On my face I usually do 3 passes sometimes 4 when I get carried away.
I try to never leave my skin unlathered for very long. Even after I've finished my last pass I will relather and leave it on my shaved face while I brush my teeth then into the shower. The lather is so rich and soothing its like a post treatment and I hate wasting beautiful lather!
In the shower I rinse off the lather and let the warm water soothe my face. After the shower I leave my face damp then apply Lucky Tiger after shave - no alcohol no burn.
The next step is QC unscented balm which I mix with rose water to which I have added some helichrysum EO. This is pretty floral but incredibly soothing.
Last step is LT moisturizer. Sometimes I will follow with a light dusting of pearl powder on my neck. PP is also very healing and anti bacterial.
Its a pretty involved routine but it feels great and I get great shaves and my skin looks and feels great too. The whole thing takes about 35-40 minutes.
I used Cremo cream as a preshave today since it didn't really work well for me as a shaving cream alone and got good results.
I do the same with "Every Man Jack" shave cream. It works great as a pre shave.
imcndn
I think I picked up that one as well, hah! So I have lots of preshave products all of a sudden...
If you have some oil, you might try rubbing it in your face in the shower and letting it sit while you wash the rest of yourself, then washing it out last. I've used the same method using conditioner and it seems to have a positive effect.
I don't know if I'm over thinking things or being too "technical" with my thinking but... If you apply an oil to your face befor you lather up, anything that does not absorb into the skin would (should) just get worked into the lather effectively being washed away.
I have been following a new routine the past week or so that has led to progressively better shaves. I have been washing my beard well with Williams in the shower then applying a really great smelling beard oil immediately out of the shower. After a few minutes the oil has pretty well absorbed and I lather up with my soap of the day (nice face lather) and shave away. I'm not usually one to use anything with oil or even an after shave balm because I really don't like the feeling but in the spirit of research (and because the beard oil I aquired smells so darn good) I committed to a week long preshave application. Truthfully, the shaves have been pretty nice. Not slicker, just more comfortable by some measure. I credit the comfort to a consistently better hydrated beard (Williams does that) and "happier" skin courtesy of regular application of oils.
I don't think my experience is all that abnormal or special. The Wiki about preshave oils referenced earlier in this thread pretty much predicted this outcome.
I say any routine/product that results in a clean hydrated beard and healthy supple skin will lead to shaving bliss.
I have been following a new routine the past week or so that has led to progressively better shaves. I have been washing my beard well with Williams in the shower then applying a really great smelling beard oil immediately out of the shower. After a few minutes the oil has pretty well absorbed and I lather up with my soap of the day (nice face lather) and shave away. I'm not usually one to use anything with oil or even an after shave balm because I really don't like the feeling but in the spirit of research (and because the beard oil I aquired smells so darn good) I committed to a week long preshave application. Truthfully, the shaves have been pretty nice. Not slicker, just more comfortable by some measure. I credit the comfort to a consistently better hydrated beard (Williams does that) and "happier" skin courtesy of regular application of oils.
I don't think my experience is all that abnormal or special. The Wiki about preshave oils referenced earlier in this thread pretty much predicted this outcome.
I say any routine/product that results in a clean hydrated beard and healthy supple skin will lead to shaving bliss.
I'm reading this thread and thinking that there's a lot of advice from quite a few gentlemen. It's all great advice and each piece comes with validity. Just try one of these things a day. Slowly incorporate each into your routine and very quickly you'll develop better (read: more suited to your skin) habits. Resist the urge to absorb all of it and become overwhelmed. Appreciate the journey as frustrating as it may seem.
Much has been said so I will keep this short and simple. I use a pre-shave oil to protect my dry, sensitive skin from my daily shave. I am not certain if it improves the quality of my shave, but it most certainly benefits my skin. I can completely understand why someone with normal to oily skin would think a pre-shave oil is a waste of time.
For anyone interested, after much trial and error I have come up with this formula for making my own pre-shave oil. It is a mix of heavy and light carrier oils (avocado, castor, apricot and primrose) and glycerin in equal measures. I also add a hint of liquid lanolin. My preferred EOs are peppermint and lavender. I caution you on the liquid lanolin. It has a heavy odor so unless you want to walk around all day smelling like a sheep in need of a bath, just a hint will do.
For anyone interested, after much trial and error I have come up with this formula for making my own pre-shave oil. It is a mix of heavy and light carrier oils (avocado, castor, apricot and primrose) and glycerin in equal measures. I also add a hint of liquid lanolin. My preferred EOs are peppermint and lavender. I caution you on the liquid lanolin. It has a heavy odor so unless you want to walk around all day smelling like a sheep in need of a bath, just a hint will do.
Well said.
Your homemade concoction sounds lovely. I made some pre shave oil ONCE using castor and olive etc ...I'll leave that one to someone else to make. The oil slick in our house was of Exxon proportions. I'm told that castor, as thick as it is, is a quick absorbing oil that is very good for the skin. I recently learned (I believe it might have been Texlaw who informed us) that a drop or two of castor oil added to your uber lather along with glycerin can make a super duper uber lather. Go figure.
But I think I agree wholeheartedly that healthy happy skin tolerates the abuses of shaving better.
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