Hello everyone!
Prior to becoming a traditional wet shaver, I was using Gillette cart razors, and a Panasonic Arc4 electric shaver. Back when I as a kid, I was using Barbasol canned foam cause thats what my dad had. The product comes out of the can extremely fluffy, there is not much water to it at all, and thus, it doesn't seem to provide much slickness. But that is what I used for a few years, and I honestly believe it contributed to redness on my face. Then I switched to using Gillette & Edge shaving gel's, which are also found in a can. They seemed to provide more slickness, but I still never got quality shaves with either cart or electric.
Flash forward to modern day... So, I've been a traditional wet shaver for about 7-months now. And ever since experiencing the pure awesomeness, of creating a slick moisturizing yogurt lather with artisan shave soaps, I couldn't imagine now days going back to a can of Barbasol! I have some video's to share from GeoFatBoy, that you may find enlightening on the subject...
In this video, GeoFatBoy uses straight Barbasol from the can, you will notice a few things here. First of which, the product comes out super airy and foamy, due to lack of water in it. Additionally, there is no real quality scent that comes from the product, its a very basic fresh scent. Then, as he begins shaving, we hear a ton of audio feedback from the razor, perhaps the loudest feedback I've ever heard, and I have course whiskers just like him! Then notice how the razor begins dragging on his skin due to lack of slickness? Its clear that Barbasol is not providing the ideal consistency of lather, that one requires to get a quality shave.
Now after the shave was over, he did his usual routine of running the alum stick over his face. According to his report, he was getting a ton of stinging feedback, which he normally never gets after a traditional wet shave. Its just another key factor that demonstrates, that Barbasol lacks the miniaturization and slickness that a wet shave requires, and his face was left irritated afterwords.
A viewer gave GeoFatBoy an interesting tip. They suggested that he put some Barbasol in a shaving bowl, then add some water. Then begin using a shaving brush as you normally would, to work up a lather to the proper consistency. Geo noticed right away, as he began doing this, he was able to change the consistency of the foam, into a more proper moisturized and slick cream, which is ideally what you want. After applying to his face with the brush, he noticed that it was a far better lather from the get go. As he began shaving, he could tell right away, that the Barbasol was far slicker.
As you can see in this video, he achieved a far better shave, the razor was no longer dragging against his skin. After he finished, he ran the alum stick over his face and neck, and guess what? No stinging!
There is a good reason why most of us traditional wet shavers use proper shave soaps, and work up a proper lather to a nice slick consistency, that has plenty of moisture. I know what my opinion is, I prefer traditional shaving soaps, and perhaps creams that don't burn my skin from some weird ingredient in them. I also prefer soaps that have excellent scents, which is why artisan soaps, like those from Stirling, are so appealing to me. But what say you, mighty fine wet shavers out there on B&B, what is your philosophy? And additionally, has your opinions changed at all on canned Barbasol, after watching those video's?
Prior to becoming a traditional wet shaver, I was using Gillette cart razors, and a Panasonic Arc4 electric shaver. Back when I as a kid, I was using Barbasol canned foam cause thats what my dad had. The product comes out of the can extremely fluffy, there is not much water to it at all, and thus, it doesn't seem to provide much slickness. But that is what I used for a few years, and I honestly believe it contributed to redness on my face. Then I switched to using Gillette & Edge shaving gel's, which are also found in a can. They seemed to provide more slickness, but I still never got quality shaves with either cart or electric.
Flash forward to modern day... So, I've been a traditional wet shaver for about 7-months now. And ever since experiencing the pure awesomeness, of creating a slick moisturizing yogurt lather with artisan shave soaps, I couldn't imagine now days going back to a can of Barbasol! I have some video's to share from GeoFatBoy, that you may find enlightening on the subject...
In this video, GeoFatBoy uses straight Barbasol from the can, you will notice a few things here. First of which, the product comes out super airy and foamy, due to lack of water in it. Additionally, there is no real quality scent that comes from the product, its a very basic fresh scent. Then, as he begins shaving, we hear a ton of audio feedback from the razor, perhaps the loudest feedback I've ever heard, and I have course whiskers just like him! Then notice how the razor begins dragging on his skin due to lack of slickness? Its clear that Barbasol is not providing the ideal consistency of lather, that one requires to get a quality shave.
A viewer gave GeoFatBoy an interesting tip. They suggested that he put some Barbasol in a shaving bowl, then add some water. Then begin using a shaving brush as you normally would, to work up a lather to the proper consistency. Geo noticed right away, as he began doing this, he was able to change the consistency of the foam, into a more proper moisturized and slick cream, which is ideally what you want. After applying to his face with the brush, he noticed that it was a far better lather from the get go. As he began shaving, he could tell right away, that the Barbasol was far slicker.
There is a good reason why most of us traditional wet shavers use proper shave soaps, and work up a proper lather to a nice slick consistency, that has plenty of moisture. I know what my opinion is, I prefer traditional shaving soaps, and perhaps creams that don't burn my skin from some weird ingredient in them. I also prefer soaps that have excellent scents, which is why artisan soaps, like those from Stirling, are so appealing to me. But what say you, mighty fine wet shavers out there on B&B, what is your philosophy? And additionally, has your opinions changed at all on canned Barbasol, after watching those video's?