A professional barber shaving with oil only (no cream/soap)

[ShavingOnePercent]

I just came across this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAg6CBr7ZmU
(How To Shave With a Double Edge Razor)

His name is Iain Kane, working as a barber in England: http://www.villagebarber.com

What struck me about it is that he doesn't use any cream/soap! Oil only. The first video on YouTube I see someone actually doing this. (I have tried it in the past but back then my blade angle was not very good so I'm considering trying it again.)

What do you think?

 

[mulligano]

He is using his own product - "Village Barber Shave Oil". I've got some and use it both by itself and as a pre-shave under the lather.

I've used some of the cheap oils before - King of Shaves etc. - and found them pretty terrible really. I gave this one a shot and thought it was great! I have used the oil "neat" a handful of times when I'm in a rush and my shave is just as quick, if not quicker, than it used to be with a Fusion and canned foam. Not only do I find that it works well, it also has the benefit of allowing greater "visibility" when shaving. I can see the edge of my sideburns, which is harder to clarify with lather. There's also the benefit of being able to go over the same spot a few times, as the oil doesn't require re-application with each pass.

It also feels really good on my skin, which is part of the reason I use it as a pre-shave. I rub the oil into my skin before making my lather in a bowl, then apply it to my face and shave as normal. With the oil under the lather I can also do touch ups without adding more lather. I know people that also face lather on top of the oil, which I have yet to try.

Basically, shaving oil is one of the most "YMMV" things I've seen in my short time in this hobby. Some people just can't understand the point in it, then there's people like me that use it often but not all the time and I can imagine there being people that use it regularly.

Anyway, I hope this helps a bit - sorry for the essay!

 

[brucered]

It's an Infomercial and he's not only a Professional Barber....he's The Village Barber

He is using his product from start to finish and trying to make it look like magic or snake oil. If he makes a soap/cream in the future, he'll make another video saying how good that is.

He also says NEVER go ATG and only 2 passes (which we all know many can and do)...but my favourite "It's better then having white stuff all over as you can see where you are shaving", What the Heck? what about the fact that you can't tell which areas you have shaved already unless you look with a microscope and see where the oil is on your face

Ahhhh...just got to the end of the video (jumping ahead as I wasn't going to watch an 8min commercial) and now I know why he gets such a good shave, he follows his shave with Village Barber Balm

If it was me, I'd try it as a Pre-Shave oil if you felt the need, but would still use soap/cream and a brush to lather.

 

[rockviper]

I've used Cromwell & Cruthers Shave Oil before to good effect when traveling with a DE before, but haven't tried it with a straight.

 

[Niles]

I know of several experienced wetshavers who use shave oil in place of cream or soap.

 

[FonGu]

From a purely historical perspective, people used nothing but pure olive oil to shave with for eons. This dates back to the time of the Romans, perhaps earlier. I have never shaved with olive oil, but have read the occasional thread on here were people talk about doing it. As to the commercial shave oils (I've tried at least 4)....all are crap to shave with but work ok as a pre-shave step. For me, when I bother with a pre-shave product, Proraso or Noxzema do much better than any oils I've tried.

 

[ouch]

When he's finished, he still looks like he needs a shave.

 

[brucered]

When he's finished, he still looks like he needs a shave.

Maybe he does his 3rd pass ATG, off camera, with soap and a brush

 

[GregersP]

I've been using Iains oil and balm for a year and a half - the oil weekly and the balm daily. You can indeed use it on its own witjout any cream - and you don't need a microscope to see where you have been. I prefer to use some soap on top though. Of course Iain uses his own products in his videos, just like everyone else.

I liked it enough to visit Iains little village shop and have a very nice shave by the man himself last time I was in northeast of the UK (I'm from Denmark but travel to the UK a couple of times a year). I believe Iain is very passionate about his products because he believes in them himself and he had no problems with showing me the base oils, telling about the production of the products etc.

 

[KiltedShaver]

Gents, I have known Iain for quite some time, and while yes, his video is a bit of a commercial, it's for good reason. His shaving oil is superb and is honestly the best oil I've ever used to shave with. It rivals the best creams and soaps out there. I use the oil and balm frequently, sometimes exclusively and sometimes with another product, but anytime I use it I have no complaints. I don't want to sound rude, but before you snark about a man and his products, you should try them yourself before giving your opinion. I would be happy to ship you a sample.

 

[TallyShave]

So it seems those people who have actually used the product all seem to like. Others are just here for the "color" commentary. I have seen this before.

 

[jrward2]

By the way OP, your username is awesome

 

[brucered]

So it seems those people who have actually used the product all seem to like. Others are just here for the "color" commentary. I have seen this before.

I've never seen it happen and have never participated in such shenanigans. but really if we waited for only Village Barber customers to post, we may be waiting a while or have a thread that fizzles out faster then the previous Village Barber threads.

I have no experience with the product, but I did take a serious look into it a while back when IB started carrying it. but after reading a bit and asking someone in the business about it, I went a different direction for my pre-shave needs.

there are a few other threads on Village Barber on here and I haven't read enough to convince me to drop $25 for the oil. granted, i'm not a "shave oil" person, I only use these products as PreShave, like Floids Gel and RR Pro Lube, both of which work great and are good values for the money in my eyes.

As for the video, I don't fully trust self endorsed / promotion of products. Now if a member or 2 come out and claim the same thing, that's a different story...but that's just the way I work and think and no one can tell me it's wrong as it's my opinion and I'm entitled to it whether people like it or not.

I have nothing against the maker, his product or his making a video on his products, it's a wise move. It's also backed with a 100% guarantee (going off the description on his site), so some may be willing to take a shot at it.

 

[ShavingOnePercent]

When he's finished, he still looks like he needs a shave.

What do you mean? Looks shaven to me. If he wanted *nothing* to show, wouldn't he need laser surgery or something to remove the beard completely?

I will admit though that his skin looks a bit red... :S

 

[jpakstis]

Back to the OP, I've used just pre-shave oil before (Pacific) instead of cream, when travelling. It does OK in my experience, but actually I don't buy the whole "visibility" thing; in fact, I find that its the reverse. Seeing the white cream come off tells me "where I've been" rather than the oil.

 

[one cut]

Gents,... before you snark about a man and his products, you should try them yourself before giving your opinion. I would be happy to ship you a sample.

I will take you or Iain up on that offer.

 

[chrisf8657]

So will I...I've been interested in his product but the price is too much to stomach without first trying it.

 

[KiltedShaver]

Chrisf8657 and one cut, if you'll PM me your addresses, I'd be happy to send those samples to you.

 

[DiG3430]

If it isn't too late, I'd love to get in on the samples as well. I used the Walmart stuff now (Shave Secret, I think it's called?) and really like it. It's always nice to know what else is out there, especially when it might be an improvement.

 

[Baloosh]

Tried it before, and for me it performed pretty much like the Shave Secret stuff available at Wal Mart/etc. Nothing tremendous about it at all. Granted it didn't perform any worse than almost every other shave oil I've tried, but it definitely didn't perform any better. And like ouch mentioned, the guy has some pretty bad redness (razor burn?) after the shave in that video.

If you're into shave oils, this one is the best I've come across:

http://www.amazon.com/Oliveology-Skin-Care-Shave-Gel/dp/B0043NSR2I

Kudos to the gent offering to send out samples for guys to try.