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Feasible to use shaving cream as shampoo?

Many of us have used soaps and creams in the shower for bathing, and it works pretty good. I have used JM Fraser shaving cream as a shampoo just because I wanted to. Of course it lathers and rinses out just fine, and I believe my hair gets clean, but the hair isn't soft and "fluffy" afterward, it's kind of stiff and dry feeling, even though it's wet of course. I'm hoping you guys can explain why shaving cream doesn't make very good shampoo?
 
My guess would be, in part, because shaving creams/soaps have moisturizers added, yes? That would explain why it would weigh down your hair. It's also possible that the surfactants/detergents in your shave soap are more or less harsh than those in your shampoo, so may be cleaning your hair more or less than your shampoo would. After all, shave soap/cream is not made for cleaning-- it's made for slip and cushioning. Just as your shampoo wouldn't work too tell for shaving because it's not designed with the same properties, your shave soap isn't going to be great at a job it's not meant to do, either.

It's also possible that this might be remedied with an apple-cider vinegar rinse; soap (this includes washing your hair with soap and soap-based shampoos like a shampoo bar) can leave residue that weighs your hair down. Most people I know of who use soap or a soap-based shampoo to wash their hair occasionally will do a vinegar rinse afterward.

I've never added moisturizing ingredients to my shampoos, either-- that's what my conditioner is for, IMO. Shampoo is, at least to me, meant to get the excess oil out of my hair. (To be fair, I'm coming at this from the standpoint of someone with long hair-- the hair at my scalp gets the natural oils, but the ends are dry. Hence, the hair near my scalp gets shampoo, and the length of my hair gets conditioner/moisturizing. Your mileage will, of course, vary if the length of your hair doesn't go much past your scalp.)
 
Although I'm relatively new to wetshaving, my understanding is that shaving cream is designed to separate the cells of the hair and strip away any oils and dirt on the hair making it easier to cut. Whereas, shampoo is also made to strip away any dirt or oils but contains other substances to strengthen the hair. Because of this, I would assume that, once washed away, the shaving cream is leaving your hair very dried out. Hopefully one of the other members can explain it better...
 
It doesn't work because it wasn't made for that. There is a bunch of technical-speak as to why but I wouldn't understand that as easily. Maybe you should give toothpaste a shot next? :001_huh:
 
Probably a similar experience to washing your hair with soap? (Although there are people who wash their hair with soap -- I hear it gets better after a couple times).
 
Many of us have used soaps and creams in the shower for bathing, and it works pretty good. I have used JM Fraser shaving cream as a shampoo just because I wanted to. Of course it lathers and rinses out just fine, and I believe my hair gets clean, but the hair isn't soft and "fluffy" afterward, it's kind of stiff and dry feeling, even though it's wet of course. I'm hoping you guys can explain why shaving cream doesn't make very good shampoo?

You would get the same effect after washing your hair with any ordinary soap. It's result of a reaction alkaline salts of fatty acids, wich are the main components of shaving creams, with iron, calcium, magnesium, and other minerals in hard water.

Look here for details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_scum

http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Shave_soaps

So use distilled water or a shampoo :)
 
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