Observations on Barbasol canned foam

[cfriend]

Picked up a can of Barbasol yellow with Lanolin from the grocery store today out of pure curiosity. I skipped straight from electric to DE, and as such never experienced canned goos or foams. I have yet to shave with it, but I have applied some to my face to see how it felt. My observations are as follows:

In-hand, the foam is impressively thick and pillowy. On-face, the foam thins quickly while spreading it over the beard. At first, in-hand and on face, the foam seems exceedingly slick. Upon further investigation the foam appears to have a surface tension, oddly enough somewhat similar to pudding skin. There is a perceivable barrier between face and fingertip which was very slick, but upon pressing hard enough to break the barrier the slickness vanished.

I cannot say what the shave experience is like, but I imagine that barrier/layer between skin and blade would be less than sufficient for a comfortable shave. For us, at least. Most of the modern world thinks it's just fine.

 

[Sailorman]

Barbasol was my most recent brand of choice when it came to canned goo. It was not bad for goo, especially considering the price. I don't think I used the yellow variety, but the regular seemed to last forever. I still have 1-2/3 cans left from a 2-for-1 bonus pack that probably set me back $4 months ago. I wouldn't want to use it with my DEs but I keep it around anyway, for what I don't exactly know. Maybe I'm paranoid because I'm still relatively slow at DE shaving. Perhaps in the back of my mind I'm worried that someday I'll be sitting around unshaven and in my boxers when the Publisher's Clearing House guy knocks on the door and I'll need to break out the old M3 and do an emergency 3 minute slash-and-burn for the cameras. I don't think Barabsol would last on the face long enough for a DE pass, at least not at my speed. But for what it is, it's not bad.

Maybe I'll try it with a DE someday just for yuks and write a review!

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

When I used to shave with disposable razors I never even used cream or soaps. I never felt like it would help. The few times I tried the stuff my brother left lying around I was not impressed, and couldn't see why you would use the stuff. Non-aerosol creams are far superior.

 

[wayhow]

Canned goo makes GREAT carpet spot remover. No kidding, used with a stiff brush, it really works. Cheap too.

 

[The Nid Hog]

My personal opinion is that it works just fine. I've always had good results with Barbisol and Noxzema canned creams. BBS shaves, no irritation, etc. I switched to using a shaving brush with soaps and creams because it's fun, not because I wasn't getting good shaves otherwise. In fact, I'll probably pick up the very same can of Barbisol shaving cream one of these days. A couple of Christmases ago my daughters got me one of those hot lather machines and I like to use it every once and a while.

 

[bladebuff]

I use Barbasol (travel size) for many of my road trips, it is quite convenient and works well with a DE or the Mach 3 I travel with due to TSA rules. If you lather up on a good wet face it will give you a pretty cushiony lather that shaves fine, it always leaves my face pretty smooth and clean.

I have also used canned foams when traveling in Europe from Nivea, Speick and Tabac without to much trouble.

Canned gel is another story and I will probably never use again.

 

[raisindot]

Until I became a DE/soap snob, I used Barbasol "yellow" all the time. If I travel, I generall keep a small travel size of B (any kind) with me.

The lanolin definitely makes a difference. It just feels a lot better than the other Barbasols.

If you're going to use a canned goo, I'd recommend it over any other. I've also found it a lot harder to find these days. Usually there's lots of the other kinds but the yellow seems to be out of stock more often than the others.

Jeff

 

[gdc]

Believe it or not, one of my most treasured shaves was with Barbsol. I was in the US on business and had stupidly just taken a small battery operated electric shaver, which I had never used before. Anyway, carnage ensued, I couldn't shave for a couple of days afterwards, and when I did, it was with some 'medicated' Barbasol and a disposable Gillette Sensor. Felt good!

 

[mliguori]

Barborsol leaves my face feeling rather tacky after shaving, that barrier that you mentioned seems to just stick around a while after shaving. It makes me feel generally icky, so I stick with my soaps and brushes.

 

[ateace]

Yellow Barbasol was my regular choice just before switching to a brush. That and the old Rise Baby Face with baby lotion were the two best out there.

I still keep the canned stuff around for variety and when I just need to do a quick one-pass shave.

If you make sure to work out all the propellant and don't skimp on the water, the canned stuff is pretty good.

 

[Pike]

I learned to shave on this stuff...I never had any problems with it...I used it for many years. Of course I wasn't comparing it to anything else at the time....Since discovering good creams and brushes in recent years I haven't gone back to make a comparison. All I can say is it gets the job done well!! I tried some gel goo once and found that if you don't really work it with your fingertips it clogs the razor.

cc

 

[KaiserKrebs]

I actually Like the smell of Barbasol...I use the "yellow" as a whisker softener, as a part of my pre-shave prep in the shower. It can be found at the.99 cents only stores in my area, and I find that the extra step in prep really improves my DE shave without using up too much of my "good" soap, cream etc. They must be doing something right,they've been in business since 1919.

Yes its use does not require the ceremony, and ritual of a brush. However, I don't believe that there was anything around as far as razors other than Straights, DE's, SE's, Roll's etc at the time that Barbasol came to market. I'm sure these guys were very happy about it.

 

[kingfisher]

.....
If you make sure to work out all the propellant and don't skimp on the water, the canned stuff is pretty good.

So does this mean that you lather it with a brush? I've never even thought of that. I thought it was designed to be put into the hands and then directly onto the face.

 

[mmack66]

They must be doing something right,they've been in business since 1919.

Yes its use does not require the ceremony, and ritual of a brush. However, I don't believe that there was anything around as far as razors other than Straights, DE's, SE's, Roll's etc at the time that Barbasol came to market. I'm sure these guys were very happy about it.

Canned shaving cream has only been around since the mid-Fifties. Anything before that was likely cream in a tube and a completely different product ingredient wise. However, millions of DE shavers did use canned shaving cream.

 

[Abdiel]

As far as canned goo goes it's truly one of the better ones out there. I still keep a can around for emergency shaves when I need to shave and go.

Quality products can be found in almost all categories, the biggest factor for better shaves is technique, not always equipment.

 

[TheBigL]

So does this mean that you lather it with a brush? I've never even thought of that. I thought it was designed to be put into the hands and then directly onto the face.

I use canned foam with a brush almost every time I used canned foam (not all that often). Sometimes I'm too tired in the evenings to "make" lather or I'm experimenting and want a consistent lather.

I especially like brushed Gillette classic foams, like the barbershop and menthol varieties. Plus it keeps my hands cleaner for multiple passes.

 

[Myanmar Shave]

Yellow Barbasol w/Lanolin is a very good product for being a canned creme. If you do a good hot water prep and rub the creme very well into your beard, let it sit for two mins. or so, you will get a nice comfortable shave.

I enjoy the brush and quality soap/creme as much as the next guy but I won't bash the canned cremes the way some do here. For years I used either Colgate or Foamy Lemon/Lime and a Sensor and I never recall pain, irritation or a "longing for something better"...

I'm a brush guy now because it's more fun...and the choices of soaps and creams from around the world are cool to experience. But really I could get by on my old set-up.

I love Gillette Barbershoppe Clean Foamy...One of the best scents in shaving!

From a Can!!!

Marty E.

 

[Sailorman]

It ain't half bad for goo. Just by coincidence I ran into the receipt for my last purchase of Barbasol just today after I made that previous post. It was even cheaper than I remembered. $2 for twin bonus pack at Big Lots. It wasn't the yellow variety though. $1 for a big can gives Gondrej a run for the money.

 

[Topgumby]

Canned shaving cream has only been around since the mid-Fifties. Anything before that was likely cream in a tube and a completely different product ingredient wise. However, millions of DE shavers did use canned shaving cream.

Ah, the good ol' days...

 

[mmack66]

Ah, the good ol' days...

Well, the guy is just a head and upper chest with no arms, so he needs some help.