Pre-shave OILS?

[Archangel14]

Gents:

Spoke with a friend today who sung the praises of a pre-shave oil. I use Proraso green (yet I am green, as I have only had 6 SR shaves to date). It preps my face well. still, it's a bit rough going around the neck with my SR. Would an oil pre-shave help? I would think that an oil would weigh the hairs down, thus defeating the purpose of my carefully planned pre-shave routine, designed to get the hair supple and standing up. If oil is recommended, what brand?

 

[Pasanova]

I've only used AOS preshave oils...I don't think that they are necessary...A good prep is all your need. A warm shower or a hot towel is all that is needed. Pre-shave oils are only good for one thing...clogging your razors!

 

[BigNickel]

You can get a small container of "Real Shave Company" or "Cromwell & Cruthers" for a few dollars in most pharmacies, it does work but probably not any better than the proraso you are already using. If you try it, use it instead of the proraso, and try a hot towel on top for a minute or two, to help soak the oil into your beard.

 

[Archangel14]

I don't really get a "beard". I have whiskers that never develop well. The idea of an oil sounds right, if the purpose is to help reduce irritation. But from what I can gather, it's not all it's cracked up to be.

 

[Nick Danger]

Pre-shave oils are only good for one thing...clogging your razors!

And clogging your pores. Pre-shave oil made my face break out. Some guys like using pre-shave oil, but it was not helpful for me.

Nick

 

[nwjs]

If you have very dry skin it might help... it also counteracts the action of the soap/cream, making it less aggressive, if you have problems with that. Any face cream applied before the shave would probably have the same effect.

 

[smalltank]

I have and still use DR Harris Arlington pre shave..warm fuzzy feeling with light fern scent..and yes reduces irritation compared to not using anything or plain water...

 

[Lmarkow]

I tried one once. It made stretching my skin near to impossible, even with alum. I tossed it in the trash. Of course, ymmv.

 

[Alphonse]

I've only used AOS preshave oils...I don't think that they are necessary...A good prep is all your need. A warm shower or a hot towel is all that is needed. Pre-shave oils are only good for one thing...clogging your razors!

Pre-shave oil is used for prepping your skin, not your hair. It keeps the skin supple and allows for excellent results. Obviously Pananova has never used pre-shave oil, yet commented anyway, as the oil does not clog anything, especially a DE. The oil is absorbed by the skin and is for protection, not for lubrication. Anyway....

 

[gks]

I've only used AOS preshave oils...I don't think that they are necessary...A good prep is all your need. A warm shower or a hot towel is all that is needed. Pre-shave oils are only good for one thing...clogging your razors!

Youre using to much oil if it clogs

 

[oakeshott]

I used T&H pre shave oil for years. Did not clog the razor, didn't mess up the brush, but once my technique improved, am not sure it made any difference at all in the shave. Try it. If it helps, then use it. While testing it, though, keep all your other variables constant so you can determine if there is a noticeable difference.

 

[kcenorez]

I didn't really find preshave oils to do all that much (i had one from jack black, also a couple from anthony logistics i think), and then i switched to proraso white/sensitive preshave cream. The proraso hasn't really been doing much for me either, so i thought i would quit fussing with pre-shave items, but i found an unopened shave secret oil in the back of a drawer and decided to give it shot. so far it seems decent - maybe slightly more effective than the products i've used before. not yet sold on it, tho.

 

[petr]

I used T&H pre shave oil for years. Did not clog the razor, didn't mess up the brush, but once my technique improved, am not sure it made any difference at all in the shave. Try it. If it helps, then use it. While testing it, though, keep all your other variables constant so you can determine if there is a noticeable difference.

T&H oil smells divine. Really. It was one of my favorites. But, still, oil causes a real mess. It's not as much trouble, but will goof up your brush. It's nice stuff though.

Now, Castle Forbes is another story. It turns the hairs into wet noodles to be cut instead of prepping the skin. Brush friendly. Worth it? UP to you.

When in doubt use a glycerin soap wash before your lather shave to achieve the same results OR do what oakshott says.

I don't use oils either any more.

 

[gks]

To add to my last comment. I use it in sensitive areas (around my nose) and hard to shave areas (chin area). It helps a lot with reducing irritation.

I didn't find it useful to do everywhere, but in those areas it is worth it to me.

 

[Mojo88]

Tried several along the way and there is nothing like good prep. I didn't like the way some gunked up the brush or clogged pores, I always seemed to get a pimple after using them.

 

[closer]

I agree, once your shave technique improves, pre-shave oil does not seem to make a difference in the quality of the actual shave itself - unless you have especially dry skin, or when the skin is chapped in the winters, in which case it does wonders to moisturize the skin and prevent damage/irritation during the shave, and also leaves it feeling soft post-shave. I use pure jojoba oil - only 3-4 drops rubbed into a wet beard.

 

[oakeshott]

Towards the end of my pre-shave oil days, I started experimenting with using it on the second pass rather than the first. After a while, it occurred to me that it doesn't do much if only used on the first pass. That following a pre-shave oil pass with two non-pre-shave oil passes didn't make sense. It "seemed" to work better, but I don't really know. You may want to try it on those second and third passes rather than the first since that's usually when most of the skin damage is done.

But I'm just speculating here.

 

[KyMash]

I'll use straight glycerin sometimes as a pre-shave oil, but have not tried much of anything else.

 

[rushchairman]

i like my musgo. in addition to its extra layer of lubrication, it has a really pleasant peppermint scent and i appreciate how it conditions the skin.

 

[Bhenderson]

I like to use the proraso pre shave when using my SE. It seems to help keep me from burning my face a bit. I like it.