Pre-shave wash / lotion / anything else

[johnmrson]

The search database seems to be having a problem at the moment so I thought it would be worth asking about pre-shave washes and lotions. Do they actually work and are they worth the extra cost? As I've been out of DE shaving for many years I thought I'd try and get the optimal setup.


Thanks
John

 

[GoldenMonkey]

There are lots of methods for preshave preps, from using soaps like Musgo Real Lime Glyce (a glycerin soap with lime oil, basically just a face wash that helps soften the beard), to Noxema (the thick white stuff) or Proraso Pre as a preshave treatment that softens and opens the pores, to preshave oils, to using hair conditioner in the shower, to "Kyle's Prep", an overly-complicated and laborious procedure (lol). Essentially, whatever you go with, you want to achieve a few things: a clean, oilfree face, softening the beard, exfoliating dead surface skin, and adding moisture to your skin.

I think all the methods have merits, and it should be a key step in your shave ritual, definitely. You don't need to go nutso with it...if you want to make it easy, wash with a mild face soap in the shower, toss some conditioner on your beard, and make sure you rinse your face for a good while with hot (like shower hot, not kill yourself hot) water, and just lather up and have at it.

Personally, I use the Musgo Real or Proraso glycerin br in the shower, then I put whatever's at hand on my beard to sit during the rest of my shower (since I converted to shave soaps and face lathering, I use my old Proraso shave cream for this). When I get out, I rub some Proraso Pre into my beard and skin and let that sit while I do my other "just out of te shower" stuff, and then face lather for a few minutes, and I'm ready to rock.

 

[Manco]

"Kyle's Prep", an overly-complicated and laborious procedure (lol).

How dare you...

 

[xillion]

I second the use of Musgo Real Lime Glyce. I have used it for years with great results. VDH orange also works well for me.

 

[JPM]

I like the George Trumper Skin Foods for pre-shave.

 

[pauls51]

A Massive +1 for Kyles prep..

 

[Augustiner]

you want to achieve a few things: a clean, oilfree face, softening the beard, exfoliating dead surface skin, and adding moisture to your skin.

This is all you need to know really, these are the nuts and bolts of a proper shave. These are the minimum for maximum results. Just achieve these things, how you achieve them is up to you. This experimentation is what "wet-shaving" and this forum are made of.