Preshave oil- help me understand

[shamelin]

Greetings, gents-

After years of DE shaving, I've recently made the switch to straight razors. All in all, things are going really well, but the first few days I ended up with a few nicks and some razor burn.

I discussed this in passing with another B&B member, and he suggested that I prep with preshave oil.

I used preshave oil when I first started with DE shaving, but stopped early on because the chemistry didn't make sense to me.

Why would you use oil and soap together? It seems that the minute you start using a brush on your oiled face, the soap would begin emulsifying the oil, especially if you're someone with a boar brush that likes to exfoliate. Not only that, but there would be oil transferred to the brush, which would also emulsify your scuttle or bowl soap the minute you start whipping things up. Finally, oil seems like it would decrease a brush's ability to retain water and possible may degrade the long-term integrity of the brush hair.

Isn't it better to have a good quality soap or cream with that dense yogurt weight and super slickness, rather than oil your face and degrade your soap and brush?

I'd love to hear from all you chemists out there.

 

[bemiller]

Every soap you are using contains oil, just picking up the first soap I have accessible, Strop Shoppe, oils are: castor oil, coconut pol, palm oil and rice bran oil. The way soap works is that by adding lye (i.e., sodium hydroxide) to oil, it creates a double-head hydro-lipid which is half hydrophilic/ half hydrophobic. In essence soap is part water, part oil. It will maintain it's oil-like properties (such as lubrication), but will also be able to wash away easily like water (think of how hard it is to wash motor oil, baby oil, fish oil off your hands, but soap just requires warm water).

To get to the point, adding a preshave oil merely is adding another layer of protective lubrication that is not as easily washed away as the soap will be.

 

[shavefreak]

By the time you lather and soap up the oil does not get in the brush much or gum up anything, I like soap better. I am going to try this next, a shave gel, not a pre but a full shave gel. I love how Joe writes descriptions If anyone had tried it let me know.

http://www.italianbarber.com/razorock-evil-eye-lime-shave-gel

 

[barko78]

Disclaimer - I'm not a chemist...

I've tried both oil based and non oil based. I would purchase a non oil based pre shave again, but I did not like the oil based. A hot towel seems to work best though.

 

[Marco]

My friend, pre-shave oils and pre-shave treatments in general seem to divide opinions quite a lot. Some say the are necessary, some say they are totally a waste of money and time. My opinion is half road and I think they can simply help. If you have little time to prep with piping hot water, have a very thick beard or sensitive skin oils can help to soften the whiskers, protect the skin and allow the blade to glide better. As about your last questions, I have never seen a brush damaged by the use of oils or an inferior quality lather when mixed with them.

 

[BillC]

As said above, lots of opinions here regarding the usefulness of a PSO. I agree with the OP regarding mixing oils and soap but I still use a PSO, here's why. I use the PSO for my skin, not for additional glide during the shave. I rub a few drops of oil onto my wet face before I start getting my stuff together for the shave. By the time I put brush to face the little bit of oil has absorbed into my skin. The idea is to make the skin more supple so it can move beneath the razor and have less proclivity to nicks and scrapes. I think you'd get the same benefit from a moisturizer the night before, but I don't do that

 

[Vivasanti]

Since starting with straights I've been using more preshave, been using King of Shaves as soon as I get out, rub it in to beard, then put some proraso pre over the top, works really well.

Did it initially just to use up the KOS.

 

[Lmarkow]

I tried PSO with a straight once. Even with alum bloc on my hands, I could not adequately stretch my skin.

 

[noahpictures]

I found pre shave oil helpful when I was starting with straights. It protected my face against mistakes (heavy hand, slips, too much pressure). Now I sometimes use it in winter when my skin is dry.

 

[MikeA]

No need for chemistry. It's a simple question of usefulness, if it helps your shaves, use it, otherwise skip it

 

[Fourcooks]

No need for chemistry. It's a simple question of usefulness, if it helps your shaves, use it, otherwise skip it

+1

 

[OldSaw]

As said above, lots of opinions here regarding the usefulness of a PSO. I agree with the OP regarding mixing oils and soap but I still use a PSO, here's why. I use the PSO for my skin, not for additional glide during the shave. I rub a few drops of oil onto my wet face before I start getting my stuff together for the shave. By the time I put brush to face the little bit of oil has absorbed into my skin. The idea is to make the skin more supple so it can move beneath the razor and have less proclivity to nicks and scrapes. I think you'd get the same benefit from a moisturizer the night before, but I don't do that

This^^^

I haven't used any in a while, but I do notice a difference when I do, especially when in a hurry and don't want to take the time for a warm water towel. When I use it I rub it into the skin rather than leave it lay on top.

 

[gus1942]

I have never felt that there is any utility in the use of pre shave products, especially oil.

 

[greenie]

To the OP:

To me, it all depends of the preparation. Many guys suggest taking a long shower, but as my skin develops oil all the time, I usually take shave before taking a shower. If I do that, I don't really need a pre-shave oil, but if I do take one - it's sometimes good to add some shaving oil, specially if it has been a rough shave the day before. Better look for a right soap (for you), if your current soap leaves your skin too dry/sticky after one stroke.

 

[genghishahn]

I use a PSO with every shave. I typically don't have time for a long, hot shower AND Kyle's prep (which is what I've found my face needs to shave without oil)--the oil seems to help when I don't have time for a super thorough prep. On top of that, my face seems to dry out really fast--I'm talking dried out between getting out the shower and getting my lather ready and applied--some PSO before I get out of the shower takes care of that. For me, it's less about its purported lubricating properties and more about retaining the moisture from my prep as I get my lather ready and onto my face.

As other members have mentioned, opinions seem to be pretty polarized when it comes to PSO--some say it's useless, other swear by it. If you're curious, see if it makes a difference in your shave.

Best,
Scott

 

[MRoney]

+1 to the while thread.
Chemistry aside, I think with all the shaving stuff, nobody is doing the same shave daily. Do what your face needs. P.S. I use PSO about 50%, does gunk up the blade if I use too much.