Shave Gel question

[dog face]

<-- New to wet shaving.

I've begun to accumulate soaps, brushes, and razors, and I enjoy it. Sometimes I wonder if there's anything wrong with shave gels. I enjoy using my new soaps but I must admit, when I'm running late I will use some of my emergency can of shave gel. I don't know whether it's not quite enjoyable because I'm in a hurry or because I'm using a gel and not making a proper lather. I tried to search, but didn't find anything. Is shave gel taboo here? Should I not have asked?

 

[Niles]

The thing about the mass market gels and creams is they don't treat my face as good as the classic shave soaps and creams. Also, they are much less economical.

 

[Luc]

I haven't used shave gels since I signed up here. You can use those if you want but a shave cream or shave soap would probably be better for your skin. I never looked at the ingredients on my shave gel before and when I did, I left the can in the garbage bin. You could always try a brushless product, something like Kiss my face would be my recommendation. You can lather it with a brush too.

 

[RobAtSGH]

Gels don't get a lot of love around here. They're generally perceived as an inferior product for the purposes of traditional shaving. But be that as it may...

Gels are formulated to provide best results when used with multi-blade shavers and lube strips. They're basically mixtures of detergents, humectants, and lubricating compounds. To me, they don't provide enough water content on their own to be effective with a traditional razor. Lather made from shaving soaps/creams with a brush allows you to control the moisture content and tailor it to your beard's/razor's needs. Traditional lather also doesn't rely on the expansion of hydrocarbon propellants for its structure.

A premixed product like Barbasol's not a bad option in a pinch. But to me, gels make up into dry foam that neither soften the hair properly nor provide a sufficiently wet and slick layer for the blade to ride on. So, in my personal opinion, it's not so much the hurry as the product. I've shaved fast with soap/cream before, and it's still a pretty good shave.

 

[dog face]

That makes sense. Thanks

 

[BlackBear]

Something like Proraso croaps (cream/soap) that lather very richly and quickly could be an option if speed is of the essence, I believe proraso do canned foam too, but have never tried it.

 

[sychodelix]

Surprisingly enough, Barbasol yellow can is on par with many decent creams because of the lanolin. It beats out any gel I've seen.

 

[ZJ68]

They can be okay. Most of them smell like some kind of industrial cleaning product. I think a good non-lathering product is a better choice.

 

[ateace]

It is your shave. Nothing wrong with using a canned foam or gel if you need to save a couple minutes in the routine.

Check out Gillette Fusion Sensitive gel. The second ingredient is glycerin, which is pretty good for a product of this type.

 

[CGW409]

Surprisingly enough, Barbasol yellow can is on par with many decent creams because of the lanolin. It beats out any gel I've seen.

+1 to this.
As also noted gels seem to be more formulated for modern carts rather than old school DE and SE razors.
Having used gel and cart while traveling shortly after my conversion I discovered a distinct sub-par feeling with both the gel and razor.
My two "no time to lose" shaving foams are the Barbasol yellow and Rise.
The problem seems to be both require a bit of effort to find,the Barbasol yellow was found in one local indy supermarket along with some of the local Dollar Tree stores.
DT no longer carries Barbasol yellow (now carry the red and green) but started to carry the Rise foam(along with a "modern" non aerosol gel and "cream")and I picked it up just because of the nostalgia factor as that was dad and grandpa's brand as a kid.
From what I found out Rise is part of a marketing trend called legacy branding where classic products(such as Neco wafer candy or Pabst Blue Ribbon beer)that have vanished over the years are replicated and returned to the market.

 

[California Cajun]

<-- New to wet shaving.

I've begun to accumulate soaps, brushes, and razors, and I enjoy it. Sometimes I wonder if there's anything wrong with shave gels. I enjoy using my new soaps but I must admit, when I'm running late I will use some of my emergency can of shave gel. I don't know whether it's not quite enjoyable because I'm in a hurry or because I'm using a gel and not making a proper lather. I tried to search, but didn't find anything. Is shave gel taboo here? Should I not have asked?

Nothing's taboo if it works for you.

Shave gels didn't work for me because back when I was using multiblade razors (Fusions, Mach III, etc.) it got between the blades and I couldn't rinse it out. If forced me to press the razor harder against my face, negating the protection it was designed to give me.

 

[Renato1]

I think King Of Shaves Azor Advanced Shave Gel is fabulous. On the other hand the standard King of Shaves gel is a bit of a dud on me.

Most canned gels I haven't been too impressed with, though the Fusion one is pretty good.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Useless shaver]

The thing about the mass market gels and creams is they don't treat my face as good as the classic shave soaps and creams. Also, they are much less economical.

Same here.

 

[Sceptic Pencil]

I think King Of Shaves Azor Advanced Shave Gel is fabulous. On the other hand the standard King of Shaves gel is a bit of a dud on me.

Most canned gels I haven't been too impressed with, though the Fusion one is pretty good.
Regards,
Renato

+1 for KOS gels.

I use the Sensitive gel (which is heavily laced with tea tree oil) & the Azor gel. I tend to use KOS in the week & a "proper" soap/brush combo at the weekend when I have more time. I apply KOS gel, do my WTG pass & just wet my face again for the ATG pass & touch-ups, as the gel leaves plenty of slickness behind after the initial WTG pass. I do use open comb razors though, which perhaps helps.

 

[Hardik]

Not to be off topic here.
What do you guys suggest.
Biotique bio palmyra vs Nivea sensitive shaving gel ?

I currently mix 4 creams (palmolive,godrej,oldspice,biotique)while shaving,but I wanna try out the Nivea.
Do you guys think its better than biotique ?

 

[Luc]

Not to be off topic here.
What do you guys suggest.
Biotique bio palmyra vs Nivea sensitive shaving gel ?

I currently mix 4 creams (palmolive,godrej,oldspice,biotique)while shaving,but I wanna try out the Nivea.
Do you guys think its better than biotique ?

4 creams? That super-super-super-lather! I do not think that you need to mix it that much. I know that Palmolive, Godrej and Old Spice perform well on their own. Biotique, I got no clue, I never tried it.

Nivea usually make good products IMO. They have a nice Shave cream!

 

[takeshi]

Sometimes I wonder if there's anything wrong with shave gels.

As with anything here, if it works for you then go with it.

I tried to search, but didn't find anything. Is shave gel taboo here?

They're not taboo. They're obviously not popular here.

 

[Hardik]

4 creams? That super-super-super-lather! I do not think that you need to mix it that much. I know that Palmolive, Godrej and Old Spice perform well on their own. Biotique, I got no clue, I never tried it.

Nivea usually make good products IMO. They have a nice Shave cream!

Since I'm 16,I don't have much hair growth so instead of using a rotation ,I just use them all !
I also put in a touch of glycerin ,and yep ! It indeed is super über lather !

Another question
Has anyone tried putting gel on the face first ,then lathering up with a cream ?

I think that'd make for some amazing/nasty results.

Well I'll try it next time.
I guess I just might buy the Nivea. Thanks !

 

[mikey]

Clinique M Shave Aloe Gel is excellent (but expensive).
Edge Advanced Extra Protection Gel is OK (but inexpensive).

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Atalk]

I use Razorock's 888/Eucalyptus Shave Gel primarily as a cheaper alternative to pre-shave oil. I don't use it all the time but it does work very well in this capacity especially if I am using a more aggressive razor. I have used it on its own (does not lather) and it does a pretty decent job - it won't replace my soap/cream/brush process but it does shave off (pun intended) quite a bit of time if you are in a hurry. It takes very little to get the job done but you do have to reapply after every pass.