Shea Moisture Shave's American Black Soap Shave Butter Creme Pre Shave Cream

[shakin_jake]

Post title has a bit of a misnomer with it, mentioning Pre Shave Cream at the end of the name of Shea Moisture Shave's 'American Black Soap Shave Butter Creme' I'll explain--

The other day I was at my local CVS pharmacy (north American drug store chain) and saw that they had this product-

on sale at 50% off retail. Sale price was $5.24 This is a 6 ounce tub. I never heard of it, love half off sales (the JAP in me= so I bought it. Before buying it though I took a pic of it and texted it to Scott (life2short) and asked if he heard of it or used it himself or knew of any other wet shavers trying it as I don't recall anyone posting about it here before

Scott text back saying he thought someone said it was comparable to new Williams. I got the impression I was being told to pass on it, but I bought it anyway. Like I said, I love a bargain<LOL>

After I got home with it and found the time to do some research...Scott was right!...seemed like everyone that tried this crème didn't care one lick for it. Even the reviews on Amazon for it were poor. Most of them. There were a few that liked it using conventional (carts) shaving tools, but most of the cart users said it clogged up their blades and couldn't rinse it, built crummy unusable lather, on and on. Then I read one reviewer here that said he used it like he would use a pre shave cream, followed it with MdC and all was golden...he got a really good shave

So I used this in front of my last shave, as a pre shave cream, replacing Proraso's pre/post shave cream I normally use in front of *every* shave. Seriously, I don't shave without Proraso Pre/Post Shave Cream. I don't shave after showering so I do my prep right at the sink before every shave with a steam towel. AKA Kyle's Prep. I first put a hot wet wash cloth on my face, hold it there for 40 seconds anyways, then on goes Proraso's pre shave cream, massaged into my beard

Next I follow with a face lather with whatever I decide to use that day. This past shave was some Palmolive shave stick flakes I grated into an Anchor Hocking desert dish I put together recently

Both go under a hand towel I put in my steamer and and I leave the towel on for about 3 mintues, take it off, wipe off any remaining lather and build my lather for the first pass and shave

Anyways, the shave went very well. this product worked for me like Proraso pre shave cream does, and I have to say, I've been using Proraso pre/post shave cream in front of every shave for the last 2.5 years. I once tried forgoing Proraso's pre shave cream for a 3 week period, then I started using it again. The shaves I got those 3 weeks not using their pre shave cream were rough and I have been using that product religiously ever since

This Shea Moisture product although uses different ingredients, does the same job for me, prepping my skin well before I ever set a blade onto my skin. Although I've only used it once, I know this shea shave butter crème is a fabulous product and gets the shakin_jake seal of approval, for whatever that's worth



Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

 

[Amzimbo]

I bought one in the same sale, and, yes, it was awful. Thought about trying it as a pre-shave, but the scent was meh, so I tossed it.

 

[shakin_jake]

I love this shave cream, as a pre shave, enough to go back and buy another jar....

their bar soap (billed as a shave soap too) was also on sale at 50% off so I bought a few bars as well

Speaking strictly for myself, I really like this shave cream and now that I have 10 ounces of it...looks like it will be a very long time before I buy another jar of Proraso pre shave cream



Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

 

[plan80]

I bought it at CVS half off, too. It was awful shave with alone. I have not tried it as a pre shave, but I have mixed it with Proraso (green) soap to make a superlather. It worked pretty well. Certainly changed up the consistency. One redeeming quality is that the tub it comes in will be great for samples.

 

[luvmysuper]

I don't use any pre-shave stuff. My shower is my pre-shave prep.
This stuff as a shave cream is, in my personal opinion, horrible.
It's a non-lathering cream, and the smell is absolutely awful.
This and Kiehls are the only two shaving products that I have ever thrown away.

 

[shakin_jake]

I don't use any pre-shave stuff. My shower is my pre-shave prep.
This stuff as a shave cream is, in my personal opinion, horrible.
It's a non-lathering cream, and the smell is absolutely awful.
This and Kiehls are the only two shaving products that I have ever thrown away.

~~~6 to 1, half dozen to another.....yeah, I read the reviews, most like you either hated it or threw it out<LOL> but when I read of the gent here that used it as a pre shave cream and got good results, I thought I'd follow suit, did and I also got great results using it as a pre shave cream

I'll say this up front...I never tried to use this cream as a stand alone shave cream. I read too many reviews saying it wont work for that, but I'm an avid pre shave cream user and for this type of work, this cream works fantastically, now as to the scent, I don't find it offensive at all. It goes on real thick and that's when using it sparingly. To be sure, I've had nothing but very good results using it as a pre shave cream, enough satisfaction to go back and buy another tub at half price. It works well for me and I'm quite happy with it



Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.

 

[luvmysuper]

I'm glad that you guys were able to find a use for it as a pre-shave. As I said, I don't use pre-shaves, but if it works for you then I'm happy to hear it.

 

[Jeff_H]

I have a tub of the shave cream that I bought at CVS on a whim. It smelled so bad when I got home I sat it aside and meant to take it back. Then I lost the receipt. It's still sitting in my drawer beside all my spare blades. Maybe this stuff is the reason I have been getting bad blades out of my normally good stash of blades? Maybe it's time to throw it away?

 

[bhicks12187]

as a shaving cream is worthless, but like plan80 said, save the tub for samples or refill pucks!

 

[mmaggi]

Re the shave cream: If you go into it knowing that 1) it doesn't lather and 2) you can't use a brush then you will be fine. It protects well, the razor glides and it leaves your face soft & smooth. This is not a traditional shave cream, foam, soap or gel. It's totally different. I like it.

 

[BDF]

Just saw this old thread. Thanks for posting this- I have had a jar of that stuff for something like 2 years and every once in a while, I pull it out like I am going to use it or something but it is just not useable as shaving cream IMO. Sort of like rubbing your face with a stick of butter. But your idea of using it as a pre- shave is very interesting. Especially because I use the same brand pre- shave oil each and every single time I shave and found exactly what you mention.... I do not notice it if I miss one or two days of using it but after about 4 days, the razor burn sets in and the shaves get rough. Now I will have to give it a try as a pre- shave cream.

You might want to try the pre- shave oil too if it is available where you are.

Brian

~~~6 to 1, half dozen to another.....yeah, I read the reviews, most like you either hated it or threw it out<LOL> but when I read of the gent here that used it as a pre shave cream and got good results, I thought I'd follow suit, did and I also got great results using it as a pre shave cream

I'll say this up front...I never tried to use this cream as a stand alone shave cream. I read too many reviews saying it wont work for that, but I'm an avid pre shave cream user and for this type of work, this cream works fantastically, now as to the scent, I don't find it offensive at all. It goes on real thick and that's when using it sparingly. To be sure, I've had nothing but very good results using it as a pre shave cream, enough satisfaction to go back and buy another tub at half price. It works well for me and I'm quite happy with it



Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.