Should I use preshave oil/cream?

[dmm26]

So today, just for the fun of it I mixed a little canned gillette foamy with my soap lather and I got a great shave! I made sure that I paid close attention to blade angle as well and really took my time! I made 4 passes and it's BBS a little itchy though afterwards but other than that no other irritation to speak of

I noticed that adding the canned stuff seemed to make the razor glide a little easier due to the "oils" in it I'm assuming. So I'm kicking around the idea of getting a pre shave oil or cream.

Should I?

 

[lindcruiser]

Hey man,

Half the fun of wet shaving is trying new things. I've used Art of Shaving Pre-shave oil, which was pleasant but a little gummy, and Shave Secret, which worked okay but had an amazing "hang time" post shave. Pre-shave oil seems like a good idea, I am still looking for one that works. I am ordering some Signature Scent Pre-shave Oil from www.nancyboy.com. I'll let you know how it works. Have a great day!

 

[Condorito]

i use pre shave oil, and i find that it does make a difference for me. Although, (and i know i am making a contradictory remark here) when using the proper lather there should be no need. In my short 1.5 years of wet shaving, and even shorter 4 months of DE shaving, by far the most important thing is face prep. It all depends on your need, rather your specific skin needs.

 

[ackvil]

I use TH preshave oil. I rub it onto my beard SPARINGLY and it provides a nice shave. It is expensive - but it lasts a VERY long time. I have one bottle for more than a year. However, there are many on this forum who don't like or use this. So, try it and see if you like it.

You can also try Proraso pre/post shave, also.

 

[dmm26]

I don't think I need it but I would like to try it! I'm thinking the proraso cream cause I already use proraso soap and like that, and the cream is pretty cheap. So if I don't like it then I don't feel bad for getting it on a whim.

LOL! Ackvil we posted at the same time!

 

[lindcruiser]

i use pre shave oil, and i find that it does make a difference for me. Although, (and i know i am making a contradictory remark here) when using the proper lather there should be no need. In my short 1.5 years of wet shaving, and even shorter 4 months of DE shaving, by far the most important thing is face prep. It all depends on your need, rather your specific skin needs.

I'm looking for the best shave so I want to try pre-shave oil but so far no luck. What brand do you use? Thanks~

 

[ackvil]

I don't think I need it but I would like to try it! I'm thinking the proraso cream cause I already use proraso soap and like that, and the cream is pretty cheap. So if I don't like it then I don't feel bad for getting it on a whim.

LOL! Ackvil we posted at the same time!

No, I beat you to it!

 

[solar]

I use TH preshave oil. I rub it onto my beard SPARINGLY and it provides a nice shave. It is expensive - but it lasts a VERY long time. I have one bottle for more than a year. However, there are many on this forum who don't like or use this. So, try it and see if you like it.

You can also try Proraso pre/post shave, also.

I use the TH oil as well, best I've found. As for pre-shave oils in general, I've been using them off and on since the late 90's, I find I prefer to use them than go without.

C

 

[dmm26]

No, I beat you to it!

Ah so you did!

 

[Condorito]

I'm looking for the best shave so I want to try pre-shave oil but so far no luck. What brand do you use? Thanks~

I use the Musgo Real Pre Shave Oil. I got it at West Coast. so far so good.

 

[kingfisher]

I use a little King of Shaves. I put it on while I'm in the shower, and then lather like usual right before my shave, which I do AFTER the shower.

I think it helps, at least a little.

 

[Angus Young]

I've tried the TOBS gel and it was less than useless for me. The Proraso sensitive gives me good results in preventing redness on my neck but it doesn't give me any extra glide.

 

[lindcruiser]

I use the Musgo Real Pre Shave Oil. I got it at West Coast. so far so good.

Cool, thanks!

 

[papi]

I tried shave oil and had some good results. Although I paid only a couple bucks for perfect shave brand, and the odor is not good. I want to try some better oil.

 

[Picaro]

I have been using L'occitane Cade shaving oil, off and on for a couple of years. I find it can be a useful part of prep, especially if I rub it in 10 minutes or more before the shave(before a shower,for example)
There are times it will make me think I forgot to load a blade. But its not cheap.
Recently tried proraso pre...love the kick! The eucalyptus and menthol seem to make the skin react much the same way as a hot towel( sweating etc) plus the oils in it add lubrication.
A product I havent personally tried yet, but gets good reviews is The Gentlemans Refinery pre oil. I will be trying that in the future.

Cheers

 

[Beardo]

When I started wet shaving, I used shaving oil and I really did give it the old college try. I made my own, and tried a few different formulations using essential oils, castor oil and a few different bases. I really wanted to like it and I really wanted it to work, but I had no luck with it. Not only did it not improve the quality of my shaves, but I noticed that when I would apply shaving creams with menthol, I wouldn't feel any cooling effect. I could only assume that is because the oil was acting as a barrier between my skin and the soap and any of the beneficial ingredients in it. For all these reasons, and above all because it just seems to be a waste of money, I would recommend against using pre-shave oil.

In terms of using some pre-shave beard softener like proraso pre/post, my experience has been that they don't do a thing that Kyle's Prep won't do for you.

But as always, YMMV.

 

[Loric]

I for one seem to have a smoother shave with GourmetRose Unscented Shaving Oil found on Ebay. Its cheap and works very well for me. As my technique improves I find the difference dwindling to a point, but I still use it on most every shave. I tried several oils and find that most just fight with the scent of your other products so I chose an unscented one. Also some products like Pacific Shave Oil are a bit to thin and seem to disappear on your face. While others are to thick and clog up your razor. As always YMMV.

For what its worth I have some Proraso Pre/Post shave on the way and will try to report back on how it works. Just give things a try and see what works for you.

 

[dpmtherrien]

I've never used any pre-shave stuff, and I get great shaves. That doesn't mean that I'm not open to trying something along those lines. I've just never found the right thing that would make me go for it, but I'm always looking.

 

[Wildcat1]

I don't think I need it but I would like to try it! I'm thinking the proraso cream cause I already use proraso soap and like that, and the cream is pretty cheap. So if I don't like it then I don't feel bad for getting it on a whim.

LOL! Ackvil we posted at the same time!

Proraso is so smelly.Anything that is a little less powerful?

 

[salisburyyates]

The preshave products will definitely help out. I have found Proraso's pre-shave cream is really useful, as it lessens the damage that the razor will do.