Suggest a new shaving cream better than the KMF but around the same price?

[Lok3sh]

Hey guys!

So during my initial shaving years, it was all canned goo and my hands to apply it exclusively. About 3 or so years ago or so, I bought my first shaving brush and some Kiss My Face after seeing some positive things about it on these forums. So I've been using that and my brush (lathering on my face) until a few days ago. It has been going ok I guess and I was satisfied.

Recently I started DE shaving, and while the KMF is nice, I feel like maybe it sort of "dies" too quickly after application. Does that make sense? Is that even a thing?

So I'm just wondering if it might be a good idea to experiment with some creams a little. Is there something that is VASTLY superior to KMF in anyone's opinion that I must try? It would also be great if it was as moisturizing/gentle on the skin as KMF or better. I would like it to not bee to expensive though if possible. I'm happy with the price range of the KMF.

Hopefully I can find buy some half used ones of what is recommended here on the cheap to try.

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

PS : I would prefer it be a cream and not a soap.

 

[Eeyore]

I don't know KMF (you cannot get it around here), but you can't go wrong with Palmolive Classic creme, IMHO.

 

[mblakele]

Real_Shaving_Company_Moisturising_Shaving_Cream is pretty good, as long as you do not mind the smell of tea tree oil. It is about $8 for 5-oz, so the value is not quite as good as $8 for an 11-oz pump of KMF. It looks a bit more reasonable compared to $6 for a 6-oz tube.

The wiki page Real_Shaving_Company lists a few chains that usually stock it, and also links to the brand web site.

 

[intotheforge]

Prorasic or CO Bigelo hands down. Those are the most recommended creams. Maybe a little more expensive; but vastly better performance than KMF. It is mentholated though. Try the Palmolive mentioned above if you don't like menthol.

 

[NSmalls]

Idk I thought that KMF gave me a much better lather than Proraso green cream.

 

[Lok3sh]

I've heard a lot of good and a lot of meh about Proraso (haven't heard bad). I guess I will have to try it for myself at some point.

BBW has a love it or bring it back guarantee. I guess I could always buy the $5 tube and if I don't find it any better than KMF, go return it.

I've also read a lot of good stuff about the Pamolive. Not much meh or bad, but I guess more people have tried and commented on Proraso.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far!

Anyone else that has tried KMF and then found better alternatives?

 

[CoolGuy90]

When I use KMF I warm my mug up with hot water and pour it out. Then I put 1 pump of cream in it. I shake my brush to get out any excess water and lather it in the bowl. Doing this I get a nice thick and creamy lather that is very slick. Give this a shot and see if it works out any better for you.

Forgot to mention I use the Fragrance free one.

 

[Lok3sh]

When I use KMF I warm my mug up with hot water and pour it out. Then I put 1 pump of cream in it. I shake my brush to get out any excess water and lather it in the bowl. Doing this I get a nice thick and creamy lather that is very slick. Give this a shot and see if it works out any better for you.

Forgot to mention I use the Fragrance free one.

Thanks for the tip. I've been doing pretty much this actually, except for the warming up the mug part. I get a good lather, but I feel like it could be better. And a lot of times while I'm shaving another part of my face, the lather on the opposite side starts to get thin and disappear a bit.

 

[CoolGuy90]

Thanks for the tip. I've been doing pretty much this actually, except for the warming up the mug part. I get a good lather, but I feel like it could be better. And a lot of times while I'm shaving another part of my face, the lather on the opposite side starts to get thin and disappear a bit.

How much cream are you using?

 

[Lok3sh]

How much cream are you using?

One pump. Which is a lot more than I used to use before I started shaving with my DE.

 

[CoolGuy90]

One pump. Which is a lot more than I used to use before I started shaving with my DE.

The only thing I would suggest then is to make sure your face is properly hydrated before applying and tinker with the amount of water to cream ratio.

 

[Kooze]

Speick shaving cream.

pick it up at Pasteur's Pharmacy

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...trip-to-Pasteur-Pharmacy-)?highlight=Pasteurs

 

[Eeyore]

I've also read a lot of good stuff about the Pamolive. Not much meh or bad, but I guess more people have tried and commented on Proraso.

But I think more people use Palmolive, given its wide availability. It is a typical no-nonsense cream that simply works.

 

[nymtber]

Thanks for the tip. I've been doing pretty much this actually, except for the warming up the mug part. I get a good lather, but I feel like it could be better. And a lot of times while I'm shaving another part of my face, the lather on the opposite side starts to get thin and disappear a bit.

Use LESS water during lathering. I soak my brush, dump the bowl, squirt in some KMF (I have a small pump bottle I transfer to, 3.5 pumps of that), and shake out most of the water from the brush, but leave some. Whip into a lather, add water a little at a time if needed. Spend time whipping up the lather, its worth it!

I get a 3 pass shave with that amount, and it does not die off. We have HARD water here, too.

KMF is better than Proraso, for sure, but I like Proraso for the Menthol

 

[Lok3sh]

Thanks for all the recommendations and lather tips so far, much appreciated!

Since I've just started bowl lathering, I can't say for sure that I've been doing it perfectly yet. Maybe I had a bad lather the last time I shaved or something like that.

But I've seen so many people recommending Proraso consistently in pretty much every thread like this, as well as a lot of Palmolive and a fair bit of Speick recommendations as well, I might try one or all of these eventually.

I think I will start with Proraso - well CO Bigelow - since it available at BBW, costs $5 for the tiny tube, and they offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Can I expect CO Bigelow to be a little or a lot better than KMF? If there is sort of a consensus about this, I can tell if it just my lather techniques that need improving after I try CO Bigelow.

 

[jzuzphreek]

Bigelow, Palmolive, Old Spice (Indian cream) are all great creams and pretty affordable.

 

[Lok3sh]

Bigelow, Palmolive, Old Spice (Indian cream) are all great creams and pretty affordable.

Thanks yeah I plan to try some Bigelow and Palmolive! I'll buy some Bigelow today.

Old Spice though, I'll buy straight from India. It is extremely cheap there. There are bunch of other Indian creams that I'll pick up when I go there next or when someone from there makes a trip here (quite a frequent thing, half my family is Indian).

That is a YMMV thing.

I happen to love C.O. Bigelow. It smells fresh and the lather is very nice and thick/cushion. I find KMF a bit lighter. I like KMF but prefer the heavier lather of Bigelow. I give the edge to C.O. Bigelow but like I said, that's a personal thing. I used the unscented KMF as I wasn't blown away by the scents. For me, Proraso/Bigelow have what i would call a luxurious feel while being applied to my face/brushed on. At least with my mix and keep in mind we all lather up a bit different.

Gotcha. Well, you say that the lather on Bigelow is heavier which sounds like it might help with what I find lacking in the KMF. So I think Bigelow is definitely worth a try!

Cheers guys

 

[shavefan]

I find KMF a little thin too, relative to other creams. My favorite cream so far is Speik, it's pretty much the only cream I use, all the rest are soaps.

 

[musicman1951]

How much better do you want to go? If you want a lot better get some Castle Forbes or Ultimate Comfort. They are the best of the 20 or so creams I've tried.

 

[Lok3sh]

How much better do you want to go? If you want a lot better get some Castle Forbes or Ultimate Comfort. They are the best of the 20 or so creams I've tried.

As much as possible for not too much more than the price of KMF, Proraso etc idealy.

Castle Forbes or Ultimate Comfort is out of my price range unfortunately.