Tell me about Pre-shave oil

[Ski-Patroller]

I have never used a pre-shave oil, and consequently I am curious about them.

If they are really an oil (which it appears they are), it seems like they would make it harder to soften the hairs with shaving soap and water. It seems like that would be counter productive, although I can see where you might get some extra lubrication from it.

 

[FL shaver]

Glide for a soap that makes my razor skip.

 

[Crixus]

I have never used a pre-shave oil

I tend to spell it s-n-a-k-e oil. But that's just me.

 

[Ski-Patroller]

I tend to spell it s-n-a-k-e oil. But that's just me.

My thoughts also, but I was curious. It always seemed like a bad idea, but I've never tried it. (in 50 years of wet shaving I'd never tried a cream, until a couple of weeks ago )

 

[TMH478]

I love pre-shave oil! I feel that I get less irritation, better moisture, and zero ingrown hairs!! I highly recommend it. Though, if you research enough, you can probably make your own. If not, I like AOS and Anthony Sport.

 

[drandall]

from my experience...here is the lowdown.

shaving oil CAN provide extra glide and protection or it can make things worse. the deciding factors are:

1) the weight of the oil
2) the ratio of water to oil when applying

generally, your heavier oils like olive provide the most protection, but they're also thick, can make your brush and hands gummy and if there isn't enough water when applied (or you use too much) they can cause your razor to skip

lighter oils are generally easier to work with but their benefits can also be more subtle

personally, i find the best balance to be with a midweight oil like the gentlemen's refinery or truefitt and hill. some people make their own oil blends, and that's certainly an option too. on the heavy side is any olive-oil based PSO like art of shaving. on the light side are blends like pacific shave oil and shave secret.

so...can it help? YES. can it make things worse? YES. the best thing you can do is try a couple of weights and make sure you use enough water on your face and hands to get it slick.

 

[jtb]

I always feel like it's all removed on the first pass so I don't bother.

 

[dirtdog]

I use Neutrogena body oil it is sold at WalMart and is cheap enough that I do not count drops to apply it.

I have shaved for a week with it and a week w/o it.

It works for me and seems to prevent razor burn mostly.

I use a cheap foam that I have beat the air out of and apply it over the shave oil to see the beard I have mowed so to speak.

After the shave the oil seems to have prevented razor burn and my skin is moisturized .

Pre shave oil is a must for me

 

[Crixus]

I use a cheap foam that I have beat the air out of and apply it over the shave oil to see the beard I have mowed so to speak.

dog, can you describe that again? I'm not following what you mean.

 

[dirtdog]

I use spray can foam

as it comes out the can it takes up considerable volume

I mash it back and forth in my hand and it is reduced in volume -- the air is beat out of it and then I apply it to my face over the oil .

I use it to see the area I have shaved as the foam is easily visible when removed

 

[grogals]

Pre-shave oil does the trick for me - super moisturizing, reduced razor burn & the blade glides rather than skips. I have sensitive skin so I apply a bit even before my 2nd pass.

AOS is top notch but pricey. Am having some great luck with a shea butter & olive oil mix that is made locally here & inexpensive.

 

[Shave and More]

I'm using eShave pre-shave oil and really like it.
(still using Gilette Fusion untill I receive my Edwin Jagger DE and Feather Artist Club)

 

[SRock]

I can sum it up in two words...


DON'T BOTHER

 

[Swashbuckler]

Oh Man you should stay away from Oil!
It will ruin your shave brush to start with, Badger Hair had small pores in it that hold the water, it will clog these pores thus making your badger brush useless.

We all know oil and water don't mix, right? So when you put oil on your beard and face, it prevents your shave cream / soap from doing it's job. It creates a barrier between your shave soap and your face, That is the opposite to what we want to acheive.

 

[T.Ryan]

Truefitt and Hill and Proraso oils work well for me....with or without their respective brands of creams or soaps. Both of these oils help with moisturizing and glide. As with much of wet shaving, YMMV.

 

[ackvil]

Truefitt and Hill and Proraso oils work well for me....with or without their respective brands of creams or soaps. Both of these oils help with moisturizing and glide. As with much of wet shaving, YMMV.

+1. Same for me. I have used both for years and I have never had a problem with my brush. In fact, three of my four brushes are over 10 years old and one is over 20! The benefit for me is that the razor seems to glide over my face. Whether it is removed after the first pass is debatable - but the first pass is when for me most of the stubble is removed. When I omit pre-shave oil I still get a good shave - but it does not feel as comfortable for me.

A while back I read an interview from a master barber, Diane Wood, who said:
"shaving oil is one of my favorite grooming products (which I highly suggest for anyone who shaves)... " Using shaving oil creates a super slick shaving surface which allows for superlative razor performance and glide." ..." I can safely say that it can make a HUGE difference in shaving results – especially those with sensitive skin."

So, in brief, it works for me.

 

[FL shaver]

Each time I reach for my oil I think how ridiculously cheap it was to make and how great the benefits are. I get next to no irritation any shave I choose to use it and the oil moisturizes incredibly well. I don't use it every shave. I have not had any dry skin on my face since beginning wet shaving, and I think the oil is a large part of it. A woman was telling me how her dermatologist recommended olive oil as a facial moisturizer the other day. She found it in a spray bottle in the market and has used it since. I'll continue to use it, but only with a product that seems to skip or provide a drier lather (Yeah, still probably due to my poor technique.).

 

[BentonClay]

Glide for a soap that makes my razor skip.

So you're saying you use PSO only when the soap is not up to par?

 

[FL shaver]

For a soap that is a little more difficult for me to lather optimally. I would not use the oil for the Benton Clay lavender that you sent to me. Plenty of slickness with that recipe and forgiving of variations in the lathering process. I rarely use it with any of the creams I currently use. I do use it most shaves with MWF and GFT Coconut and every shave with Lightfoot's Pine, Williams, and VDH.

 

[BentonClay]

That's a new thought for me. I always thought people were in one of two camps - they either outright dismiss the idea of a PSO, or use it to make an already good shave better.