I have been shaving for some years now but I had stuck to an electric shaver till I got fed up of it and starting visiting the barber shop. Then a few months ago, I got myself a Gillete Sensor Excel and started shaving at home with shave foam. Now I will shift to a DE razor and what I was wondering is whether it would be better to start using shaving cream instead of foam? What are the pros and cons of using shaving cream and would it yield a nicer shave?
Sure! You have a better selection of scents and better skincare. Many people find out that the foam dries their skin out and have better luck with real creams and soaps. Of course, if you like the foam- keep using it. I still have a few cans myself but use it as a pre-shave lather now to help soften my beard before the shave. I let it sit a few minutes- usually when I'm in the shower- and then wash it off before lathering up with soap or cream. Good luck!
I find using a real shave cream or soap lather over foam does the following: -provides better protection from nicks and cuts -Is slicker than foam -doesn't irritate my skin like every foam I've tried -leaves my skin feeling much nicer -smells better (in most cases) That and in the long run, cost is about the same for a shave soap as foam. Yes, the soap puck cost much more than a can of foam, but it lasts far longer also. Creams go a little faster than soaps and often cost a little more, but you can find exceptions such as Kiss My Face and Frasier's.
I tend to preferr creams over foam because creams lather while foams do not. I find that lathering decresses the amount of mess I need to clean up in the shave den.
Really good answer!I feel and think the same way that ChemErik does.Soaps and Shaving creams are (in most of the cases)much better than any foam (even Noxema) and provides you better protection against razor burn and nicks as well as they feel more luxurious(specially when the lather is warm).Hope you can experience that too.
By foam I assume you mean shaving cream/gel in a can. It's ok but it's not better than proper shaving soap and shaving cream concentrate, both intended to be used in conjunction with a brush. At any rate, I would suggest this: First buy a DE razor and a set of blades, and continue whatever foam you're using at present until you get a hang of DE shaving. I'm making this suggestion because creating your own lather from shaving soap/cream concentrate, while not rocket science, has a learning curve. Alternatively, you can stick with your Sensor and buy traditional lathering agents and a brush; then, once you've come to grips with creating lather, segue into DE use.
go for the shaving soap it will sofen the beard and give you great skin lots to try and bye get a basic brush nothing flash to start with and try the wilkinsons soap you can get this nearly everywhere,dont spend to mutch until you now you like it ,and im shure you will see the shaving soap will last longer than a can and when you get your lather right will stay on your face longer which is neaded for comfortable shaving it neadent cost mutch to give it a go good luck with the shave,s
A "proper" cream or soap is so much slicker than foam it's like night and day. It remains the finest thing about this hobby for me. While the debate may go on about old-fashioned razors vs. cartridges, I think that no one could dispute that cream/soap gives the superior shave as opposed to the canned stuff.
Your avatar is pretty cool. Dump the foam also. It works but you can so much better quality out of creams and soaps.
I think starting with lather and trying the DE razor later is the better approach. For some guys, a catridge with traditional lather gives a great shave. I've not heard anyone praise a shave with a DE and canned "goo"/foam.
Since I have already started shaving with a DE, I will try improving my technique first and then try out shaving creams.
I think that's a good move, in spite of what others have said. If I had to remove one variable from the equation - either the DE razor or the proper lather - it'd definitely be the latter.
Yep. I'd have to agree with that. I have several friends that use brush and quality creams or soaps to lather and then shave with cartridge razors. One of my buddies did so for about 15 years before trying a DE and then switching to straight razors. Good lather is far more important than what kind of razor you use. Sure, each kind of razor has it's own personality and it's own learning curve, but they all do pretty much the same thing. When I was shaving with fusion cartridges, the only thing that really made a difference for me was what type of shaving cream I used and how I prepped my beard. I got great shaves with the 5-bladed vibrating wonder by shaving in the shower and using the best canned shave cream I could get my hands on. It's just a lot more fun and satisfying to shave with a DE - at least for me. Another great thing about using a good cream or soap is the pampering aspect of the ritual. It's hard to beat warm lather that smells great while taking care of your face. Okay, off the soapbox... As always, YMMV; No warranties implied or expressed; Do not ship or store near strong electrostatic, electromagnetic, magnetic, or radioactive fields....
If your able to do it with the foam that's fine. If it works for you. I can't do it as all of the foams I've tried are very drying and the lather doesn't hold. There are also brushless creams you can try if you don't want to go full out on the issue: http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?p=251643#post251643
Foam does work fine for me but I also gave shaving cream a try. The last time I shaved, I used Godrej Shaving Cream instead of the Gillette Shave Foam which I had been using earlier. Lathering up the cream felt good but I am not yet sure as to how much better the shave was. I think I need a few more shaves before I start seeing the differences.
A good shaving cream requires you to learn how to work it to get a good lather. Whether by brush or putting it on your face with your fingers. But as has been said many times here already, it will produce a slicker lather, a more buffering lather, smells good and is better for your skin. I'll only add this: Lather from a good cream is "wetter" than any gel or foam you can buy. And it is called Wet Shaving for a reason.
Ditch the Foam, or use incase of emergency Trust me, once you use a brush and cream/soap, you will notice a big difference. I have been attacked by other shavers in the past saying shaving gel and foams were not nowhere as good in quality, mouisterizing, and performance then lathering up using a cream/soap. The shaver who mentioned it dried their face is habit of aerosol goos/foams, which is why companies have to add mouisterizers to mitigate it. I'm not sure about this, I jumped to using a brush and DE at the same time, but isn't a goo/foam unstable then generating a lather from cream/soap? Using a DE and goo/foam a dangerous mix? More prone to cutting yourself? Either way, you will be glad once you stick with traditional wet shaving only. Then maybe try using straight or method shaving in future.
