To what extent does pre-shaves get you a better shave? At the present time I use plain water. Does a pre-shave do any better than plain water?
For me, no. Pre shaves such as, Oil, Skin food, Glycerin etc. actually hinder my shaves. Some folks they seem to work for, Baloosh has had some good luck going with the Proraso pre-post but I think that is just for his enjoyment of the freeze effect.
If you want to try one real quick get some Olive Oil an Castor Oil, a drop of each and put it on a wet puss before lathering. If you don't have Castor, 2 Drops of OO will do fine.
I tried the preshave oil and other routes. Didn't do anything for me. It works for a lot of people though. I wet my face with warm water, slap some cream on and rub it in with my fingers and leave it there while I make a lather. I then rinse the pre-lather off and then re-lather to start my normal shave with the cream or soap of the day.
The only pre-shave oil I've had do anything for me is our own TraderJoe's pre-shave oil. Magic elixir!
I don't lather over any pre-shave product. I tried the oils, etc, but I don't think they do anything except gunk up the works. I do use lather or Proraso Pre/Post while I strop. Then I hit the face with a hot wash cloth, lather and shave. I've no complaints! Jordan
So t hese things are bad stuff. No wonder my neighborhood Safeway carries them for only electric shavers.
Yep. Thats how I do it as well....except I lather right over the pre lather. HEY ! Why waste product ??!! PreLather on the face whilst you are creating the uberLather. Use your fingers and rub in a bit of cream or lather from the soap puck. Rub it in reeeelly good with your fingers and let it set there for a cuppa minutes. Thats all the PreShave you need.
I use this method 65% of the time, Proraso Pre/post 25% of the time, and oil 10% of the time. And I do pre-shave prep only in the winter because I need it then...