I've been really interested in changing to a wetshaving regimen, from my 15 year old habit of Gillette gel and throw-away razors. I visited AoS and bought a starter kit. I need to practice with the brush more, as the lather doesn't look like what I've seen in many YouTube videos. Regardless, the pre-shave oil is nice and seems to help. My question is... if the pre-shave oil is what seems to 'make' it, why not just use the oil then your typical shave gel and fusion razor? I'm trying to understand the tangible benefits of the brush and cream/soap. I would still be using a fusion, but maybe with a heavier handle. Or perhaps one day growing into a safety razor. Maybe I'm missing something, and hoping you all are kind enough to school me. Thank you!!
Where did you hear the pre-shave oil is what "makes it"? Their salesman? Its not necessary especially with a very moisturizing soap/cream like Proraso (red).
From our friend, Mantic: "The main problem with canned shaving cream is that the propellant tends to dry out the skin by displacing water from the skin, so artificial lubricants have to be added to try to make up for it. Usually the lubricants are petroleum-based, which displaces water even further. And its water that does the “heavy lifting” during a shave: warm water will ease the hair out a bit, naturally (so no need for a”yank and hack” multi-blade razor!) and softens the hair for an easier cut. So if you don’t want to use traditional shaving cream/soap, at least buy a “brushless” product that comes out of a squeeze-tube and not a pressurized can."
Welcome to The Shave Den! Forget the typical shave gel. Get yourself some real shaving soap or cream.
Hi Fram. Yep. Glad I asked here... seems like some bad information. Thanks for clarifying. What tuxxdk referred to makes sense. Thanks tuxxdk. I didn't know that before. I look at Proraso as an alternative cream. Wasn't crazy about the cream from AoS.
You should look at Sara-s' tutorial on making your own pre-shave oil. Pennies on the dollar on what AoS would charge you. Again not an absolute must but nice to have.
The proraso cream looks great. Guess there is a world outside of AoS Would you all recommend still using a pre-shave oil with a better quality cream/soap like Proraso?? Thx!
Use it if you like. I've never used it, but I intend to try some day when it comes over me. But it's not necessary, or at least, it shouldn't be with a good cream/soap. When I do, it'll be a homemade one with help from Sara's recipe.
I would say it depends on the soap/cream. Proraso red already feels like im spreading oil on my face. It's that moisturizing and beard softening. However for a drying soap like Arko its a nice addition.
to TSD "drew4392"...........I hope you enjoy it here..... First your already "wetshaving", your just using I.M.O. terrible products....I "wetshaved" for work(10-12 times a month) for 30+ "MISERABLE" years using a Trac2 cart razor and canned goo (Barbasol)....Then I discovered "traditional" shaving through a friend...I've been happily "traditional" shaving for about 3 years..I'm now retired and so I shave by choice and not because I'm forced to.. "Everyday" I get fantastic, smooth ,pain free shaves that are more fun and much cheaper than modern cart shaving... All I can tell you is I LOVE "traditional" shaving, you may hate it, the only way to find out for sure is to try it..People around here will be happy to give you opinions about various products... Heres my opinion "YMMV" on an inexpensive, mostly locally available starter kit... Van der Hagen makes a starter kit you can find in drugstores like CVS it consists of a brush,bowl and VDH Delux soap puck... I think you'll find most people here agree VDH Delux shave soap is an inexpensive,locally available soap that works VERY well... You can buy Proraso or Jack Black preshave locally, I personally use "Corn Huskers Lotion" as a preshave as its oil free, works as well for me as either of the other two and is "ALOT" cheaper!!! You could also easily make your own preshave oil(there are many posts here at TSD that address how to make it) or you can just ask... You also may want a postshave balm I use Nivea Sensitive postshave balm prior to applying my aftershave..... You should get a large" blade sample pack"(you'll need to order that online) the more different blades you can try especially in the beginning the better I.M.O. You can however find some DE blades(Wilkinson, store branded Personna and store branded Dorco locally at some drug and grocery stores.... You'll need a safety razor, some you may want to consider, starting at the cheaper end with the Wieshi: Wieshi TTO (twist to open) Feather Popular TTO Lord 3 piece Sabi 3 piece Cadet 3 piece or TTO Vintage Gillette 3 piece razor(Fat Handle or Ball End tech) or TTO(SuperSpeed, Aristocrat or Adjustable) Edwin Jagger R89 3 piece Weber stainless steel 3 piece with either a BullDog or Classic handle..... You should take a look at "mantic59's" shaving videos as they will answer many of your questions... If theres anything else you'd like to know just ask....
I need to interfere here, sorry. But Arko is not drying. I use that stuff almost everyday and it's not drying in no way, more or less than any other soap. However, I have experience Arko as drying, same with VDH. The reason was my lather that I mixed wrongly. Correcting that made both soaps the way they are intended - great and protecting, not drying. I can easily do a three pass and finish with just the alum, no need for balm. It would sadden me if Arko got the rep. that it's a drying soap.
I think he means "Drying" refers to the skin after the shave. I find I have to use a balm after using Arko, as for the lather, it's lush as anything else.
It is for me... No more than washing my face with a bar of Ivory bath soap though. I used it for years before discovering a more moisturizing alternative.
I hear ya, but don't understand as I'm not picking up any of the drying part Can we then agree it's a YMMV? As said before, I can do without a balm after the shave. I wouldn't be able to that if it was indeed drying.
Thats why we use YMMV so frequently here in TSD ......I use Arko everyday also and have used VDH Delux many times in the past and I must agree with Martin that I've found neither one drying...I'd never thought about the soap/water ratio connection, I guess I just got lucky with that at the start... I don't think you need to worry though Martin as Arko has been around a long time and it attributes are I believe well known...
AoS is overpriced and overrated. You're basically buying the name. The stuff is probably good, but you can do better for a lot cheaper. Also, the salespeople at AoS aren't known to be very knowledgeable when it comes to shaving products. My opinion on shave gel is that it sucks. No reason to go further.
I do for all my shaves. I made my own, after first trying Sara's recipe ---> *click* Her recipe makes a thinner PSO than I like, so I asked her about it. She said to add a bit more castor oil. That did the trick. I go equal parts olive oil and castor oil, plus a bit of essential oil to make it smell nice. After I get dried off from my shower, I re-wet my face and rub a little oil over the beard, then let it sit while I whip up my lather. After I get my lather the way I like it, I again wet my face and brush the lather on right over the oil. At first I was concerned about the oil gunking up the razor and brush, but after nearly two years I have zero issues.
