Shaving cream + Cartridges

[Matt F]

I just watched a shave video where a guy uses a facial cleanser instead of shaving cream/soap. He was shaving with a Gillette Sensor.

I am new to wet shaving; I assumed that it was best to use shaving cream when using Cartridge Razors (I use Gillette Trac II), but are there better options out there (cream could clog up the razor?)? Here's the vid that I watched:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlOOPHXTDmA

[Hanzo]

Well he's just using soap to shave with and men have always used body or facial soaps to shave with out of necessity or preference, some guys love to shave with Dove soap for instance.

Shaving soaps and creams are made for the purpose of shaving and have ingredients that enhance the ability to shave effectively or comfortably. The skin protection and slickness of shaving creams or soaps, ordinary soaps don't have. Thats why guys on the forum recommend them. The lucky part is there are many to chose from .

I have an old Sensor and generic cartridge blade I use sometime just for the hell of it, I found that using a shaving soap did not clog up the works and really improved my shaves than when I was using the same set and canned creams years back.

[Fogey]

Interesting as I didn't see much of a five o clock shadow on the guy. The the way he dragged that razor over his face appeared to be a whole lot of pressure.... I expected him to roll up some hide or minimum of razor burn.

Still he came out just fine. Amazing! But I'll still use oil or Boar lather.

[geneaut]

Some people shave with peanutbutter ( no joke ).

Shortly before I discovered this wet shaving forum I was shaving with olive oil ( read it on Lifehacker ) with my Mach3. It actually worked fairly well, but I got tired of smelling like a Italian supper dish.

[Matt F]

Some people shave with peanutbutter ( no joke ).

.

Crunchy or smooth? :rofl

[Slivovitz]

Thin, slick, creams can work. I've used Neutrogena shaving cream, which goes on much like whatever that guy in the video is using. I mostly use it for spot touch-ups, like when I've already rinsed off my face and notice a tiny patch that I missed, but I also used it for one or two complete shaves with a Schick Hydro. Once it's gone, I won't buy it again, but I don't like wasting stuff.

I do like Cremo, another very thin cream, but one that can be applied with or without a brush. Not my absolute favorite, but pretty good, and a good match for a cartridge razor on the rare occasions that I might use one.

[zwaldo]

I heard the peanut butter came from soldiers in the world wars. but i'm sure it's older than that. The fact is, you can shave with anything that's going to help the razor cut hair, and not your face. that being peanut oil, olive oil, or motor oil. :cool:

[APC]

Maybe it's because I'm getting old and my eyes aren't what they used to be, but that shaver looked no different after his shave than before he started.