To Oil or not to Oil?

Shave Oil

  • I use shave oil

    Votes: 5 50.0%
  • I think it is cheating

    Votes: 5 50.0%

  • Total voters
    10
  • Poll closed .
I tried babyoil with some menthol crystals mixed in for a week or so, refreshing but I'm not sure it made any difference to the actual shave and like others have said the mess put me off.
 
Use it, if it works for you! I never tried it though (I've tried pre/post Proraso a couple of times and that stuff seemed to give a better slip...).
 
I have some Nuage shaving oil that I use underneath Erasmic cream (new) for a little extra slip, as I don't find the cream great. I don't bother with it under any other products. I don't plan on buying either again once used.
 
I have tried it several times and sometimes i add a few drops of baby oil to my lather, but i find it messy and it doesn't seem to make any difference plus it mings up the sink!!!
 
I use it every day and definitely notice when I forget. Having said that I've tried a couple that were downright foul and caused all sorts of problems both to my skin and the razor I was using etc. It's another one of those one man's weed is another man's wild-flower things, I suppose.
 
Here's my take on the debate - I use it always with a straight or SE blade but don't find it necessary when using a DE. I guess that this could be down to the sharpness and thinness of the DE compared to the others.

I have never had a problem with it causing undue mess or leaving a residue in my brush and as to it affecting the quality of lather - another myth.

I suspect it helps some more than others purely because of their skin types - which is why I get frustrated with comments that it is useless.

Some products including the Village Barber Oil are intended for use on their own as well as with lather so it certainly is not cheating.

In terms of why it works, I'm of the opinion that it provides additional slip as opposed to it softening the beard - this is most noticeable, for me when using a straight.
 
Good point, Rob - I shall try it with a straight when I get back to them. Thanks for nudging my mind-set. I've only used oils with DEs and it certainly makes things a whole lot slippier - as you might expect with an oil.
 
I still can't decide how much it helps. Don't like oily fingers but I think it can help with slip. Does it negatively affect lather though? I tend not to use it because of the oily sink and fingers.
 
NotTheStig said:
I still can't decide how much it helps. Don't like oily fingers but I think it can help with slip. Does it negatively affect lather though? I tend not to use it because of the oily sink and fingers.

I know what you mean about oily fingers - I overcome that by using a flannel with very hot water immediately before using a straight - it's probably more imporatant to have dry hands than with a DE.

Regarding the residue in the sink, I use the hot water tap to remove lather as I'm going along (with the sink unplugged), therefore its not a problem I've experienced.
 
Greetings

My view is that Antdad has hit the nail on the head, I believe it's more a product of modern times and as such was conceived to be applied to the beard and then a layer of 'squirty goo' from a can layered over the top of it without disturbing (or even touching) the oil layer. This way it may add something to a shave.

I believe that if you face lather, as I do the vast majority of the time, you will simply clean it off or at least emulsify it and achieve little or nothing, the same to a slightly lesser degree applies if you bowl lather.

I liken it to getting ones hands covered in engine oil and washing it off with soap and a nail brush! It seems a little pointless IMHO but perhaps my argument is a little simplistic.

Regards
Dick
 
personally the only oil that interfears with my shave is 3-1 oil


bassically after i haved wiped razor after use i add a drop of oil to both sides then wipe excess off with tissue


then when i go to shave go as normal and face lather (creams or soaps i face lather) it afects shave and stops drag if lather is a little dry but i mainly do it to protect the razor
 
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