Thread: Product Help

So looking through the forum I've noticed that a lot of products are used throughout the shave. As a beginner I really don't know what is needed and what is not and when it needs to be applied. Is there a specific order like, preshave balm, shave, warm rinse, alum, cold rinse, witch hazel, af balm, etc.?

There is no prescription what to use as everyone's beard and face skin is unique.
Minimum you need is a shave cream or soap and a after shave balm or splash, along with good beard preparation.
After you start you will find out fairly quickly what you need to add, if anything, to your arsenal.

Thanks mainaman. I've got all the needed items. Now I guess I can just experiment and find out what I like best.

There was one post somewhere on here that a guy tried astroglide (a "personal" lubricant) and it worked pretty well.

What does this mean? You can use pretty much anything to make your face slick enough to shave. Do you need pre-shave and post shave stuff? Not really, but it's nice. I like Taylor of old bond street sandalwood shaving cream, followed up by old spice aftershave-- but that's just me.

Play around and find what you like.

I believe the astroglide was added to their shave soap like some do with glycerin. It's not "needed", just one of those things that someone was experimenting with.

A shower is about all most of us use as a "pre-shave". You could also just use a hot wet towel like the barbers of the old days did. Most of us use an aftershave. Some use an alum block after the shave followed by an aftershave. That's the cool thing about our sport is that after the basics...you can experiment with all kinds of stuff.

At a minimum you will need the following:

1. Shave ready straight razor
2. Shave cream/soap
3. Brush
4. Strop

Eventually you will also need either a pasted strop or a barber's hone to refresh your edge. The prices for all the above run the gamet from cheap to ridiculously expensive. Check the classifieds and the Vendor's Corner below. Many have starter kits that include a good strop and a shave ready razor. I know it all seems a bit overwhelming, and a little pricey. But once you have these you are set for a very long time.

Originally Posted by shooter74743

I believe the astroglide was added to their shave soap like some do with glycerin. It's not "needed", just one of those things that someone was experimenting with.

A shower is about all most of us use as a "pre-shave". You could also just use a hot wet towel like the barbers of the old days did. Most of us use an aftershave. Some use an alum block after the shave followed by an aftershave. That's the cool thing about our sport is that after the basics...you can experiment with all kinds of stuff.

Actually there's a thread on it, and the Astroglide was used as a pre-shave oil. It worked as well or better than the high priced spreads, if you don't mind the pun.