Thread: Is a brush and shaving soap necessary?

Does a bear sh*t in the woods? lol
But seriously is it necesary, well not really...but makes for a much more pleasurable experience

I find the cushion and lubrication provided by a good lather is a vital part of the shave. To achieve a good lather I have found that a brush and a decent soap or cream is unbeatable.

While I understand your desire to jump in with the straight I would suggest that you continue using whatever razor you were and practice making a decent lather before making the switch.

Straight razor shaving is a steep(ish) learning curve and whatever you can do to eliminate the variables the easier you will find it.

I'm one of those here that prep my beard with Barbasol but, I use either Cella or another cream or soap and brush to make my lather to shave with. I've shaved with my straight and Barbasol before and it worked just fine but, I know what I'm doing so YMMV. If you don't want to wait I suggest you wash your face with a good facial cleanser such as Cetaphil (which is what I use), then while your face is still wet apply a thin coating of Barbasol, and let that stearic acid soften your beard. While it's doing its job you can strop your razor, and after 5 min. or so rinse your face with more warm water and reapply a thin coat of Barbasol and have at it. It is quite slick if you have properly hydrated your skin and don't put on a Santa Claus beard of foam.

Just use your hands and ordinary soap. I shaved with ordinary Dove for years, but that was before I used a straight. It works fine for carts and I think it'd probably be fine for a straight as well, just not as fun as whipping up a lather in a bowl.

If you really want to shave and dont have the proper gear...you could use straight up astroglide. I have used it many many times in a pinch. It gives a nice cushion and glide, but its it odd not seeing the soap come off. Just sayin. Any water based lube is mostly glycerin and will give you a DFS if you take your time.

Are you willing to risk a bad shave because you couldn't or wouldn't wait for the soap and brush. First shaves are not usually great due to inexperience and bad technique. Wait for the soap and brush and in the interim just admire your new razor and dream of shaves to come.

You need lubrication for the skin and softening for the whiskers. My first open blade shaves were done with baby oil, canned shave cream, and I even did one with petroleum jelly but a soft badger hair brush loaded with warm lather makes your face crave the shave.

When I was in my late teens, my mother, for Christmas, bought my brother and me shaving brush kits. It came in the little box and think it was a VanDenHagen (if that's the way it's really spelled or not, I don't know). It was a great gift. In fact, I still have the brush after all these years. You just had to find your own mug (mine was a collectible Entenmenn's mug). To think of all cans of Gillette Gel I would've used had my mother not been looking for a neat stocking-stuffer. And, to think of all those warm lathery shaves missed, I don't want to even think about it. Like the former gentlemen said, it's not going to be any kind of deal-breaker, but it just makes the experience that much more pleasurable. My only point I will bring to your attention is this: I run the water to my scuttle-kettle to about 150 degrees. I then soak my brush in it. I then whip up my lather and spread it on. And, now, that's living!

I think you should be patient! Try to practice to be patient, because you will need slow and soft, sometimes small and cautious movements when you shave with a straight razor.

....so a few-days-wait until you get your gear is not impossible to stand out, you will face with much more days of practice in the future and when you finally get a perfect shave with a straight maybe you realize that you use a different soap or brush from that you are waiting for now

Depends on you!

Originally Posted by xdanisx

My straight razor came in today and I'm really excited to use it, but my shaving soap and brush hasn't come in yet. Could I just use a normal aerosol shaving cream for the time being or will I slit my throat?

Yes... aerosol shaving cream can work (for some very well).
You can shave with bar soap.
You can shave with shampoo.
You can shave with hair detangler/ conditioner.
You can shave with water.
You can shave dry.
You will find that a good shave soap is best.

You can take a brush loaded with
water and improve most any goo from a can shave
with a little brush and face lathering action.

I have found that the quality shave soaps
are just so much more enjoyable.

Do take some time and let what ever lather
you select have time to soften your beard.
Taking a little bit more time can be key.

FWIW.. I gifted my 72 year old neighbor with
a beginner brush and good shave soap. He still uses his
cartridge razor but now with his brush and shave soap gets
a much more enjoyable shave.

Summary: if the universe was kind the brush
and soap selection would get to you a week
before the razor.