Shaving Soaps - Hallmark of Wet Traditional Shaving (2024)

FAQs

What are the benefits of traditional wet shaving? ›

One of the most beneficial aspects of the traditional wet shave is that it will prevent or reduce the incidences of razor burn, ingrown hair, and razor bumps. Razor burn occurs when skin is displaced and the hair follicle is twisted and pulled by the scraping action of the razor blade.

Regular soaps tend to have a very thin, watery lather that is great for washing off dirt and grime but it isn't going to provide much protection from a blade. Shaving soaps are therefore designed to create a much bigger and denser lather to give you that protection you need.

A traditional wet shave is done with some sort of lubricant and water. It would have originally been done with a single blade razor. The reason it was and still is popular is the closeness of the shave you can achieve.

May Reduce Irritation

When done correctly, traditional shaving techniques can help reduce skin irritation and razor burn. The use of a sharp blade and proper shaving techniques can minimize the chances of developing ingrown hairs, razor bumps and skin irritation.

Starting with traditional wet shaving may require an initial investment in quality shaving gear like a safety razor, shaving brush, and shaving soap, but the benefits are well worth it. You'll enjoy a closer shave, less skin irritation, and a more enjoyable shaving experience.

Some soaps that aren't designed for shaving don't build up into a thick lather and will need to be reapplied multiple times during your shave. Can I use regular soap to shave with? Regular soaps don't build into a thick lather. This will result in a soap that will disappear from your face during your shave.

is influenced by several factors, but assuming your shaving soap is average size of 3-4 ounces and the soap is a medium hardness it will likely last at least 100 shaves. Some varieties of soap such as Proraso and Tabac are measured in grams. A very high level estimate is 1 gram of shaving soap used per shave.

Shaving gels are less foamy and produce less of a lather than shaving soap and are slightly slicker and more lubricating than shaving cream. This means your razor will slide beautifully over your skin and avoid any nicks, cuts or irritation.

Just dip and lather, it's that easy! Compared to soap, a shaving cream lather tends to hold more moisture. I find it stays hydrated on my skin for longer, and leaves my skin feeling fantastic. It's also much easier to use, if you're a beginner with a brush.

What is better, shaving soap or shaving cream? ›

While shaving cream is the faster, more dynamic modern cousin, ideal for men who want to streamline their shaving routine and achieve great results as quickly and efficiently as possible, using the shaving soap offers rich rewards to men who devote time and effort in mastering their lathering techniques.

Men first started using seashells, flint, or obsidian blades, or pumice stones to scrape the hair from face and body, flint being pretty good at shaving hair. Then metal blades came along, first copper, then bronze and brass, then iron, and finally steel. Shaving meant more scraping or plucking for a long, long time.

The Best Shaving Technique

First, prep your shave by creating a lather with your shaving cream or soap, apply, then shave with the grain (the direction the hair grows in). Once this is complete, re-apply and shave across the grain. Finally, apply more lather and shave against the grain.

Roman Empire

Wealthy women and men used razors made from flints, tweezers, creams, and stones to remove excess hair. In fact, even pubic hair was considered uncivilized which is why many famous statues and paintings of Grecian women are depicted hairless.

Shower: soften your hair and skin with warm water for a few moments before you shave to make it easier for your razor to glide over your skin and cut through your hair. Apply shaving cream: create a lather with your shaving gel or foam to look after your skin and help your razor along.

In many cultures, shaving is seen as an important part of hygiene and is done regularly. Often, special tools and techniques are used in order to get a close shave. In some cultures, shaving is done as part of a coming-of-age ritual or as part of a religious ceremony. In others, it is simply a personal preference.

There's less chance of skin irritation with wet shaving than with dry shaving. The water and shaving cream act as a buffer between your skin and the razor, so there's less friction – and as a result, less razor burn and post-shave red bumps.

Wet shaving: The cons

Nicks + cuts: Wet shaves take longer and require more attention than a dry shave. With multi-blade razors, wet shaves are safer, but you're still prone to nicks and cuts – especially if you rush.