Has anyone used shaving oil ? I had a one-shot free sample a few weeks ago and it was OK except that it seemed to clog up the twin blades of the razor. I have just gone over to using shaving jell. This is the sort that comes out of the aerosol as a clear jell but turns into foam when you rub it on your face. This seems to have a thicker consistency compared to regular shaving foam and gives a better shave with the cheap, disposable razors that I use.
Clearly, with Jurph’s answer, we’re in the territory of different beards, different treatments. You could knit a stove with the hair from my beard. When I dated, I always had to shave a second time in the early evening before going out so I didn’t look totally unshaven. I wouldn’t have had the time or patience for his method, and I question how effective it would have been anyway.
I recently got into shaving gel as well, but not the aerosol kind. Gillette makes one that doubles as a facial cleanser. I guess it’s less manly and more “metrosexual,” but it doesn’t dry out my skin and I like the shave I get with it.
I started using shaving foam, but switched to a brush and William’s shaving soap (or Wilkinson’s if I can find it) years ago. I have a beard, so only shave my cheeks and lower neck, but it works well for me, and I like the “traditional” feel of whipping up the soap to a lather and applying it with the brush. Goes on warm, too.
I also use a regular safety razor, as I don’t like throwaway razors or cartridges for environmental reasons. It’s becoming difficult to find regular razor blades, however, and they cost an extortionate amount when available. I can get a package of 100 single-edge blades in a hardware store for the price of a packet of 10 regular blades at the drugstore (I know they’re not the same, but the cost can’t be that much different).
I think it’s the brushing action more than the soap. The brush helps your beard “stand up” and present a cuttable surface to the razor. I usually give my face a good against-the-grain rubbin’ with a warm washcloth before shaving - same effect.
I used to use shaving cream but didn’t really like it much, didn’t seem to help compared to soap and water and clogged my razor like crazy.
AFAIK it’s all about getting the hairs wet. Wet, wet, wet, the wetter the better. I generally shave in the shower but my outside-the-shower routine is:
Give face a good wash with soap and water, water nice and hot.
Soak a washcloth in water as hot as I can stand it. Plop washcloth on face and let it sit for a few minutes until water is no longer hot. Repeat if desired.
Then lather up with mild soap and hot water and shave. Clean razor frequently under running hot water - don’t whack it on the sink or slosh it around in the same water (which gets filthy with hair trimmings and general facial scunge). Using soap and water to lather up means that the goop doesn’t clog the razor as easily, it rinses clean quickly.
In the shower, I shave right towards the end (and I like hot showers) when my whiskers are as wet as they will get. I use plain old Dove and I’ve found that if I use one of those gritty “facial scrubs” (it’s got some kind of finely ground walnut shells in it I think) it really does a great job of removing oils, dead skin and so forth - nothing left but clean, smooth skin and clean, wet hair.
Then lather up and shave, again rinsing the razor frequently under the nozzle.
Yes it’s a little extravagant and frankly it wastes water but makes for a great shave.
I have always wanted to learn to shave with a straight razor and mug/brush though. I’m told that is the best damn shave you can possibly get.
I also shave in the shower, at the end after I’ve washed my face - the soap’s already there anyway and it cuts time (with short hair and even shaving, I can, if need-be, be out in about 2 minutes).
Shaving over the sink isn’t as nice, since the beard doesn’t have as much time to soak and soften-up, but I use the same Dial bath soap. Except that I wash with warm water, but rinse the razor with cold water - it seems to help the skin re-close after the blade goes over.
In either case, never against the grain.
Me too (both counts). I find that if I shower first, the hot water will soften up my face enough that I can slap on a quick layer of shaving cream, and go to town.
The problem is, I shave in less than two minutes–usually tearing up my face. But by 1100, the 1700-shadow sets in, and it doesn’t matter anyway. I used to shave in the shower just by feel, but I got tired of it and went back to the mirror-and-sink method.
I do have to try that Neutrogena stuff. What’s it called?
Tripler
I am a big fan of shaving balm, tho!
All shaving cream is is soap containing sodium ot potassium stearate. Stearate makes is foamy.
Shower.
Apply body lotion.
Steam room, hot, 8/10 minutes.
Shave immediately.
Bonus is more smooth shaves per 4 blade razor head. 
Re my earlier question , it looks as though nobody has tried shaving oil. This is sort of thing I’m asking about. About Face
I use nothing but warm water with a 3 blade razor. I find anything else just clogs the blades and makes shaving less effective.
The last time I was in the UK I used King of Shaves shaving oil. I found it to be better than shaving cream, and you only need to use 2 or 3 drops.
That’s what I do these days. After a shower if I leave my face wet I can shave easily without any cream or oil.
Nope. I doesn’t “do” anything. That’s the beauty of it.
Deja vu. That sounds strangely familiar. Say, do you suppose it was in a movie? or a tv show?
ahhhhhh don’t get me started.
Neutrogena Skin-clearing Shave Cream. Very nice for sensitive skin and fair beards; I can’t attest to its utility on darker/stiffer hair. I’ve also used (and liked quite well) their gel in a can which lathers up nicely and doesn’t seem to cause any ingrown hairs.
Unfortunately, the scent sticks around a little, and it clashes with Drakkar, which I wear for my wife. As Bosley said in Charlie’s Angels, “I find it interferes with my, ah… social agenda. Know what I mean?” 
What soften your hair is massaging. Whether it’s soap or foam makes no difference. At least in my experience.