# Musings on Barbasol **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 15, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870 "2007-07-15T17:12:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/1 "2007-07-15T17:12:14Z")
Sometimes when I get up in the morning and look at my face in the mirror, I see little tiny hairs … growin’ out my face!\* It happened again recently and, noticing I was out of shave cream (or “gel” or maybe it was a “product”), I resolved to pick up a new can. Then I did. But while at the store, staring bewildered at the display, I mused. There were at least 7 categories from which to choose, ranging from a buck to near $10 (maybe higher, I stopped looking at 10). “What” I wondered “could possibly be the difference?” and thus I came to a conclusion. Grabbing the 99 cent can of Barbasol, I made my escape (after paying, of course). This morning I had the opportunity to use my new shaving cream and, with the memory of that other stuff (the “gel” or “product” or whatever it was) still fresh in my mind - I got my lather, lathered up. Got my razor, shaved -_zip_, _zop_- see that? My face is ripped to shreds.\* So now I’m thinking that $3.65/can isn’t so much, if it [DEL]cuts[/DEL] reduces blood loss. \*With apologies to Bill Cosby ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/2 "2007-07-15T17:14:01Z")
That poor, poor horse… ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/3 "2007-07-15T17:14:03Z")
It would seem to me that the gods have suggested that you grow a beard and save time and money. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/4 "2007-07-15T17:43:39Z")
Preach it. There **is** a qualitative difference in shaving gels, and the price break seem to be right around $3/can. I can Edge gel cheaper than that at Costco, but at the grocery store that seems to be the cut-off point. When you shave your head, you learn to pay attention to these differences. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/5 "2007-07-15T18:06:10Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Preach it. There **is** a qualitative difference in shaving gels, and the price break seem to be right around $3/can. I can Edge gel cheaper than that at Costco, but at the grocery store that seems to be the cut-off point. When you shave your head, you learn to pay attention to these differences. [/QUOTE] Ah, the coward’s way of dealing with baldness… _D&R_ ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/6 "2007-07-15T18:15:16Z")
That’s it! My seconds will be calling on you in the morning! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/7 "2007-07-15T18:17:41Z")
I use Barbasol when I use any kind of shaving cream at all. Usually, I don’t need any lather because I have next to no beard at all and I shave in the shower. I’m lucky, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![figure9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@figure9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/figure9)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/8 "2007-07-15T18:24:43Z")
Shaving cream is basically soap. I use a bar of Caress. It works just as well as any shaving cream/gel I’ve tried. I’m willing to go out on a limb here and say that a sharp razor and proper technique are much more important than what type of shaving soap you use. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/9 "2007-07-16T05:19:42Z")
I usually shave in the shower, and use my shampoo as shaving cream. If I need to shave at the sink, I just use hot water. The only time I ever have a problem is if I’m using an old razor. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/10 "2007-07-16T05:46:15Z")
I stopped using shaving creams, gels and products entirely about 15 years ago. Now I shave in the shower using just soap and water (Oil of Olay, if you must know). Not only that, but I do the whole thing with my eyes closed so as not to get soap in my eyes. I haven’t nicked myself in at least 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/11 "2007-07-16T12:45:15Z")
Burt’s Bees bay rum shaving soap with a cup and brush. Get the brush wet with hot water and then the lather is warm. Do this after the shower and all is well. Or at least as well as it can be on days I must shave. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/12 "2007-07-16T12:55:42Z")
[QUOTE=Rhubarb] I stopped using shaving creams, gels and products entirely about 15 years ago. Now I shave in the shower using just soap and water (Oil of Olay, if you must know). Not only that, but I do the whole thing with my eyes closed so as not to get soap in my eyes. I haven’t nicked myself in at least 10 years. [/QUOTE] I used to do that. Now I put a cheap gel on before going into the shower. ---
**Author:** ![Charger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@Charger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charger)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/13 "2007-07-16T13:17:26Z")
I recently dusted off my old electric razor. That’s my way of sticking it to Big Shaving Cream and their greedy executives with their evil agendas, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/14 "2007-07-16T13:58:01Z")
[QUOTE=Paintcharge] Burt’s Bees bay rum shaving soap with a cup and brush. Get the brush wet with hot water and then the lather is warm. Do this after the shower and all is well. Or at least as well as it can be on days I must shave. [/QUOTE] They don’t seem to make the Bay Rum anymore that I can find. Where do you get yours? ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/15 "2007-07-16T14:36:54Z")
[QUOTE=Charger] I recently dusted off my old electric razor. That’s my way of sticking it to Big Shaving Cream and their greedy executives with their evil agendas, etc. [/QUOTE] \ lost my stinking power cord, too cheap to buy a replacement \ The blade-razor racket is next on my list, with their New 12 blade refillable with 2 replacement heads only $2.99 [RIGHT]additional heads - $16.95 each[/RIGHT] ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/16 "2007-07-16T14:58:16Z")
I shave in the shower after having washed my face with the local drugstore’s store-brand facial scrub. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/17 "2007-07-16T15:04:23Z")
I shave in the shower because I don’t really want to look at my face in the morning – it’s not that I don’t like my face, it’s that I don’t like opening my eyes. I don’t use shaving cream because it is too confusing, especially since I brush my teeth and floss in the shower as well. If I had my d’ruthers, I’d sleep in the shower, but unfortunately there is not enough hot water. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/18 "2007-07-16T18:05:20Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] Got my razor, shaved -_zip_, _zop_- see that? My face is ripped to shreds. [/QUOTE] I think we have identified your problem, and it is “zip zop” rather than choice of shaving cream. Barbasol works just fine. As part of full disclosure, I should mention that I have a full beard and can make a travel-size dispenser of shaving cream (for trim purposes) last for several years. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/19 "2007-07-16T18:17:42Z")
I never understood the appeal of gourmet shaving products. I have a thick beard and shave everyday. Barbasol, or any cheap or expensive product in the same family works fine. I have used all kinds of other stuff in a pinch as well. If you want a truly close shave (and I have never understood the fascination of truly close shaves either), use hair conditioner as shaving cream along with a fresh disposable razor. I can shave my face and neck in less than 90 seconds all inclusive. I would love to see the technique other people are using when they get bad results. I suspect it might be the zop as well. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2007, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870/20 "2007-07-16T19:00:31Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] I can shave my face and neck in less than 90 seconds all inclusive. [/QUOTE] Shagnasty, is your IRL name Schlitze? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musings-on-barbasol/411870.md?page=2)