# Shaving With Mouthwash **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 19, 2016, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-mouthwash/772474 "2016-11-19T21:23:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-mouthwash/772474/21 "2016-11-21T01:09:44Z")
I don’t think I could ever get by with just water, my beard is too wiry. **LSL** , blond hair can be finer–you think that’s why it works for you? An issue with these new multi-blade shavers is that they clog easily and that makes shaving harder/less close/more likely to cut. You’ve got to rinse (or I do) between every few strokes to do a good job, especially if you’re using a relatively thick/foamy shave cream. I can see that if you were used to using a thicker cream and then used something like mouthwash, which I presume does soften the hairs somewhat while clogging the blades less, it might seem like an improvement. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-mouthwash/772474/22 "2016-11-21T06:15:51Z")
> [@erysichthon](#): > > I think you’re right. It’s the same principle employed by Lectric Shave, a product I remember using during my brief infatuation with expensive electric shavers many years ago. Lectric Shave is just alcohol with some lubricating agents and fragrance–probably not too far removed from mouthwash. This. [https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/williams-lectric-shave-electric-razor-pre-shave-original/ID=prod1860-product#VPD\_Ingredients](https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/williams-lectric-shave-electric-razor-pre-shave-original/ID=prod1860-product#VPD_Ingredients) > [@](#): > > Ingredients: SD Alcohol 40-B, Isopropyl Myristate, Water, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Fragrance, Benzophenone-1, Trisodium HEDTA, Green 5, Yellow 10, Orange 4 SD Alcohol and Isopropyl Myristate are also found in many mouthwashes. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-mouthwash/772474/23 "2016-11-21T15:35:57Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > I shave immediately out of the shower, using a bar of Mexican laundry soap, about a buck a pound and lathers nicely with no added chemicals or scents. Certainly cheaper than mouthwash. The mouthwash might work fine, but I have no compelling incentive to switch to it, and it’s far from likely I’d ever be in a situation where mouthwash is ready at hand, but there is no soap to be found… Is this before or after you eat your morning banana peels? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-mouthwash/772474/24 "2016-11-21T16:34:35Z")
> [@TSBG](#): > > … > An issue with these new multi-blade shavers is that they clog easily and that makes shaving harder/less close/more likely to cut. You’ve got to rinse (or I do) between every few strokes to do a good job, especially if you’re using a relatively thick/foamy shave cream. > > I can see that if you were used to using a thicker cream and then used something like mouthwash, which I presume does soften the hairs somewhat while clogging the blades less, it might seem like an improvement. Agree that you’re on to something here. Once the gaps between a multi-blade razor get clogged with hair/soap sludge they pretty well stop cutting. Keeping the gaps clear improves the shave a bunch. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-mouthwash/772474/25 "2016-11-21T16:39:08Z")
> [@Belowjob2.0](#): > > This. > > [https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/williams-lectric-shave-electric-razor-pre-shave-original/ID=prod1860-product#VPD\_Ingredients](https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/williams-lectric-shave-electric-razor-pre-shave-original/ID=prod1860-product#VPD_Ingredients) > > SD Alcohol and Isopropyl Myristate are also found in many mouthwashes. Does it work well for shaving the pubic region? ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-mouthwash/772474/26 "2016-11-21T16:45:13Z")
I still think I’d try and find a good shaving oil before I’d try mouthwash. It just sounds like something that would leave you with razor burn. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-mouthwash/772474/27 "2016-11-21T19:04:06Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > I use mouthwash to rinse the toothpaste slime from my mouth. > > I don’t shave. Alcohol based mouthwashes really arent good for your mouth. Try Biotene or similar non-drying mouthwashes. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-mouthwash/772474/28 "2016-11-21T19:32:50Z")
I tried it, but I found the mouthwash to be too dull to cut even one whisker. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-mouthwash/772474/29 "2016-11-21T20:43:41Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I tried it, but I found the mouthwash to be too dull to cut even one whisker. You don’t use the mouthwash to cut the whiskers, you use the mouthwash to cut the ammonia. The ammonia makes the hairs stand on end. Easier to cut them with the pinking shears that way. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-mouthwash/772474/30 "2016-11-21T21:00:15Z")
I swear by using hair conditioner for shaving (in the shower). ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2016, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-mouthwash/772474/31 "2016-11-21T21:16:42Z")
> [@steatopygia](#): > > FWIW I shave with hot water and Ivory bar soap. How long does it take you to get the bar soap sharp enough to cut your stubble? ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-mouthwash/772474/32 "2016-11-22T08:55:01Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Mouthwash is water, alcohol (in most brands) and a trace of flavoring and other chemicals. Alcohol is a drying agent, the base for most aftershaves. I can’t imagine how it facilitates shaving, where you want lubricant of some kind to soften the hairs and allow the blade to slide against the skin. (Whapping yourself with some alkyhol then feels good as it dries and tightens the skin.) > > Sounds like a non-solution that happens to work for one guy. “Lubricant to soften the hairs” ??? what you want is lubricant for the skin. Also WATER to soften the hairs (as it does for cotton, wool, and other natural fibres), and SOAP to wash the oil off the hair (which is there to protect the natural fibre from water). Possibly ALCOHOL may work as well or better than soap to clean off the oils and allow the water to penetrate the natural fibres. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2016, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-mouthwash/772474/33 "2016-11-22T11:33:15Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Back in the 50s my Dad used Gleem brand toothpaste and Brylcreem brand hair gel. Those of us of a certain age will recognize both brands. > > Both of which came in metal squeeze tubes with a bold red stripe against a white background. In the dim light of a pre-dawn bathroom they’re almost identical looking. > > He said Brylcreem was one of the worst taste sensations in his life and he used to regularly siphon gasoline by mouth. :eek: Thrush cream comes in tubes very similar to toothpaste. Ask me how I know. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shaving-with-mouthwash/772474.md?page=1)