# Spermacidal Shaving Cream **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 28, 2000, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spermacidal-shaving-cream/15229 "2000-03-28T03:43:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2000, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spermacidal-shaving-cream/15229/1 "2000-03-28T03:43:00Z")
So i’m in the shower. 5am. Droopy eyed. Reading the ingredients of my “Gillette Foamy Shaving Cream” for whatever reason (probably to prevent effort and move). Even in my slumber I am surprised to see nonoxynol-9 listed half way down. As far as I know nonoxynol-9 is only used as a spermacide… now Im thinking… im rubbing this stuff on my face, but should I also offer it as a contraceptive foam for my GF. I am also surprised to see it has BOTH propane and butane (I assume propelants). So in my half asleep thinking I say to myself, if for some GODAWFULL REASON that I cant comprehend I should wind up with sperm on my face I should spread Gillette Foamy on my face and light it on fire. Umm… anybody else notice this? ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2000, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spermacidal-shaving-cream/15229/2 "2000-03-28T05:00:00Z")
FWIW Edge gel and Barbasol foam don’t have it, and apparently only butate for propellant. It’s not completely inconcevable that a person could get a little bit of spunk on them in the course of having fun. Not everyone is straight and beards aren’t the only thing that get shaved. Tiny nicks and cuts are a quick way to infection. It’s farfetched but maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Surgoshan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Surgoshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surgoshan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2000, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spermacidal-shaving-cream/15229/3 "2000-03-28T05:32:00Z")
Yeah, it works real good as a contraceptive, spray it in there after sex, light it up, guaranteed, no kids, (but plenty of sex after you get sent to prison for senseless brutality). * * * I sold my soul to Satan for a dollar. I got it in the mail. ---
**Author:** ![Steve-o](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecc23a/32.png) [@Steve-o](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve-o)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2000, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spermacidal-shaving-cream/15229/4 "2000-03-28T05:43:00Z")
Yes, propane and butane would be used as the propellant. Probably the reason that both are listed is so that they can use whichever is cheaper/available at the time of manufacture without having to change the label. All they would have to do is always keep a small supply of the more expensive/less available one on supply, and just add a smidgen to keep the label accurate. * * * Things are random only insofar as we don’t understand them. ---
**Author:** ![TomH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@TomH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TomH)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2000, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spermacidal-shaving-cream/15229/5 "2000-03-28T12:46:00Z")
I think it’s a bactericide as well as a spermicide. It may be there to reduce the chance of getting an infection in any nicks and cuts. ---
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2000, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spermacidal-shaving-cream/15229/6 "2000-03-28T17:57:00Z")
hey… that makes sence.