Homemade Shave Cream?

[amelia]

Having used soap all these years, I was so surprised at how great the real thing feels when I splurged on some apricot-scented shaving gel for the first time (really!) this year. Ever frugal, I'm wondering if I can make the stuff myself. Anybody tried?

[TxGypsy]

Have you tried a shaving mug or are you strictly using bar soap? Try getting a shaving mug and buying some of the shaving soap. Very ecconomical and it gives a good shave. Add a little essential oil to fancy it up. Get your shaving brush wet with hot water before making a lather out of the soap and you will get a hot lather shave. Next best thing to a hot lather machine.

[Rickstir]

I have a shaving mirror in the shower. I wet down and turn off the water. Soap myself all over and then wash my hair. I use the shampoo as shave cream. I then shave and then turn the water on and rinse off. I don't buy shaving cream anymore. Saves water, soap and more importantly, time.

[beorning]

I've heard that conditioner makes good shaving cream, if you have sensitive skin. I use a brush and a mug, and bought shaving soap for a few years. Until I figured out that there isn't a lick of difference between shaving soap and say, Ivory, except for the price.

You could try using a moisturizing bar soap, too. That might be gentler than just plain old soap.

[Tessynae]

I have fairly sensitive skin and will often get little red bumps on my skin if I use just soap, and even sometimes when I use shave cream. So I use lotion. I put regular hand/body lotion on my legs and shave it off. Just like shave cream. But I have NEVER had a problem with bumps now. I thought I could use baby oil one time and....well...I don't recommend it. Much pain. But as far as the lotion goes it can be super cheap stuff.

[Old John]

I've been using a mug & a brush , for the last 35 years.
I like it. I like the warm brush, full of lather, on my neck,
in the morning.
I only shave my neck. I have a full beard, of medium length.
Different strokes, for different Folks.
I'd never think of telling another man the proper thing to use,
or the proper way to shave. Would not want to be told either.
I guess that's just an "Old Curmudgeon", kinda thing.
That's okay with me.
Have fun.

[Shrek]

i use a 1960s era double edge razor and chipped coffee cup that I put the bath soap slivers in to whip into shaving creme soap with a brush and set in the basin of hot water to a level below the cup rim to warm. Before whipping the soap with the brush, I add a few drops of fresh aloe gel from one of the plants I keep in the southern exposure windowto make it creamier and reduce razor burns.

When the mug and whipped shave soap is hot, I lather and shave.

[TxGypsy]

While working on my hot lather machine today(had a short) I had dumped out the soap mix in the sink that sits in the resevoir. A friend was surprised and commented because he knows I'm pretty tightfisted. I told him that the mixture was so cheap that it hadn't been worth saving....cheapest thing I could waste in the barber shop. That's when it hit me.....it is dirt cheap. The lather machine itself is a large initial investment, but after that you could shave for a couple of pennies a month. The lather mix is very inexpensive and you dilute it 1 ounce to 8 ounces of water. Hot lather is really nice and quite luxurious to shave with. Don't tell anyone......lol....I shave my legs with the hot lather in the back of the shop

[fishhead]

I stopped using shaving cream 30 years ago and switched to whatever soap I had in the shower. Aloe sounds like a good idea although since I switched to soap it doesn't bother my face even with going 6 months between blade changes.

[Farmerwilly2]

Been using Williams shave soap and mug the last 30+ years. Gave up the double edged safety razor about the same time. I finally got a straight razor, waiting to get the handle fixed (worms ate the horn around the rivet) before I hone and strop it, then will start using it. Compared to the price of razor blades, the shave soap is real cheap.

[Shrek]

i inherited two handle twist double edge razors 15 years ago with 35 or 40 packs of wilkerson sword blades . Each blade pack contains 20 blades. With proper cleaning and drying , a blade will last me for 2 to 3 months.

My father got them after liquidating a small store he purchased after the owner passed away. I have enough blades to last most of my life.

[Micahn]

Originally Posted by Rickstir

I have a shaving mirror in the shower. I wet down and turn off the water. Soap myself all over and then wash my hair. I use the shampoo as shave cream. I then shave and then turn the water on and rinse off. I don't buy shaving cream anymore. Saves water, soap and more importantly, time.

Humm you looking into my shower ?
I do the very same thing.

[daytrader]

I do not use any shaving cream. The first few times it burned like heck, but now. No problem. I shave all the time with no cream.

Nice skin tight shave.

[e.alleg]

Last time I bought a can of shaving cream it cost $1.99, lasts me about 2 years. For a dollar a year it's not worth thinking about. I also have a full beard so all I shave is my neck and mustache once a week.

[BlueHeronFarm]

I made shaving cream in chemistry class in high school - very long ago, can't remeber anything about it. I'd splurge - nice shaving cream is worth the buck-fitty.

[Clifford]

I use the homemade soap I make for the shower and hand soap. I make sure it's about 9-10% superfatted so it doesn't dry the skin. In the shower, or at the sink it works just fine. You can add any scent, or oils to the soap when you make it.

[blufford]

I usually latch on to a rabid dog. I hate to see all that foam go to waste.

I'll post this in the tightwad tips section (Countryside Families) later today. Watch out Melissa. Mad Dog Alert!

[vtfarma]

okay - no recipe here but since there are so many experienced shavers here, we just had a young man move in with us who needs to shave and does but it causes a break out within an hour of shaving. Any thoughts?

[Alice In TX/MO]

I found this!


INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup natural shampoo
1/4 to 3/4 cup water
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable glycerin
8 drops antiseptic essential oil such as refreshing mint.

Blend until well mixed. Use more or less water depending on texture desired.

[jukebox]

My way of starting the day.