Everybody runs out of shaving cream eventually, usually on the morning they need a clean shave. The good news is that the job shaving cream does is fairly simple, and a few things around the house can do it well enough for one shave.
What shaving cream actually does
Dermatologists generally boil it down to three things. Warm water softens the hair, which makes it far easier to cut. A slick layer lets the blade glide instead of dragging. And the lather shows you where you have already shaved. Anything that keeps the skin wet and slippery handles the first two. The American Academy of Dermatology’s basic shaving advice is to wet the skin and hair first, use a shaving cream or gel, and shave in the direction the hair grows.
The substitutes, ranked roughly by how well they work
- Hair conditioner. The favorite stand-in. It is made to soften hair and leaves a slippery film that the blade rides on. Most people find it gentle.
- Shaving or body oil, or a little olive or coconut oil. Very slick and good for a close pass, though it can clog a razor and leave skin greasy. A thin layer is plenty.
- Liquid dish soap. A couple of small drops lathered with warm water make a thin, slippery layer that rinses off the blade easily, and some people find it lubricates a second pass better than bar soap. The trade-off is that dish soap is designed to strip grease, so it can leave skin dry or irritated. Fine in a pinch, not ideal every day.
- Bar soap or hand soap. Better than nothing, but the lather is thin and dries quickly, and many people get more nicks and razor burn.
- Plain warm water. Workable if your hair is soft and your razor is sharp. Otherwise expect tugging.
A few habits matter more than the product
Shave after a shower, when hair is soft. Use a sharp blade, since a dull one causes most irritation. Go with the grain first, and only go against it on a second pass if your skin tolerates it. Rinse the blade often and moisturize afterward, especially if you used soap.
Is it cheaper?
A bit. A bottle of dish soap or conditioner stretches across a lot of shaves, and a can of foam costs several dollars. But skin irritation is not a bargain, and for most people the real saving is in replacing blades on time rather than in what goes on the face.
Sources: “How to shave,” American Academy of Dermatology; Shaving cream, Wikipedia.
