The short answer is that it’s up to you, to what you prefer. Both serve the same purpose. But why should you use a shaving cream or shaving soap and which one do we think you should choose? Read on to find out the answer.
Why use shaving cream or shaving soap?
You’ve probably asked yourself why you need a shaving cream or shaving soap? What is it supposed to be good for? There are three good reasons why.
- Protective effect
- Increased friction
- Moisturizing effect
Both create a protective layer between the skin and the razor blade of the razor, shavette or razor. This can prevent, for example, cuts, skin irritation or skin problems that can occur when shaving. It is important that the layer of shaving cream or shaving soap is thick enough, but not too thick, which can make it difficult for the razor to come out or too thin and risk injury.
When shaving cream or shaving soap is used, friction is increased and it becomes easier for the razor blade or razor to glide over the skin, reducing the risk of cuts and/or other skin irritation. The friction is what causes the resistance between the two surfaces, the skin and the razor blade to be less than without shaving cream or shaving soap.
A shaving cream or shaving soap can also have a certain moisturizing effect, something that is important during wet shaving. By using shaving cream or shaving soap to add moisture during shaving, it makes the skin feel better and the risk of damage is reduced. If you also use a pre-shave before and or an after shave afterwards, you get even better hydration before using shaving cream or shaving soap.
But the main reason to always use a shaving cream or shaving soap is, as mentioned, to protect the skin during shaving.
Why choose a shaving cream?
So what is a shaving cream?
- A development from shaving soap
- Has a looser, creamier texture than shaving soap
- Easier to apply, no shaving brush required
- Not as lengthy and involves slightly more waste
A shaving cream is a development in a way of a shaving soap.
The big difference is that a shaving cream has a significantly looser, creamier texture than shaving soap and can be experienced as slightly easier to create a nice shaving foam with that can be applied to the face. It doesn’t take as much water or as much work to create a perfect shaving foam as with shaving soap.
At the same time, a shaving cream can be slightly less expensive than a shaving soap and it is more difficult to get hold of refill packaging for a shaving cream than a shaving soap.
A shaving cream is certainly best applied together with a shaving brush, something that is almost a requirement with a shaving soap, but can also be applied with the help of your fingers.
Why choose a shaving soap?
- The most original option when wet shaving
- Is significantly longer lasting and lasts longer than shaving cream
- Requires a shaving brush to apply
- Refill packs are available for less waste
A shaving soap is the more original way to shave of the two options.
While shaving cream in its current form has been around since the early 1900s, the solid shaving soap in its current form has a history that is about 100 years older, sometime in the early 1800s, the first shaving soaps began to appear. They were used then, just as now, mainly together with a shaving brush in some kind of shaving cup or shaving bowl to create lather.
Creating a shaving foam with a shaving soap can require a little more experience and dexterity than a shaving cream, but it is also possible to get more precisely the shaving foam you want with a shaving soap.
A shaving soap is also significantly more expensive than a shaving cream and in many cases it is possible to buy a refill and recycle the mug or bowl.
What should I choose? Shaving cream or shaving soap?
In the end, of course, it’s up to you and what you prefer, do you feel insecure?
Try it out and see what you think is best for you.
If you are a beginner in wet shaving, a shaving cream may be preferable, they are usually slightly cheaper and also easier to handle and apply than a shaving soap. In addition, they do not require a shaving brush.
If, on the other hand, you feel that you want to go all the way at once, take a step forward or upwards, shaving soap is the right thing for you.
Still undecided?
Feel free to ask us about shaving cream or shaving soap, which one you should choose and what we think will suit you and your needs. Get in touch on info@shavingroom.se or our social media.
