Shaving with just a bar of soap is fast becoming a thing of the past. This is due to the emergence of various personal care brands that are adept at convincing everyone that they need specialized products for cleaning and grooming. However, some people prefer to stick to the traditional way of shaving with a bar of soap instead of using these specialized products.
Some people keep asking if it is possible to shave with just a bar of soap and the answer to that question is pretty simple.
Yes, you can shave with just a bar of soap, as long as the bar of soap contains moisturizers, skin and hair nutrients, and gives a stable lather. The bar of soap should also be slick enough to let the shaving equipment glide easily over the skin without causing any skin irritation.
So, in this post, we will be discussing shaving with just a bar of soap, and if it has any real advantages or disadvantages.
First, What Is Shaving?
Shaving is simply the removal of body hair by using any form of bladed equipment like scissors, blades, or clippers. This equipment is used to slice the hair down to the level of your skin. It is a technique men mostly use to remove facial and body hair, and women use it to remove hair under their arms, legs, and other sensitive parts of the body.
An ideal shave should be close, nick-free, and smooth. It should also be achieved with an easy routine, minimum fuss and should be relatively inexpensive. Also, the products used in shaving should be beneficial to the skin and overall body health (be toxin-free).
Why Do You Need to Shave?
We understand that getting rid of excess hair is shaving, but there are different reasons why people shave and it is important to find them out. In this section, we will be discussing some of these reasons.
- It helps to get rid of dark and unhealthy hair: You know those thick, pesky, and strange-looking strands of hair that pop out of various parts of your body? You can get rid of them by simply shaving. It is a more effective way to get rid of the hairs than trying to pluck them out individually.
- It guarantees you clearer skin: In addition to getting rid of those strange hairs, shaving can help get rid of dead skin cells that build up on the skin’s surface. Shaving makes it more difficult for these dead skin tissues to build up. So, it is actually a good way to integrate regular exfoliation into basic beauty and healthcare routines.
- Shaving makes skin care products more effective: Have you ever wondered why skincare products are not as effective as they should be on your skin? It could be because of lack of shaving. Shaving gives an exfoliating effect that allows these products to penetrate deep into the skin and deliver antioxidants, vitamins, and other beneficial ingredients.
Shaving With a Bar Soap: Is There Any Reason to Do So?
Some of the reasons to shave with soap instead of other products are discussed below.
- It is concentrated: Shaving with soap definitely provides you with the amount of lubrication needed for shaving as it does not have fillers. It also contains less harsh ingredients than most of the other products.
- It can save you more money: One bar of soap can last you for months, depending on your shaving habits. So, there is no need to spend money on expensive shaving products that can set you back financially.
- It is convenient and simplifies shaving routines: A good shaving bar can be used for shaving, to wash your body hair, and even to clean your body generally. Using a shaving bar is also less stressful and requires no extra processes compared to other shaving products.
- It is more eco-friendly than many other healthcare skin products: The chemicals in most of these shaving creams are not so good for the skin or even the environment. Bar soaps are eco-friendly because they require less packaging and less ingredients.
What Should You Look Out for When Buying a Shaving Bar?
The first thing you should look out for is the ingredients in the bar of soap. A soap bar should contain skin and body nutrients and natural oils to nourish the skin and hair as the product is being used. The price of the soap bar should not be the driving factor because quality should always be the most important consideration.
The major ingredients you should avoid when buying a bar of soap for shaving are synthetic ingredients. These ingredients make soap bars more toxic, and some of them are listed below:
- Fragrances: This is a disguise for a whole lot of harmful chemicals. On many skincare products, toxic chemicals may not be listed individually but grouped as fragrances.
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS & SLES): These are harmful foaming agents that strip the skin of its natural oils and dry the skin. They have also been known to cause cancers and skin irritations.
- Tocopherol Acetate and Retinyl Palmitate: These substances damage the immune system, cause allergies and cancers, and can also lead to death in extreme cases.
- Tallow and artificial colors: Vegan or not, you may want to avoid tallow because it is rendered fat. Since fats accumulate toxins, tallow may likely be contaminated by any chemicals the farm animals may have been exposed to.
Other Items That Should Be Used with a Bar of Soap for Shaving
It should be noted that using only a bar of soap is insufficient for an effective shave. It is just one of the items you need. So, what about the other items?
- A razor: There are many varieties of razors that can be used for shaving. One of the most effective of them is the double-edged safety razor. This is because it is a simple stainless steel razor made of a blade, a head, and a handle. It is also more effective as it does not need much contact with the skin.
- A shaving brush: This should be made out of horsehair, boar hair, or badger hair. A shaving brush is designed to whip bar soaps into a lather and apply the lather onto the skin.
- Water: It is usually advisable to use hot or warm water before a shave to soften the hair but cold water during the shave to prevent skin irritations, bumps, and other complications.
What Is the Best Technique for Shaving Effectively?
You have a bar of soap, a razor or clipper, a brush, and plenty of water, what next? How do you go about shaving?
- First, prepare the skin by using hot water on the specific parts and some preferred exfoliating products before shaving.
- Lather up using the wet brush and the bar of soap using any method you deem preferable.
- Apply the soap onto the parts you wish to shave using the brush in a circular motion.
- Shave using the razor or any other preferred tool without applying too much pressure. It is always advisable to shave in the direction of the grain (the direction your hair grows). You can shave in the same direction and then in the opposite direction of the grain to find out what works best for you.
- Rinse the razor after a few swipes.
- Once you are done, wash off any residue with warm water and enjoy your smooth skin.
The Best Shaving Bars
Using a lousy quality shaving bar can make your shaving experience a lousy one, so it is vital to choose a quality bar. Choosing a good shaving bar is crucial because it helps to lubricate your face and ensure your razor moves cleanly across your face. This will give you a close shave with less irritation.
A good shaving bar will ensure your face doesn’t get dried up, but will instead lock in moisture. Since we know how important using a quality shaving bar is, below are some recommendations on the best shaving bars out there.
- Henry Cavendish Eucalyptus Mint shaving soap: Henry Cavendish Eucalyptus Mint shaving soap is good choice to consider because it is mild on the skin, forms rich lather, lubricates the razor, and it is very comfortable to use. It also contains natural ingredients and has no artificial fragrance or color.
- Van Der Hagen Scented Shave soap: Van Der Hagen Scented Shave soap is a one-way ticket to a relaxing and stress-free shave because it is suitable for all skin types. It produces a rich lather, and balances the scale between luxury and economy. It is ideal for everyone.
- The Art of Shaving men’s soap bar: The Art of Shaving men’s soap bar is filled with the required vitamins, produces a rich lather, and makes the skin smoother. No wonder it has a premium rating. Many people are already aware of its benefits.
Conclusion
I hope I’ve been able to answer the questions you may have about using a bar of soap for shaving. It is possible to have a good quality shave using a bar of soap, providing you use the right tools and techniques.
Combining these will give you a clean and comfortable shave. Shaving creams are not for everyone; some people may want to use a bar of soap. It is definitely a cost saving measure.
If you’ve been thinking of trying out shaving with a bar of soap, what are you still waiting for? You are well equipped with the knowledge to do it, and you may really enjoy it. There are no real consequences, so go get started.