 Out of the four different dorms I lived in during my college years, it was the one my sophomore year that was the most interesting. Inside the room in a corner stood a sink and a mirror. At first I was delighted to have a sink in the room. I felt this was already a nice trade-up from the sinkless, shoebox-sized dorm room I lived in during my freshman year. I could now wash my hands and face, brush my teeth and wet shave in the comfort of my room without making the amble down the hall to the community restroom.There was just one problem with this set-up: I was now reminded of shaving all the time. My can of shave cream foam was on one side of the sink, along with a razor. There was no medicine cabinet to hide this stuff. I was now constantly reminded of the regular, torturous process of shaving, along with all the requisite discomfort of nicks, redness and irritation.
Years later I learned why I was experiencing such terrible shaves. The can of shave foam provided almost no lubrication, and thus no protection, from the act of shaving. A traditional can of shave cream foam is comprised almost entirely of gas, almost 95%. The remaining 5% is liquid. The central conceit of a product such as this is that the foam, once it’s dispensed from the can, achieves a critical point in structure. Specifically, the air bubbles become spherical and only touch each other at one point. This mass of bubbles is what protects your skin (or is suppose to protect your skin) during shaving.
However, the problem with this technology is that a bubble can only get so small and only so slick. It really is an outdated solution that should have been eradicated long ago. And why hasn’t it? There are a couple of reasons: most guys of a certain age were brought up in which a can of shave cream foam was the only shave product available to them. Plus, a can of shave cream foam is pretty darn cheap. And why shouldn’t it be? It’s mostly canned air! The only nice thing that can be said about shave cream foam is that it feels good on your face. But the promise of a good shave is nothing more than marketing language. According to the American Dermatological Association, about 80% of men suffer from shaving irritation. The remaining 20% would feel comfortable using a foam shave cream. Really, those guys can probably just use soap and warm water and not have a problem. The remaining 80% of us need something much more advanced, something more current. Men today should consider using a silicone-based shave cream comprised of water-soluble micro-silicone. These silicone particles are much tinier and slicker than the bubbles in a can of shave cream. As a result, they provide much greater razor glide, significanlty reduced irritation, and often no nicks or razor bumps. Plus, most of these types of products contain humectants and natural citrus oils which provide a lot more moisturization than a can of shave cream. Furthermore, water-soluble means the product does not break down in water. It just gets slicker and slicker the more water you add. Guys shouldn’t be turned off by the high sticker price of a prestige product like a silicone-based shave cream. With such a product, a little goes a long way. A typical bottle can last for several months because you don't need as much to achieve a lubricated face, prepped for shaving. Lastly, a silicone-based shave cream doesn’t really foam up, which makes sense if you consider that it’s attacking a problem from a completely new direction. It also works great for black men suffering from Pseudofolliculitis (ingrown hair or razor bumps most typically experienced by men of African descent). Trading up to a shave cream that took advantage of newer, better technology changed my life in huge ways. Consider it yourself, it may remove the irriation and torture of shaving and actually make you enjoy something we all once despised. Pat Parsi is founder and president of Billy Jealousy Male Grooming Products. His Hydroshave Shave Cream received Esquire Magazine's 2007 Best Grooming Award as the best shaving cream on the market. |
Your Body 
