Pre-shave Product

Yesterday morning I decided to test the ability of the Grooming Dept Moisturizing Pre-Shave to improve the performance of truly poor soap bases. Ogallala Bay Rum shave soap - I used this almost exclusively for almost a year early in my shaving journey. At the time I thought the performance was great (I was still using a cart) and I loved the scent - I still do Its a shame that the soap base is just so lousy, at least compared to the soap on the market today. In any case I lathered some up yesterday using the Omega 1049 boar and produced a quantity of fragrant, "crispy" lather - you know, not smooth, yogurty and unctuous but dry and crispy. I applied the pre-shave and went to work applying a second coat of pre-shave before the second pass but not before the third. You know, I had a great shave. Mo's gift to the shaving world can redeem almost any soap as far as I can see. If it can improve Ogallala then I figure it can help almost any. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't elevate Ogallala to the level of a GD soap even without the pre-shave but it makes it perform to a very decent level indeed.

I use both Proraso and MLS pre-shaves, the MLS is excellent!

Marko Today, I borrowed your technique of applying Grooming Dept Pre-shave before my second pass with some Long Rifle soap and man did it make the shave slick!  Of course I put on some pre-shave before my first pass as well.  Thanks for the idea.

Great product!

Yesterday morning I decided to test the ability of the Grooming Dept Moisturizing Pre-Shave to improve the performance of truly poor soap bases.  Ogallala Bay Rum shave soap - I used this almost exclusively for almost a year early in my shaving journey.  At the time I thought the performance was great (I was still using a cart) and I loved the scent - I still do    Its a shame that the soap base is just so lousy, at least compared to the soap on the market today.  In any case I lathered some up yesterday using the Omega 1049 boar and produced a quantity of fragrant, "crispy" lather - you know, not smooth, yogurty and unctuous but dry and crispy.  I applied the pre-shave and went to work applying a second coat of pre-shave before the second pass but not before the third.  You know, I had a great shave.  Mo's gift to the shaving world can redeem almost any soap as far as I can see.  If it can improve Ogallala then I figure it can help almost any.  Don't get me wrong, it doesn't elevate Ogallala to the level of a GD soap even without the pre-shave but it makes it perform to a very decent level indeed. 

Now to be objective do the same test using Noxema as a pre-shave.

Yesterday morning I decided to test the ability of the Grooming Dept Moisturizing Pre-Shave to improve the performance of truly poor soap bases.  Ogallala Bay Rum shave soap - I used this almost exclusively for almost a year early in my shaving journey.  At the time I thought the performance was great (I was still using a cart) and I loved the scent - I still do    Its a shame that the soap base is just so lousy, at least compared to the soap on the market today.  In any case I lathered some up yesterday using the Omega 1049 boar and produced a quantity of fragrant, "crispy" lather - you know, not smooth, yogurty and unctuous but dry and crispy.  I applied the pre-shave and went to work applying a second coat of pre-shave before the second pass but not before the third.  You know, I had a great shave.  Mo's gift to the shaving world can redeem almost any soap as far as I can see.  If it can improve Ogallala then I figure it can help almost any.  Don't get me wrong, it doesn't elevate Ogallala to the level of a GD soap even without the pre-shave but it makes it perform to a very decent level indeed. 

Now to be objective do the same test using Noxema as a pre-shave.

I feel no need to be objective   I don't care for the smell of Noxema and don't have any.  For me, that's the stuff we put on sunburn as kids.

I have the Castle Forbes pre shave. Used to use it a good deal, but ultimately forgot about it. That said, I certainly thought it was an excellent product. Is anyone here able to compare and contrast it to the GD pre?

At this time prefer Proraso preshave. Just got some preshave unscented from Maggards and it doesn't seem to help.

I have the Castle Forbes pre shave. Used to use it a good deal, but ultimately forgot about it. That said, I certainly thought it was an excellent product. Is anyone here able to compare and contrast it to the GD pre?

I like every Castle Forbes product I've owned, The Pre-Shave included.  It softens and hydrates the beard, and it is water soluble, totally non-oily or greasy, and leaves no residue on anything.  However, the GDept pre-shaves are unparalleled IME, whether V1 or V2.  For me, the acid test of a pre-shave is What kind of shape does my skin wind up in, and how much improvement does the pre-shave make?  On that basis, whatever exactly it is that the GDept pre-shave does works wonders for me.  I do think the Castle Forbes might be a more convenient traveller, but I have never seen it in less than 125ml size, so it is a no-go for carry-ons.  The CF product is also far more expensive, even allowing for size.

If you are happy with the CF pre-shave, then by all means use it.  But if you are buying for whatever reason, then maybe take a walk on the wild side and burn 16 bucks on a jar of GDept pre-shave.  Mohammad even throws in free shipping, so it is pretty hard to go wrong.

At this time prefer Proraso preshave.  Just got some preshave unscented from Maggards and it doesn't seem to help.

Try the GD....you’ll be spoiled forever...And you’ll toss out your Proaso and Maggards...