Do you need a brush to use shaving soap?
Firstly, let’s clear the air.
If you’ve never heard of shaving soap and your shaving lotion comes from a high-pressured can, then allow us to explain!
Shaving soap is the OG of shaving foams. Before we had gel, foam or lotion, shavers everywhere would take out a brush (usually comprised of badger hair) and whip a ‘soap bar’ into a frenzy, producing a lather that resembles whipped cream!
Over time and using the powers of marketing, shaving soap has been pushed to the fringes of the hair removal world… Why? It could be because shaving soap lasts at least 10x as long as a can of foam… Which doesn’t sound great for international conglomerates that rely on constant repeat customers. But we’re just speculating… We’ll let you make up your own mind on that and focus on the question at hand!
When you buy shaving soap, and when you buy a safety razor, do you also need to buy a shaving brush? If so, then why doesn’t Jungle Culture sell them?! And what did you say about badger hair?
Don’t worry… No badgers were harmed in the making of this blog!
Why use shaving soap?
Before we talk about the ‘how’, let’s talk about the ‘why’.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the benefits of using shaving soap:
- It’s more environmentally-friendly than normal shaving foam
- Shaving soap is natural and less abrasive on your skin
- One shaving soap bar can last up to 2 years depending on how often you shave. Imagine how much you could s(h)ave off of your hair removal bill!
- Shaving soap is travel-friendly. It's solid, so you won’t need to throw it away at the airport!
To summarise, shaving soap doesn’t have any of the nasty chemicals in it that you might find in cans of shaving foam or gel. In fact, most shaving soap, including the ones we make here at Jungle Culture are completely vegan and chemical-free (with the exception of sodium hydroxide - needed to make soap).
As with many natural products, shaving soap is generally reported to cause less skin rashes than chemical-filled alternatives.
What types of shaving soaps are there?
Shaving soaps, like many things, come in an array of forms. Traditional shaving soaps were circular and fit snugly into small wooden bowls. The user would then attack the soap with a shaving brush to create foam.
Nowadays, shaving soaps have a ton of different variations. Let’s run through the different types of shaving soaps quickly and explain what the difference is between shaving soaps, shaving sticks and shaving bars!
Shaving soaps
Normally circular in shape, shaving soaps are typically sold in a case or with a bowl. The user then combines the shaving soap with some hot water and uses a brush to lather the soap.
The benefits of using a circular shaving soap are that it keeps your bathroom tidy, clean and organised, they last a long time and it makes you feel like an 80’s barber!
If feeling nostalgic about barbershop culture is unimportant to you, then one huge benefit is that shaving soap is a fraction of the cost of normal shaving gel, even when you factor in the cost of a shaving brush!
The downsides to using traditional shaving soaps are that you need to purchase a shaving brush. We mentioned earlier that traditional shaving brushes were made using badger hair.
Calm down vegans! Badger hair brushes, although still common, are not the only option available. That being said, the alternative to badger hair brushes is a synthetic fibre brush made from plastic… so the options are:
1. Badger hair
2. Synthetic plastic fibres
Now you might be starting to see why we designed our shaving soap to be brush-less!
Shaving sticks
Have you ever seen those zit cream sticks? The ones that high school students dab onto their zits to calm down any breakouts?
That’s pretty much the only way we can explain shaving sticks. They work in exactly the same way, except you rub them onto the area that you’d like to shave and combined with a little bit of warm water they burst into life, covering your face/shaving area with thick, rich lather!
What are the benefits?
Well, to start with, they are dramatically more convenient than a circular shaving soap. You do not need to purchase a shaving brush, nor do you need a shaving bowl and they are small and compact, so your bathroom cabinet won’t be packed with shaving accessories!
And the downsides?
Shaving sticks are not particularly nice to use when compared with other shaving soaps. They’re also small in weight, so they don’t last as long as other alternatives.
That being said, they are still a great option and there are certainly some good shaving sticks available!
Shaving bars
Jungle Culture shaving bars are designed to lather up without the need for a brush. They work exactly like a soap bar. Simply combine with water and rub onto the area that needs shaving!
The benefits of shaving bars vs. soaps and sticks are that you do not need any additional equipment to use a shaving bar. Forget all about badgers and synthetic fibres and focus on hair removal!
The second huge benefit is that shaving bars last just as long as shaving soaps, making them great value for money when compared with shaving sticks!
What are the disadvantages of shaving bars?
In all honesty, there isn’t any! Shaving bars are the perfect zero waste shaving solution. They last a long time, they’re affordable and they have minimal environmental impact!
How to use shaving soap bar
Shaving soap bars are easy to use!
Here are step-by-step instructions on how to use a shaving soap bar:
- Soak your razor in warm water and splash warm water on your face and shaving soap.
- Rub your shaving soap directly onto the area that you wish to shave.
- Commence shaving!
- If needed, repeat steps 1 and 2 to apply more shaving soap!
It’s that easy! And given that one shaving soap bar costs just £8.99 and can last up to 2 years, It’s no wonder so many people are making the switch away from gel in a can!
Here at Jungle Culture we know that sometimes you need to shave now and you don’t have time to wait for us to post you a new shaving bar, so we’ve also written this handy article which teaches you how to shave without shaving soap if you absolutely have to!
Are scents important in a shaving soap bar?
Here at Jungle Culture we retail two scents of shaving bars:
- Aloe vera and mint
- Activated charcoal and cracked black pepper
Formulating a shaving soap takes time, patience and requires an understanding of balance. Our shaving soap bars are designed to make your hair stand up as tall as possible using the power of invigorating mint and cracked black pepper!
Using ingredients that provoke a reaction in your hair follicles is important as it helps you to get the best shave possible!
Those ingredients are balanced with cooling aloe vera and soothing charcoal that help prepare and protect your skin from razor burn and shaving rashes.
When choosing a shaving soap, the scent is not important, but the ingredients are! Make sure that if you’re buying a shaving soap, the ingredients are well known to moisturise and nourish skin.
Is shaving soap better for my skin than other shaving products?
Different manufacturers produce different products in a variety of different ways!
We can’t conclusively say which type of shaving lubricant is better for your skin, but from our personal experience, we’d always recommend using a natural shaving product that is less abrasive on your skin and causes less irritation.
The added benefit of this is that you know that your shaving product will also have a lower environmental impact than a shaving product stuffed with chemicals!
To avoid shaving rashes or razor burn, practice good shaving technique, use high quality organic products and ensure that your skin and razor are always hot when you shave! Ultimately, this is the best way to make sure that your skin stays healthy whilst shaving!
How do I store my shaving soap?
Shaving soap should be stored in a cool, dry environment. We recommend using a wooden soap dish or a sisal soap bag to store your shaving soap.
When travelling, a simple metal storage tin for soaps is also a great way to stop your shaving soap coming into contact with the rest of your travel products and clothes!
Key Takeaways
Traditional shaving soaps do require a brush to use. If your shaving soap came in a circular tin, then it almost certainly will need to be used with a brush.
If you purchased a Jungle Culture shaving bar or a shaving stick, then you do not need a shaving brush and can simply apply the soap directly to the skin! Brilliant!
If you have any shaving tips, feel free to share them in the comments below!
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