Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Grooming

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Here’s Why You Should Consider Using Shave Soap

Katie Dickens
By

shaving soap
Image used with permission by copyright holder
If you’re a fan of the local barbershop, you know that shearing off facial hair should involve more than a quick pass with your drugstore razor. It deserves the removal ritual that’s often left to the pros but is totally possible to do at home. One thing that sets a barber’s shave apart from the typical at-home regimen is shave soap. Yes, it’s more labor intensive and requires more accouterments than a tube of shaving cream but it’s worth it.

Here, Imperial Barber co-founder and professional barber Pedro Zermeno helpfully provided easy-to-follow step-by-steps for shaving with shave soap:

  1. Start by soaking the shaving brush in warm water for fives minutes, allowing enough time for the bristles to fill up with moisture. (This is a great time to either take a shower, or wash your face.)
  1. Shake out your brush two to three times in the sink to get the excess water out, and then run it over your shave soap using quick circular motions. Continue until you work up a nice thick lather. Note: If the texture is more paste-like, add a little more water and keep working at it.
  1. Splash your face with warm water. Take your brush and apply the lather to your face, again in circular motions to massage the beard and help lift the hairs to prepare them to be cut. Do this until you’ve got a thick and even layer of lather covering the area you’re going to shave.
  1. Shave. Reapply soap with brush as needed. Rinse your face with warm water in between razor passes and keep your face moist to avoid irritation.
  1. After you’ve finished shaving, rinse off excess soap from your face with warm water followed by a splash of cold water to close your pores and refresh your skin.
  1. Always rinse any remaining lather thoroughly out of your brush. Empty excess water from your soap container and cap it off until you shave again.
Recommended Videos

The Manual’s Top Picks for Great Shave Soaps

Imperial Glycerin Shave Soap $11

imperial
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re looking for shaving soap options, Imperial Barber makes an excellent all-natural version that’s very wallet-friendly ($12!) and loaded with extremely hydrated Glycerin, Vitamin E, and a blend of Safflower, Palm and Coconut Oils to help the blade glide without turning your face into an oil slick.

Related

Dr. Harris Windsor Shaving Bowl and Soap $38

drharris
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Of course, this OG British grooming brand offers an old-timey shave soap as part of its luxury regimen. The triple-milled formula is infused with the signature masculine blend of citrus, leather and pepper and is contained in a handsome wooden bowl.

The Art of Shaving Unscented Shaving Soap $50

art-of-shaving
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Those with sensitive skin and noses may prefer to slather their faces with a soap sans fragrance, like this excellent option.

Hudson Made Citron Neroli Beard and Shave Soap $22hudson

This handmade soap works up a creamy lather that’s perfect for either cleansing your beard or shearing if off. Either way the invigorating scent of petitgrain, grapefruit and neroli are an excellent wake up call in the morning.

Carthusia Salone de Barba Olive Bowl with Soap $150
carthusia

You can pretend you’re a very fancy Italian gentleman when shaving with this insanely luxurious soap, not only because it smells like said man, but it’s also contained in a hand-carved olive wood bowl that would look right at home in a Tuscan villa.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Katie Dickens
Katie Dickens
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Katie Dickens is a Manhattan-based beauty and grooming writer. She has held staff positions at Glamour, In Style, People…
Creed sale: Get up to 45% off the luxury cologne brand
creed deals gilt february 2024 aventus promotional image

When it comes to shopping for a cologne, some men might want to stand out from the crowd. If you want to forgo your typical fashion designer branded cologne and opt for something a little more personalized, we found a sale you are going to want to check out .

Creed is known for their artisanal fragrances that are sourced from raw materials which all offer original and unique scents. Right now, you can get up to 45% select styles on Gilt. You have 59 different fragrances to choose from that will all add a luxurious and one-of-a-kind scent to your life. Click the button below to start browsing these discounted fragrances.

Read more
What actually causes hair loss in men? Plus, the tips you need for thinning hair
What you need to know about hair loss
a man with a receeding hairline

They say age isn't anything but a number. However, that is something of a misnomer with thinning hair. Age is a common, natural cause for thinning hair — sorry. Your hormone levels change as you blow out more candles on your birthday cake. You naturally shed hair regardless of age. However, your mane doesn't grow back as fully as you get up there in years.

There are various tips and tricks out there for managing age-related hair loss — products like Rogaine, hair cuts, or embracing baldness. However, not all thinning hair is triggered by age, and some reasons can be fixed with haircare pivots (but not all). What causes hair loss besides the date on your birth certificate, and what can you do about it? Here's what to know.

Read more
Make grooming easy: The 8 best beard trimmers to get the job done
Whatever look you're going for, one of these trimmers will get you there
Smiling businessman with brown bag walking in city

If you want to be the envy of facial hair enthusiasts everywhere, growing a beard is only half the battle. Once your facial hair goes beyond a certain length, it starts to get messy, and even the best beard-styling products will only get you so far before it’s time to bring out a good power tool (and we do love power tools.) Enter the beard trimmer. Using a good trimmer on the regular may be what some men need to keep their facial beasts under control. Depending on how fast their hair grows, others may want to use one between visits to a barber, maintaining style daily. If you are trying to develop a longer beard, you still need to trim the ends to ensure you keep the hairs strong and healthy, and it will even help them grow faster in some instances.

Either way, there is a wide range of options, from value-priced to expensive, from simple solutions to those with significant horsepower. Most include comb attachments to cut hairs to specific lengths, allowing for elaborate shaping and styling. Cordless models offer convenience with as much power as you should need. Below are some of our picks for the best beard trimmers on the market.

Read more