Options, Part 2

By chemical compounds we mean such items as most shave creams, and in a class all by itself, depilatories. It should be noted at the beginning that there are some shave creams that are all natural, and kudos to those companies that have created these products.

Prior to World War II, soap was about the only cleansing agent available for domestic use. A byproduct in the production of soap is glycerin, which is a critical component in explosives. Glycerin is one of those very unusual natural elements that is extraordinarily desirable across a vast spectrum of uses, from skin creams to food additives, to toothpaste to food wraps, bottle cap liners, and urethane foam. In fact, there are over 1500 uses, and counting.

The war demand for this critical element was so great that virtually all soap production in the US was stripped of glycerin. Without glycerin, soap is not very suitable for washing; it is simply too harsh. So manufacturers turned to the production of detergents as substitutes. That is what mostly exists today in homes. That cleansing bar in your shower and sink is not soap; it is a detergent compound. It works because it mimics the key property of soap - binding water and oil. That binding is not as strong as soap, but it is more than adequate for cleansing. And detergents can be constructed to largely mitigate harshness to the skin.

It is the chemical binding of oil and water. however, that makes up the key characteristic of lubricity. And lubrication is essential for shaving. All that to say, shaving with a detergent bar at home will work in a pinch, but it ain't the best team in the league. 

Shaving with creams derived from chemical compounds is a little better, in that the compound is specifically developed to meet shaving needs. Thus you can get better lubricity, and the benefit of added skin nourishing ingredients. Not too bad, but they can be a little pricey for long term use. Still, there are some faces for which these creams work very well, and are worth the cost.

Depilatories are not technically shaving products. They chemically burn the whiskers off. Depilatories work, in that they do what they claim - removing hair. The issue is that this same burning feature is not good for the skin. If the product is left in place for too long, it will damage the skin, and used over a prolonged period it will almost certainly have harmful effects on the skin.

Unfortunately, for certain skin types, depilatories can be a necessary alternative to setting a blade against the skin. In these cases, it should be used only when necessary, and shaving processes that are more benign should be explored, and used as much as possible.

Next up will be a short segment on electric razors.