Shaving cream allows you to have a smoother, more comfortable shave. However, perhaps you’re tired of constantly having to buy the stuff. Making your own shaving cream has crossed your mind.
There are many benefits to making your own shaving cream. The main advantage is that you control what goes into it. This is an important point for those of you who have sensitive skin.
Here we will take you through why you should make your own shaving cream, what ingredients to consider using, and some shaving cream recipes you can try.
Ready to get your hands mucky, in a good way?
Shave Cream Alternatives
If you run out of shaving cream, don’t panic. There are substitutes available such as coconut oil, aloe vera gel, soap, and baby oil. These are all good shave cream alternatives if the need arises.
Why bother with conditioning your beard? Well, it adds moisture to the follicles, which results in a softer, fluffier beard. On top of that, conditioning decreases breakage of the hair as well as reduces split ends.
So, if your shaving cream is running on empty, then reach for your beard conditioner.
A great shave cream alternative if you don’t have an allergy to nuts, is coconut oil. It has a lot going for it, such as being a moisturizer and anti-microbial. Plus, you get a nice oily layer that makes shaving a joy.
Want a smooth shave as well as skin that is firm and healthy? Reach for some olive oil as a shave cream alternative. The vitamin K contained within the oil will also retain the youthfulness of your skin.
Soap
This is a convenient option for those times when you reach for your shaving cream and find that there’s none left. Lather up soap on your hands and then apply it to your face.
The downside is that soap can dry out the skin. You will find that the recipes listed later for making your own shaving cream have castile soap as an ingredient. However, it can be a decent shave cream alternative.
Castile soap is made from vegetables and is organic. Therefore offers a natural choice to the more standard soaps. As far as your skin is concerned, castile soap rehydrates and cleans it. That leaves you with a fresh shave and skin that doesn’t feel greasy.
Shave Butter as a Shave Cream Alternative
You may wonder which is better, shaving butter or shaving cream. Shave butter is one of our favorite shave cream alternatives. It is thick and moisturizes your skin and hair follicles as you shave. There are many options to buy shave butter online, and we listed a few below. Of course, we also enjoyed making our own shave butter at home.
Though shaving cream alternatives are safe, there is a standard method you should use when shaving with these.
Start by washing your face to remove any dirt and gunk from the skin. Apply your shaving cream substitute. Be frugal when using oil; take a less-is-more approach.
If you are using soap, use a sponge to build up a healthy lather over the shaving area.
Gently shave in the direction of the hair. Going against the grain can lead to razor burn and ingrown hairs.
Finish off with a moisturizer. You can use any of the oils listed in the previous section.
Why Should You Make Your Own Shaving Cream?
When you create your own shaving cream, you decide on the ingredients that go into it.
If you suffer from skin conditions, the harsh chemicals contained within commercial products can leave you with rashes, irritated skin, or razor burns.
Also, some of the ingredients within off-the-shelf shaving creams can suck the moisture from your face. That can lead to dry, flaky skin.
When you use natural ingredients and give your body and skin the goodness, it needs to stay youthful looking and healthy.
Commercially bought shaving cream can contain Triethanolamine, which can create tumors. Also, they may include sulfates that can potentially remove the oil from your hair.
2. Fewer irritations with homemade shaving creams.
The chemicals in off-the-shelf non-natural shaving foams can wreak havoc on your skin.
When you make DIY shaving cream, you give your skin the TLC it deserves.
3. Your skin is moisturized and protected better with DIY shaving cream.
Using ingredients such as coconut oil or jojoba oil allows your skin to be moist.
On top of that, these oils create a barrier so that your skin retains water.
Kiss goodbye to dry skin when you make your own shaving creams.
4. You get a better shave when you make your own shaving cream.
When you use a DIY shaving cream, you want one that creates a thick lather. This improves the quality of the shave. A thin lather won’t give your skin the protection it needs against the razor.
When you make your own lathering shaving cream, it allows you to determine how much lather you will get.
5 DIY Shaving Cream Recipes
Now it’s time to get into the kitchen or bathroom and try your hand at creating your own shaving cream.
As mentioned earlier, if you have a nut allergy, look at swapping out coconut oil with olive, avocado, or sunflower oil.
Also, before you go all gung-ho with making your homemade shaving cream, try it on a small patch of skin.
Though you are using natural ingredients doesn’t mean that your skin won’t react. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
1. Easy DIY shaving cream.
This is a simple recipe that only that requires only two items.
Ingredients:
Coconut oil
Aloe Vera gel
Instructions:
Mix 1 cup of oil and a third of a cup of aloe vera gel until they are creamy
Pour the mixture into a foam dispenser and store it in a dark place.
How simple was that! If you want to add a preservative to your shaving cream, add a touch of vitamin E to the mix.
For this, you will need to work out the percentage of oil you used, then add between 0.3% to 0.5% of vitamin E to lengthen the shelf-life of your cream.
2. Zero-waste DIY shaving cream.
This is another recipe that uses a minimal amount of elements. Why is this regarded as zero-waste? The reason is that it’s possible to purchase the items in bulk lots, and the products are contained within recyclable containers (making for zero waste!).
Ingredients:
Coconut oil
Shea Butter
Aloe Vera
Instructions:
Place a pot on your stove, fill it halfway with water, and heat it.
Take a bowl (which you will use to mix your ingredients) and put it into the water.
In your bowl add ½ a cup of coconut oil, ½ a cup of coconut oil, and ¼ of a cup of aloe vera gel. Stir everything until it has melted and thoroughly mixed.
Put your mixture into the fridge and let it set.
After it has turned solid, whisk the mixture so that it makes peaks. Then savor the moment as you use your new shaving cream.
3. Easy homemade shaving cream.
Don’t have time to spend creating gorgeous homemade shaving cream? Well, don’t worry. Use this recipe, it’s quick, and your face will love it.
Ingredients:
Castile soap
Water
Coconut Oil
Instructions:
Add an ounce of Castile soap and a cup of water into a pan that is set on low heat.
Mix until the soap has melted. Take the pan off the stove and add 2 tablespoons of coconut oil.
Stir everything once more and then pour it into a foam pump.
If you want a thicker cream you can swap out the Castile soap for a standard variety of soap.
4. Nourishing homemade shaving cream.
This recipe uses a couple of different oils to give your skin the moisture, antioxidants, and antibacterials it deserves. You will be rewarded with a smooth, comfortable shaving experience.
Ingredients:
Coconut oil
Olive oil
Shea butter
Instructions:
In a saucepan, melt ⅔ of a cup of coconut oil with an equal measure of shea butter. Once they have turned to liquid, take the pan off the heat.
Add ½ a cup of olive oil into the pan and blend everything.
Transfer the mixture to a bowl and then place it in the fridge for a couple of hours. Then remove it from the fridge and mix in 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
Whisk until everything turns fluffy.
Scoop the mixture into your hand pump. Any excess cream should be stored in an airtight container and placed in a dark area.
5. A homemade shaving cream of soap and aloe vera.
This recipe is another one that is effortless to create. If you love a sudsy shaving cream, then give this a go. Grab some aloe vera gel, water, and almond oil.
Melt an ounce of castile soap in a pan.
Add ¼ cup of aloe vera gel, ½ a cup of distilled water, and two tablespoons of almond oil.
Mix everything until nice and creamy.
Pour the cream into a foam pump.
Can I Use Essential Oils in Homemade Shaving Cream?
You can add fragrance to your DIY shaving cream with essential oils. In any recipes listed in the previous section, you can mix ten drops of the oil into your cream.
When making your shaving cream, the best time to add essential oil is around step 2 of the methods above. For a masculine scent, choose any of the following essential oil sents for men:
Best essential oil scents for men.
Frankincense
Sandalwood
Patchouli
Tea tree
Oakmoss
Cypress
Though these are natural ingredients, there is a risk that you may be sensitive to an oil. Test the oil on your skin to see if you will react. If you do, consider using a different oil.
How To Get The Best Use Out of Your Homemade Shaving Cream
You have your homemade shaving cream ready to go. To get the most effectiveness, you want to use warm water and then apply the cream sparingly.
Have a 15-minute bath/shower, and give your face a good wash. Also, ensure that your beard gets a decent clean.
Take your shaving cream and rub it together in your hands to build up a lather. Apply the cream to your face ensuring you get an even spread.
Shave gently with the grain of your hair. Don’t press the blade hard against your skin. Let it glide across your face.
Wash your face and then apply a moisturizer. Coconut or jojoba oil are great options.
Run your hand over your face and appreciate his smooth and soft it feels.
Best Homemade Shaving Cream Recipes – The Final Verdict
There are plenty of reasons to make your own shaving cream. You know exactly what it contains and can customize the cream to your personal skin needs. Also, you don’t need a lot of ingredients to getting started. Most of what you need may already be in your kitchen, bathroom, or medicine cabinet.
We have given you a handful of recipes to try out. Feel free to tweak them. Have fun experimenting. Heck, you could imagine yourself to be a mad scientist creating the ultimate homemade shaving cream.
If you run out of shaving cream or your shaving cream expires, you can quickly grab hold of your hair conditioner, body wash, or soap as a substitute.
Making your own shaving cream gives you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. You have something that you invested your time into creating, kinda like a master chef but of the shaving cream variety.
Beards are becoming increasingly popular and fashionable. This is because they help men feel more confident and look better than ever before. Contents show 1…
