To some, shaving feels like a mundane chore that they could easily live without. To others, it's a ritual that brings excitement and positive energy to the day. Whether you like shaving or not, there is something to be said about the art behind shaving. Not only are razors fine-tuned to suit us, but also aftershaves, shaving brushes, and shaving creams are all designed to turn shaving into a smooth experience. Years and years of experimentation has helped bring the luxury soaps and creams we are able to use today to perfection, and if we could rewind time, we would see that it all started out with homemade shaving cream.
Even today, there are various homemade recipes that people still use. Some people use homemade remedies in an effort to live a more natural lifestyle while others are just curious if certain recipes actually work. Indeed, some recipes are definitely better than others; but depending on your shaving style, you could probably easily whip up a satisfying cream with just a few basic pantry items. The beauty of making your own shaving cream is that it is completely customizable, and once you create something you like, you can be proud of it.
What Is Shaving Cream?
In layman’s terms, shaving cream is a type of lubricant that is used to soften the hairs and skin in order to help a razor blade easily cut through hair without tugging or causing any other type of discomfort. There are all kinds of shaving creams that are marketed to the needs of different types of people. You can find standard cream, creams for sensitive skin, creams with various scents, and creams for certain conditions. A good shaving cream makes shaving more comfortable and helps protect your skin from irritation.
The Art of Shaving
As mentioned above, there is definitely an art of shaving. But likewise, there is an art to the process of creating your own homemade shaving cream. The proportions and types of ingredients matter. Proportions can make the difference between a watery cream and one that is just right. The synergy between different smells can turn out to be too strong, non-existent, or simply perfect. There is a lot of experimentation involved, but as is the case with anything, practice makes perfect.
When you decide to make your own cream, it’s a good idea to think about what you want in your cream to be best for you. For example, creams for people with sensitive skin often contain aloe. If you have sensitive skin, a homemade shaving cream with aloe as a main ingredient may end up being your favorite. One of the most challenging parts of making a good homemade shaving cream is nailing the consistency. Some recipes will help make a cream while others will make more of a gel. The ingredients for each recipe will give you a clue as to what the final product will turn out to be like.
Anther important part of the art of making your own shaving cream is picking the right smell. Different essential oils come with different scents, and the scents are said to have a positive or negative effect on our mood once they are taken in through our olfactory sense. For example, lavender is said to help reduce blood pressure and frankincense is said to help improve mental clarity. Some of the most common essential oils used in shaving products include peppermint, tea tree, lavender, and chamomile.
5 Homemade Shaving Cream Recipes
Homemade recipes are fairly easy as many of them use the same basic ingredients. So, with just a handful of core ingredients at hand, you can experiment and create a variety of different formulas. Your skin may need some time to adjust to a homemade shaving cream, but once it did, you will absolutely love it. Your home remedies will lack many of the toxic chemicals found in commercial products. By using healthier, more natural ingredients, you will end up with a healthier body (as much of the bad stuff is absorbed in our system through pores).
One word of wisdom is that it is a good idea to test the ingredients on your skin before using them in a recipe. It would be unfortunate if you've made a big batch of shaving cream only to find out that you are allergic to it. If you do have an allergy, you can most likely swap some of the ingredients and make something pretty close to the original. There is really no right way to make a cream as long as it works for you and you are satisfied with it. Here are 5 homemade shaving cream recipes that you should try out:
Simple Shampoo / Conditioner Cream
This recipe is one of our personal favorites because the ingredients are so easy to come by. It’s also one of the easiest recipe since it only requires 3 ingredients - shampoo, conditioner, and veg oil. The premise for this cream is very simple; the conditioner and oil act as moisturizers while the shampoo adds foaminess. All you have to do is mix everything together and dispense it through a foam pump (optional).
Ingredients
- ¾ Cup Conditioner
- ¼ Cup Shampoo
- 4 Tbsp Sweet Almond Or Fractionated Oil
- Foam Pump
Directions
- Mix all of the ingredients together and pour into a foam pump.
Lotion-Based Shaving Cream
This recipe is similar to the previous one except that it uses lotion as a base. This butter-and-oil mix make a great moisturizer; using your favorite essential oils, you can customize the scent of the cream. Whether you prefer a masculine or more feminine scent, both are possible with different types of essential oil.
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Shea Butter
- ⅓ Cup Sweet Almond Or Fractionated Coconut Oil
- 10 Drop Essential Oils
Directions
- Whip the Shea Butter in a bowl.
- While whipping, slowly pour in melted almond or coconut oil.
- Add essential oils of your choice and continue whipping.
Light Shaving Gel
If you are okay with dry shaving from time to time, then this recipe might be for you. It’s a light mixture that has the consistency of a gel rather than that of a cream or soap. One of the best things about this recipe is its healing properties. If you use it, your skin will love you for it. The added salt also helps exfoliate the skin, which is a use some of the other homemade mixes on our list lack.
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Liquid Castile Soap
- ¼ Cup Warm Water
- ¼ Cup Aloe Vera Gel
- ½ Tsp Salt
- 2 Tbsp Vegetable Glycerin
- 1 Tbsp Olive OIl
- 3 Drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
Directions
- Dissolve the salt in warm water, and then mix the rest of the ingredients together. For short-term storage, seal the mix in a container with an airtight lid.
Aloe / Soap Foaming Gel
Aloe does an excellent job at soothing the skin, and for this reason, you’ll encounter it in many homemade shaving cream recipes. This gel is based on lavender and soap, with a few extra ingredients added to the mix to improve moisturization and offer a nice smell. The final product will turn out foamy and will work exceptionally well in a foam dispenser.
Ingredients
- ¼ Cup Aloe Vera Gel
- ¼ Cup Liquid Castile Soap
- 2 Tbsp Sweet Almond Oil
- ½ Cup Filtered Water
- 10 Drops Essential Oils
- Foam Dispenser
Directions
- Mix all the ingredients together and pour into a foam dispenser.
Lavender Sandalwood Shaving Cream
This luxury homemade shaving cream contains an amazing combination of oils and smells. This one uses avocado oil, a superfood, which has lots of vitamins for your skin to soak up. The mix is heavily based on oils, with the soap helping to fluff it up a little bit. The process of making it is a little more complex (you'll need a mixer to mix the ingredients) than that of the other shaving creams listed here, but the final product is well worth it.
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp Avocado Oil
- 1 Cup Coconut Oil
- 10 Drops Sandalwood Essential Oil
- 15 Drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 3 Tbsp Castile Soap
- 1 Tsp Vitamin E Oil
Directions
- Use a mixer to mix all of the ingredients vigorously in a bowl for around 4 minutes. The mixture should turn light and fluffy.
- Pour the mixture into a container for use.
- If the cream softens too much or hardens, it can be re-whipped.
Conclusion
Making your own shaving cream can add fun to your shaving routine, turning a dull task into something fresh. You can try all sorts of recipes that are much healthier than most chemical-laden commercial products. The texture, potential uses, and scent can all be customized to your liking, creating the perfect cream just for you. With just a handful of pantry items, you can put together a shaving cream in just a couple of minutes.
Suggested Read: 10 Benefits of Using Aftershave
Last update on 2021-03-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Leave a Reply