Straight razors were around long before electric razors or safety razors. The straight razor, which is little more than blades that fold into handles, is an undisputed classic.
Even tough men who shave with a straight blade need to use a good shaving cream. That’s why you want to pick up the best shaving creams for straight razors.
While shaving cream is important with any razor you may use, it’s probably most important when using a straight razor. Straight razors offer the least amount of protection and have the most room for error. One wrong move and you might need to stop the bleeding–so what should you look for?
What you are looking for in a shaving product that will work well with a razor straight is one with excellent latherability. This will create the perfect slickness to style your facial hair. This list has a variety of options that will help you with your next shave.
So, get your straight razor ready because it’s about to find a new best friend.
The Key Takeaways
For this list, I thoroughly searched the market. The final decision on which shaving cream to choose to use with a razor straightener comes down to three factors: consistency, scent, and ingredients.
Taylor of Old Bond Street makes the best straight razor shaving cream. Pacific Shaving Company’s shaving cream with vitamin E and shea butter is another natural choice.
Why it’s great: Taylor of Old Bond Street began manufacturing high-quality shave products in 1854. This shaving cream is based on the tradition and ritual of shaving with a straight blade. It’s the perfect consistency, able to spread effortlessly while ensuring an even coat on your face. This cream will lubricate your face while shaving and also help moisturize your skin afterwards.
Feelings This thick cream lathers up easily, especially with a brush. Once applied, it’s smooth and creamy, which provides the perfect foundation for a great shaving session.
They are not bad flaws.Skin Type While this shaving cream is supposed to have a refreshing sandalwood scent, the smell is pretty divisive–some people love it, others hate it. One reviewer described it best as the smell of “Grandpa’s natural medicine cabinet”. If this sounds pleasing to you, there shouldn’t be much of a downside here.
Active Ingredients: Aqua, Stearic Acid, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, etc. | Skin Type: You can also read about the advantages of using | Consistency: Thick | Size: 5.3 oz | ScentSandalwood
Why it’s great: Walk into any barber shop and chances are you’ll see a bottle of this shaving cream sitting at each station. Cremo created a shaving cream that is versatile and works with all types of razors. This cream is great for beginners and comes in a bottle that contains 90 days of shaving cream.
Feelings As Cremo puts it, this shaving cream is “impossibly slick” and will leave your skin feeling “astonishingly smooth”. It’s pretty easy to lather this cream on your face and it will leave behind a refreshing, citrus scent.
There are flaws, but they’re not fatal. Shaving cream dries out quickly. Therefore, you may have to apply it again once or twice. Make sure to apply enough shaving cream on your face in order to avoid razor burns.
Active Ingredients: Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (Cocoyl Isethionate), Stearic Acid and Glycol Distearate. | Skin Type: Oily, Dry and Normal | Consistency: Thin | Size: 6 fl oz | ScentCitrus
Why it’s great: With a name like “The Art Of Shaving”, you would hope this brand has something special to offer. Luckily, this shaving cream lives up to the hype as it is clinically tested for sensitive skin and it’s endorsed by barbers. You might even enjoy shaving again with the sandalwood scent.
Feelings This is a pretty thick shaving cream which means you’ll need to scoop it out from the container–kind of like a hair product. Pick up a shaving shaver to lather the shaving cream.
There are flaws, but they’re not fatal. Some people love the scent of sandalwood, while others dislike it. The fragrance is quite strong and will probably last until you take your next shower.
Active Ingredients: Not listed | Skin Type: Dry, Sensitive, Normal | Consistency: Thick | Size: 5 oz | ScentSandalwood
Why it’s great: Pacific Shaving Company’s natural shaving cream contains only plant-based ingredients. It is also cruelty free. Shea butter, vitamin E and other ingredients help reduce the amount of antioxidants in your skin and leave it feeling moisturized. It’s applicable by hand or by brush and with a 7-ounce bottle, you should have enough to last quite a long while.
Feelings This is a rich shaving cream, so you don’t need a whole lot to get the job done. This cream can be applied easily with the bottle, either on your hands or your shaving brush.
Flaws are not dealbreakers This shaving cream may not be the best for men with thicker beards because it doesn’t lather quite as much as other shaving creams out there.
Active Ingredients: Water, Myristic Acid Stearic Acid Potassium Hydroxide Glycerin and others. | Skin Type: Oily Normal, Sensitive | Consistency: Semi-thick | Size: 7 oz | ScentNatural
Why it’s great: Although this shaving cream is from C.O. Bigelow may look a bit like a tube of toothpaste, it’s actually an excellent everyday shaving cream for your straight razor. It contains coconut oil, which is great for hydration, and eucalyptus essential oil to revitalize the skin. There’s also some added menthol which will leave you with that ever-so-satisfying cooling sensation after you finish shaving. This shaving cream is made in Italy and should be a product you can use every day.
Feelings The shaving cream is a liquid that comes out of the tube, but becomes rich and creamy once you start to lather.
There are flaws, but they’re not fatal. This cream is packaged in an aluminum tube and may not be ideal for traveling. You may also need to use a little bit of force to squeeze out the last of it–again, like a tube of toothpaste.
Active Ingredients: Aqua, Stearic Acid, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, etc. | Skin Type: You can also read about the advantages of using | Consistency: Semi-thick | Size: 5.20 oz | Scent: Eucalyptus/Coconut
Why it’s great: Harry’s has quickly become one of the most prominent figures in the shaving world, which is why this shaving cream is a great choice for a straight razor. This cream is infused with 12 natural oils and extracts that will rejuvenate your skin after shaving. You’ll always have shaving cream on hand with these two TSA safe 3.4 ounce bottles.
Feelings This shaving cream is unique amongst other options. It’s relatively thin and it comes out almost like an ointment.
Flaws are not dealbreakers The ointment consistency of the cream may be an issue for some.Skin Type: It’s also a bit harder to lather compared to other shaving creams you might find on the market.
Active Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, etc. | Skin Type: You can also read about the advantages of using | Consistency: Thin | Size: 3.4 oz | ScentEucalyptus Mint Aloe Vera
Buying Shaving Creams for Straight Razors
Consistency
When choosing the best straight razor shaving cream, consistency is key. Some shaving creams may be thick and dense, while others are light and fluffy. Ideally, you want to find a cream that balances both of these traits–something thick and fluffy.
This is true especially when shaving with a razor that has a straight edge. The lathering ability of the product will be affected. It is always a bonus to have a product built into the shaving bowl. This makes lathering so much easier.
Ingredients
It is important to consider the ingredients of your next shaving product. Before buying any skincare product, it’s always good to determine your skin type and what works for you. Some people have sensitive skin, and if this is your case, you should look for shaving creams that won’t irritate your face.
Also, decide whether you prefer all-natural or chemical-free shaving cream. Many shaving creams use artificial ingredients which aren’t inherently bad, but some people just prefer to steer clear of these products. That being said, there are plenty of natural shaving creams out there if that’s something you’d feel more comfortable with.
Scent
While the scent is only superficial, it should be considered. Although it’s less potent that your hair product or perfume, shaving products tend to leave a subtle smell. Sandalwood is the most common scent in shaving creams. It has a fresh, light scent.
You can choose from a variety of masculine scents. Natural shaving creams often use familiar scents, such as lavender or citrus. You could also roll with an unscented shaving cream if you don’t want it conflicting with other fragrances you may wear.
Why you Should Trust Us
As a writer at FashionBeans, I’ve done my fair share of research into men’s attire and style trends. I’ve also been putting these principles into practice for over a decade, trying out different brands and determining what’s best. A crucial part of any man’s style is his shaving regimen, which means having a reliable shaving cream to fall back on. In order to narrow down the options, I only included the best shaving products on this list. These recommendations should help you to know what to look for when looking for the best straight razor shaving cream.
Final Verdict
In short, the sandalwood shaving cream from Taylor Of Old Bond Street is not just the best shaving cream for a straight razor, it’s one of the best shaving creams in general. The latherability is excellent and it provides the best foundation for a razor shave. Pacific Shaving Company has a wonderful natural shaving product if you prefer something less abrasive.
The FAQ
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Technically, you could use a straight razor without shaving cream; however, this would be a little risky and uncomfortable at the very least, especially if you’re a beginner. Shaving cream’s job is to reduce the resistance that your blade will experience against your skin when shaving. Straight razors rely more on shaving lotion or other lubricants than electric razors to prevent cuts.
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You can find many alternatives to straight razor shaving cream. You can also try coconut oil, body lotion, or hair conditioner. They may not be quite as effective as shaving cream but they are still a good alternative. My personal favorite is also aloe vera, which I’ve used multiple times to shave when in a pinch.
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