John Allan’s Slickwater Pre-Shave Solution
Please Shave Responsibly
(12)
Something magical happened to me this morning. My face actually felt fantastic. It seemed to me the texture of a baby’s arse… nary a single trace of irritation. After 10 years of battling a tough beard, razor burn, nicks, and in-grown hairs,John Allan’s Slickwater
John Allan’s Slickwater Pre-Shave Solution, at its essence, allows the razor to glide easily over my skin, not only preventing problems before they begin but also prolonging the life of my overpriced Mach 3 blades. John Allan’s remedy provides a slick (obviously) surface in addition to a layer of protection. Better yet, there’s no oily residue leftover, something I’ve found problematic with other pre-shave formulas . There’s also a hint of tea tree oil leaves to unclog your pores and keep your skin fragrance free (something I appreciate).
It’s said that Australian aborigines used tea tree leaves for healing cuts, burns, and infections by crushing the leaves and applying them to the affected area. Whether that’s true or not is something I’ll leave to the scientists and Wikipedia surfers, but what I can tell you is that on my face, it proved to be absolutely fantastic.
How it works: Slickwater Pre-Shave Solution improves your shave experience by lifting follicles for a closer shave. This provides all the benefits of an anti-irritant, while removing dead skin cells with each stroke of the blade. The natural emollients have a moisturizing and anti-aging effect, going beyond the surface to heal and soothe. The use of oats in folklore has stood the test of time and John Allan has proven its relevance in modern society by creating products that yield excellent results. The cucumber extract found in this formula contains minerals and amino acids, which help tighten the skin and get you that Joan Rivers look you’ve been hoping for.
Editor’s Note: Simply put, my skin is calmer and appears healthier than with any of my previous shave regimens. Do yourself a favor and invest in a bottle and let other GP readers know what you think. I’m betting you’re going to rave about it. Slickwater is a must have for the man who dreads patchy irritation, or perhaps more important, whose lady complains that “your scruff is sanding my face,” as mine does. When she can’t keep her hands and lips off your baby-ass smooth face, you’ll wonder why Benjamin Franklin didn’t formulate Slickwater Pre-Shave Solution years ago.
Cost: $28
I was a huge fan of Anthony Logistic shave oil, but Slickwater leaves my skin feeling cleaner and has really helped reduce/eliminate my neck-line irritation.
Great! I’ll have to give it a try. Even with extra moisturizing shaving cream my face still gets irritated. Good looking out Stephen.
My bottle has lasted me months. Its amazing how such a small bit of this stuff gets the job done. I’m hooked, just wish it was easier to find sometimes.
Great point, Greg - I forgot to mention that a pea-sized amount really does go a long way. You can actually purchase all of their grooming products at http://www.johnallans.com. If you go to their site, here’s a word of advice: sign-up for their email that gives you the inside scoop about events & promo’s.
When I first read, I was curious how long a 2 oz. bottle would last, but sounds like the cost per application is reasonable. Thanks for the heads-up…I too have the curse of the thick beard.
The tingling from this took me back at first. Takes getting used to it, but it does really soothe and I’m thankful that its put “Shave acne” out of my life.
Thanks GP! I freaking hate to shave cause I get henious razor burn. Maybe I’ll give this a shot when I get rid of this winter beard.
do you use this in conjunction with a normal razor? like a mach3? do you use an aftershave or lotion afterwards? i wold like to try a safety razor at some point but the upfront cost for the razor itself, plus the lotion and the badger hair brush are hard to choke down when i don’t even know if i will like it.
Alan,
You can start with a relatively inexpensive straight razor for around $50 - $75. You do not need any different or special lotions or brushes. The key to shaving with a straight razor is having a sharp razor, and good technique which you will learn with time. Softening the beard with a shower before shaving also helps.
What you will need though is a good strop and a little stropping paste, and the time to keep your razor sharp.
In my opinion though, it is well worth the upfront expense and on-going time, nothing comes close to shaving with a straight razor.
Shaving has become a pleasurable experience. Slick water is by far the best shaving product on the market. Who would think it would be so easy…no more blood.
Do you put on shaving cream anyway?
The clear solution allows you to shave while still seeing your target area, but I always recommend using a shaving cream in conjunction….especially if you have thick scruff like I do. You’ll be thankful you took the extra step…
Cuz! Nice first post. I’ve been using Everyman Jack’s shave cream. It’s been such an improvement over Edge, Barbasol and all the other stuff out there. I’ve never tried a pre-shave solution, but I may give it a shot now.
I like the sound of prolonging expensive razor blades- they seem to be getting more and more expensive.
Anyone also got any tips on how to make shaving with an electric razor work? I can’t seem to get the sequence of events right… if you know what I mean.
anyone know if this solution would work if I use an electric razor?? still searching for the best pre-shave solution for those of us unlucky enough to be banished to the plugged in type of razor.