What to Use Instead of Shaving Cream (When You Have Run Out)

You reach for the shaving cream and the tin is empty, or it is still sitting at home and you are in a hotel bathroom. You still want a clean shave, and you can still have one. Plenty of things in a normal bathroom will do the job for a day or two, and some are much better than others. Here is what to use instead of shaving cream, how to shave without it, and what to steer clear of.

Belangrijkste punten

• Yes, you can shave without shaving cream, as long as you use something slippery and plenty of warm water. Never shave on dry skin.
• Hair conditioner is the best stand-in most people have to hand. It softens the hair and gives good glide.
• Oils, aloe vera gel and body lotion also work, each with their own catch: slippery floors, blocked pores or a thin cushion.
• Avoid bar soap, washing-up liquid and strongly perfumed products. They dry the skin and make razor burn more likely.
• These are stopgaps. For a daily shave, a proper shaving cream still gives the most cushion and the least irritation.

Kun je je scheren zonder scheerschuim?

Yes. What you cannot do comfortably is shave without any lubrication at all. Without a lubricant there is no protective barrier between the razor blade and your skin. Shaving cream does three jobs: it holds water against the hair so it softens, it lets the razor glide instead of scraping, and it shows you where you have already been. Any shaving cream alternative needs to do at least the first two.

Shaving bare, dry skin is the one option to rule out. The blade drags and tugs, and dry shaving is one of the main causes of razor burn.^[1] It can also leave nicks, redness and ingrown hairs that last for days. Our guide to scheerbultjes en scheeruitslag covers how to calm them down.

So whatever you use instead, the basics stay the same:

• Soften the hair with warm water first, ideally at the end of a shower.
• Use a thin, even layer of whatever you are using, on wet skin.
• Shave with the grain, with light pressure and short strokes.
• Rinse the razor every couple of strokes.
• Rinse, pat dry and moisturise afterwards.

Wat kan ik gebruiken in plaats van scheerschuim?

If you run out of shaving cream, here are the common shaving cream alternatives, from best to worst for most people.

The table is a rough guide. A rich conditioner will beat a thin one, and a plain lotion will beat a heavily scented one.

Haarconditioner: kun je je scheren met conditioner?

Yes. It is a good substitute, and the best everyday stand-in. Hair conditioner is made to soften hair and make it slippery, which is most of what a shaving cream does. It is in almost every bathroom and hotel shower.

How to use it: wet your face or the area you are shaving with warm water. Spread a thin layer of conditioner over it and leave it for a minute so it softens the hair. Shave with the grain using light pressure, and rinse the blade often.

The catch: conditioner gives less cushion than a proper shaving cream, it can gum up the gaps between blades, and many conditioners are strongly scented, which can sting freshly shaved skin. If you have a choice, pick a plain, lightly scented one.

Oliën: kokosolie, olijfolie, babyolie en lichaamsolie

A few drops of oil make a very slick surface, and the razor glides well. That is why some men use them as a shaving cream alternative on legs and body.

• Kokosolie gives excellent glide and leaves skin feeling soft. It is solid at room temperature, so warm it between your palms first. It is a well-known pore clogger, so keep it off your face, and off your chest, back and shoulders if you are prone to spots.^[2]
• Olive oil is a kitchen standby that works in a pinch. It is heavy and clings to the razor, so rinse often.
• Baby oil and body oil spread easily and suit hairy legs and chests. Use very little.
• Shea butter, if you have some, works the same way. Warm it between your palms first, and expect it to feel a bit greasy.

Two warnings for all oils. They make the shower floor and bath very slippery, so stand still and wipe up afterwards. And oil does not soften the hair the way water and cream do, so shave straight after a warm shower when the hair is already soft.

Aloë vera-gel

Plain aloe vera gel gives light glide and feels cooling, which makes it a reasonable choice for sensitive skin or skin that has had too much sun. It is non-greasy and rinses off easily.

The downside is a thin cushion. On a thick or coarse beard it may not be enough lubrication, which can leave an uneven shave, and it can turn tacky if you take too long. Apply it on damp skin, shave while it still feels slippery, and add a little more as you go. A thin layer afterwards also makes a soothing post-shave finish.^[1]

Lichaamslotion en douchegel

Body lotion gives some slip, especially on legs and arms. Keep the layer thin and rinse the blade often, because lotion clogs a razor quickly. Unscented is better.

Body wash or shower gel makes a thin lather that helps a little. Work it up on very wet skin until it is creamy rather than squeaky. Like soap, many body washes strip oils from the skin, so they are better for the odd body shave than for your face.

Wat je niet moet gebruiken

Some things make a shave worse than no product at all.

• Bar soap. It gives a thin, squeaky lather and dries the skin. DermNet’s shaving advice is to use a moisturising cleanser and never soap.^[3] Use it only if there is truly nothing else, and moisturise well afterwards.
• Washing-up liquid and household cleaners. Made to strip grease, and that includes the oils your skin needs.
• Shampoo. Often harsh and drying, and it gives very little glide.
• Anything with scrub beads or strong perfume. Both irritate freshly shaved skin.
• Nothing at all. Dry shaving with a blade is the fastest route to razor burn.

If none of the better options are to hand, it is kinder to your skin to skip the shave for a day, or tidy up with a trimmer, than to scrape away with soap. Our post on electric shavers and wet shaving covers when a dry electric shave makes sense.

Stap voor stap: hoe scheer je je zonder scheerschuim?

These steps work whichever shaving cream alternative you use.

1. Soften the hair. Shave at the end of a warm shower, or hold a warm, damp flannel on your face for a couple of minutes. Our guide to the barbershop hot towel shows how.
2. Apply a thin, even layer of your stand-in on wet skin. It should feel slippery under your fingers.
3. Scheer in de richting van de haargroei, using short strokes and light pressure. Take extra care on the neck and jaw.
4. Rinse the razor every couple of strokes. Conditioner, oil and lotion clog blades faster than regular shaving cream, and a clogged disposable razor stops cutting cleanly.
5. Re-apply rather than going over a patch dry.
6. Rinse well, pat dry and moisturise with something plain and unperfumed to keep skin hydrated and help prevent irritation.

A sharp blade matters even more when you are using a substitute, because the cushion is thinner. If your razor has started to pull, change it before you start. Our guide on hoe vaak moet je je scheermesje vervangen? bedekt de tekens.

Waarom het nog steeds de moeite waard is om een goede scheercrème te gebruiken

Every shaving cream alternative gives up something. Conditioner and lotion clog the blade. Oils are messy and slippery. Aloe vera is thin. Soap dries the skin. A proper shaving cream lathers into a thick, stable protective layer that holds water against the hair, lets the blade glide smoothly, rinses clean and shows you where you have shaved. The result is a closer shave and smooth skin with less irritation.

The other answer to running out is to keep a spare. Our shaving creams come in a 75ml travel tin for £8, and lathered with a brush one tin lasts three to six months. A tin that small also fits in any wash bag, so you are not left using hotel conditioner. If you travel a lot, our post on een scheermes meenemen in het vliegtuig covers what you can pack.

Van de plank van de kolonel

Keep a spare tin in the cupboard

Voor de gevoelige huid Gevoelige scheercrème Made for sensitive skin and allergen-free, with a fresh fougère scent. Lathered with a brush, one 75ml tin lasts three to six months. £ 8 voor een blikje van 75 ml Bekijk de crème Warm en houtachtig Sandelhout scheercrème A classic sandalwood cream that whips up a smooth, creamy lather with a warm, woody scent. The travel tin fits any wash bag. £ 8 voor een blikje van 75 ml Bekijk de crème Zorgt ervoor dat de haartjes omhoog staan De scheerkwast Builds a thicker lather than fingers can and lifts flattened hairs, so a little cream goes a long way. Vegan synthetic bristles on a hand-finished wooden base. £20, or £28 with either cream Bekijk het penseel

Veelgestelde vragen

Bronnen

1. Cleveland Clinic, Scheerirritatie: oorzaken en behandeling
2. Cleveland Clinic, Is Coconut Oil Good For Your Skin?
3. DermNet, Scheren