RETRO REVIEW: Lectric Shave

You know the old saw in films and television about the little girl who gets into her mom’s makeup and tries on all her clothes? Little boys do that too (hopefully with their father’s stuff, though). I know I did.

When I was a little boy, my Dad’s vanity was a wonderland of colognes, balms, creams, combs, sideburn trimmers, and all kinds of exotica. More than once I played “Daddy getting ready for work”, and one thing I’ve always remembered about that was his Lectric Shave.

Lectric Shave is a “pre-shave balm” for people that use electric razors. It’s supposed to lube your face, making it easier for the razor to glide over your skin, and it supposedly makes your facial hairs “stand up” for easier cutting. It’s something that’s been around for years, but I hadn’t thought about it until I saw a commercial for it a few weeks ago. On a following trip to Wal Mart I saw a small bottle of the stuff and decided to give it a try.

Guess what? It works! After using it for a couple of weeks, I can absolutely say that I get a better shave using Lectric Shave then I do without… and with less effort, too! It really does lubricate your skin, and that really does make shaving easier.

Putting it on isn’t exactly a joy – although it looks like aftershave, it has a stickiness to it that only becomes apparent after the stuff dries on your skin for the recommended 15 seconds. It almost feels like you’re putting a weak layer of rubber cement on your face. It’s only mildly unpleasant, however, and after you start shaving with it, you’ll be hooked. Whereas it might have taken 3-4 passes over a “trouble spot” with your razor by itself, with Lectric Shave you’ll need only 1-2 passes. And the shaves will be closer too – I often feel as if I’d almost used a blade when shaving with my trusty Braun 5610 and the Lectric Shave.

Some might be put off by Lectric Shave’s scent, which is straight out of 1974. Lectric Shave and English Leather would be a great combo! Still, the scent fades quickly, and given the benefits, I just ignore it. But then, I kinda like the “old school smell” too.

If there’s a downside to Lectric Shave, it’s this: that my neck doesn’t like it. After using Lectric Shave for a couple of days, my neck broke out pretty badly. This has actually gotten better in the past few days, so I think it’s just one of those “new product irritates your face for a few days, just like the electric razor did when you first switched” things. It’s not at all uncommon for a man’s face to break out when he changes razors or shaving cream brands, and I think this is one of those things. I’ll keep you posted on it.

So if you need a quality shave – the “going on a job interview” kind, not the “running to Walmart” kind – you can get it done quicker and more easily with Lectric Shave. I’m not a shill – I’m just a believer. It’s working really well for me so far!