It’s important to choose the best shaving gels and creams for barber shops and salons. Inferior products contain harsh, allergenic ingredients that can cause sensitivity and rashes, leaving your clients with inflamed, sore, bumpy skin.
The best shaving products for barbers are created with advanced formulas that help shield skin from irritation. Professional shaving gels and creams result in close shaves without nicks or cuts, leaving skin that’s smooth, soothed and refreshed.
Shaving products are applied directly to the throat, face, head and neck, so choose products that are formulated to leave skin feeling nourished and, if a client wishes, gently fragranced.
We showcase the best shaving gels and creams for barbers in South Africa and answer your questions in our Q&A. Hair Health and Beauty is a trade-only supplier; to access prices, register for a trade account today.
Best shaving gel
This gentle gel formula is packed full of skin-soothing ingredients selected specially to prevent razor burn, even with a very close shave and after more than one pass.
The gel instantly lathers when mixed with a small amount of water, creating a protective shield between the skin and blade to prevent cuts and dryness.
A little goes a very long way with this calming, smoothing gel that leaves skin hydrated and comfortable. Apply with a brush for luxurious foam with maximum coverage.
Best shaving cream
This soft shaving cream is slick, smooth and soothing. It’s easy to use, and a razor glides effortlessly across skin, preventing nicks, cuts and irritation.
The nourishing formula includes natural oils of avocado, sweet almond and jojoba, as well as eucalyptus and chamomile, leaving soft, supple, invigorated skin.
Best moisturising shaving lather
This squeezable tube creates a creamy but spreadable lather for the perfect close, smooth shave. It’s so easy to use.
Soothing and nourishing ingredients like aloe, chamomile, lavender and soy prevent dry, tight post-shave skin, leaving skin hydrated and calm.
Best product for precision shaving
This clear shave spray allows for precision shaving and controlled razor glide, making it ideal for skin fades and beard definition.
It’s enriched with cooling, soothing aloe vera and has a refreshing spearmint fragrance. It’s also paraben and sulphate free.
Spray onto palms or directly onto the area to be shaved.
Best brushless shaving cream
This no-brush shaving cream softens the skin and hair, so the blade glides easily through to minimise discomfort, dryness and tightness.
The skin is nourished with vitamin E and refreshed with cooling menthol. It can also be used as a leave-in beard softener.
Best hi-tech shaving cream
Out with traditional aerosol foams. New technology brings you this moisturising shaving cream that transforms into a luxurious, self-lathering cream without a brush.
It’s easy to use and perfect for a busy barbershop. You can shave smooth, close and fast, and it’s loaded with cooling aloe vera for soft, soothed skin.
Best fast shaving gel
The transparency of this non-foaming, clear gel enables a fast, accurate shave. You can see exactly where you’re shaving.
The oil-based, waterless formula, infused with nourishing, soothing ingredients, means no dry, stripped or dehydrated skin.
Best classic shaving cream
It only takes a small amount of this classic vitamin-enriched shaving cream to give a clean, close shave. It’s formulated with aloe vera and jojoba extracts to provide deep moisturisation, making it an ideal product for clients with dry skin.
Apply with a brush and leave on for a minute to ensure the beard is soft and supple.
Best refreshing shaving gel
This shaving gel is infused with menthol to provide intense cleansing by removing bacteria from the skin, limiting irritation and post-shave bumps. The soothing and repairing formulation is designed to provide the smoothest blade glide.
The range also comes infused with anti-septic and anti-inflammatory lavender, which helps heal sensitive skin, or coconut, to prevent post-shave irritation.
Best ethical shaving cream
This luxurious shaving cream is enriched with argan and hemp seed oils, turning beards into butter and lubricating the skin. This enables a smooth, close shave without nicks or razor burn.
The skin is conditioned, lubricated and left feeling fresh, supple and clean. What’s more, MKS eco only uses ingredients from ethical sources, more than 90% are naturally derived and all packaging is recyclable.
Q&A
Q. Why do you need to use a shaving cream or gel?
A. Using a gel or cream is the best way to avoid razor burn. A cream or gel reduces the friction between the razor blade and skin, making the skin smooth and slippery, which lessens the risk of cuts and nicks.
Ingredients in shaving creams and gels also soften the whiskers, which makes them easier to shave. Added ingredients in professional shaving creams and gels help soothe and moisturise the skin, which is especially important with a sharp razor and when a client has thick whiskers.
Shaving without a cream or gel misses out on these benefits.
Q. What are the advantages of a cream versus gel?
A. Gels are easy to use and are usually applied without a brush, making them quick and simple. However, they’re usually less lubricating than creams.
Classic shaving creams lather up when you add water to them. They’re mixed in a bowl or on a wet face. Creams are the best choice for straight razor shaving as they provide a very smooth, slippery lubricant.
Q. What are the best ingredients to look for in shaving gels and creams?
A. Choose a shaving gel or cream that’s formulated with ingredients like aloe vera, vitamin E and natural oils (jojoba, almond and avocado), as well as chamomile, eucalyptus and menthol. These moisturise, soothe and refresh skin, helping to reduce inflammation and irritation.
Avoid parabens and sulphates. These chemical ingredients can cause dry skin, irritation and inflammation.
Q. Should salons and barbershops opt for fragrance-free products?
A. It’s good to have fragrance-free options on hand, for clients who specifically request these or have known issues with skin irritation.
However, it’s not necessary to avoid fragrances altogether. Subtle, high-quality fragrances can add to the experience of a salon visit for clients.
Fragrances derived from natural, essential oils or plant extracts tend to be the safest for most skin types. It is possible even for natural ingredients to trigger skin reactions. However, they’re less likely than chemically manufactured scents to cause irritation.
Overall, high-quality shaving products from respected brands are the best bet for salons. They’re the least likely to cause negative skin reactions. This is because they are carefully made, using pure ingredients known to be good for skin, and are comprehensively tested.