Pre-electric shave lotions are specifically formulated to improve the closeness and comfort of a dry shave while reducing the time it takes to complete it.
They work by drying any moisture and oils from the skin, making the hairs stand straight to be easily captured by the shaver with fewer strokes.
Pre shaves also provide a layer of lubrication and reduce razor burn.
For most men, the addition of a pre shave will result in a better shave, particularly when there’s still room for improvement.
In this post we’ll take a close look at one of the most popular pre shaves currently available, Williams Lectric Shave, and see if it’s up to the hype.
Williams Lectric Shave history
Introduced during the ’50s by the JB Williams Company, Williams Lectric Shave is one of the most iconic, successful and well-known pre electric shave lotions.
It is currently manufactured by Combe Incorporated, the company that bought JB Williams in October 2002.
Below you can see a commercial from 1958:
The Williams trademark continued to be used even after the Combe Inc acquisition as the name had gained a lot of brand equity throughout the years, particularly in the USA.
Williams Lectric Shave ingredients
The Williams Lectric Shave is an alcohol-based pre electric shave splash/lotion.
Here is the complete ingredient list:
- SD Alcohol 40-B
- Isopropyl Myristate
- Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
- Fragrance
- Benzophenone-1
- Trisodium HEDTA
- Colorants: Green 5, Yellow 10, Orange 4
- Water
If you have very sensitive skin or a medical condition that prevents you from using any products that contain alcohol, you may want to skip this one and look at other pre shave options, like the Remington Face Saver powder.
As a side note, I am blessed with dry and sensitive skin, but to my surprise, I had no issues using Lectric Shave or other alcohol-based pre-shaves.
Fragrance
If you take a whiff straight from the bottle, the scent has that classic, old-school, barbershop vibe and you can definitely pick up the alcohol.
Once applied to your face, it is a lot more subdued and the scent seems nicer. The boozy note is also less noticeable.
In my opinion the scent is a lot better compared to another popular pre shave, Afta by Mennen. To my nose that one is off-putting and way too strong.
The fragrance of the Lectric Shave is more discreet and fades quickly after completing your shave and rinsing your face with water.
Does Williams Lectric Shave really work?
Well, let’s find out.
I sometimes use shaving cream with my electric razors as a dry shave isn’t always a viable option for me. I don’t usually manage to get that close shave as in the case of a wet shave and the comfort is not great either.
I can only get a decent dry shave with some Braun shavers, but again, with a trade-off in closeness.
For this review, I decided to test the Lectric Shave along with two electric razors.
The first is a Panasonic Arc 4 ES-LF51-A, a reasonably priced mid-range shaver that can give a really close shave, but it’s usually too aggressive for sensitive skin out of the box.
The second one is the Braun Series 5 5090cc, a dry only shaver that is very comfortable to use, but it’s not the closest shaving razor in this price category — definitely not as close as the Panasonic.
So we have two shavers with different shortcomings when being used for a dry shave. This is an ideal scenario for finding out if the addition of a pre shave can improve the results.
A prerequisite of a good dry shave is to have your skin as dry as possible. Any moisture will have a negative impact on the performance of your shaver and the closeness and comfort will suffer.
That’s why one of the main purposes of a pre electric shave lotion is to dry any excess moisture, sweat and oils that exist naturally on the surface of the skin.
The shave
Applying the Lectric Shave lotion is as straightforward as it gets: you simply splash it to your face and massage it into your beard, wait for 15 seconds or so for the solution to dry completely and then you can start shaving.
To my surprise, it had a noticeable oily texture after I applied it to my face. In turn, this made the skin feel very smooth, plump and slick. I was actually expecting dry and flaky because of the alcohol in it.
Once I started shaving, the extra slickness really made a difference and the shaver glided on the skin smoothly.
Without the use of a pre shave the razor would sometimes skip, drag or hop on the skin.
The closeness was one of the best I got from a dry shave and the improvement was even more noticeable with the Braun Series 5, a razor that normally fails to match the closeness of other similarly priced razors from the competition.
The Arc 4 from Panasonic is in my opinion the closest shaving electric razor that doesn’t have a prohibitive price, but sometimes when I use it dry it causes mild to nasty razor burn and irritation.
However, when I used it along with Lectric Shave, the post-shave soreness was barely noticeable; an overall massive improvement.
In fact, a good pre shave might make me reconsider my shaving routine. The closeness wasn’t quite as good as in the case of a wet shave, but definitely close enough.
Completing my shave also took less time compared to a normal dry shave.
Because the hairs stand upright, fewer strokes are needed to get a clean, smooth shave and the razor seemed to cut the hairs with less effort.
My face felt really good afterward, but that oily sensation was still noticeable.
After rinsing with cold water and patting dry with a towel the skin simply felt smooth and moisturized.
I checked my shaver and it wasn’t clogged, so that’s definitely another plus for the Lectric Shave.
I could still detect the scent, but it was very faint.
Overall, the Williams Lectric Shave made a significant improvement to my dry shave and I highly recommend you to at least give it a try.
In terms of value for money, Lectric Shaves scores pretty well. It comes in 3 or 7 oz. bottles and it’s reasonably priced. You can also buy it in bulk and save some money.
Where to buy Williams Lectric Shave
You can find the Williams Lectric Shave at your local drug stores (although is getting more difficult to find), but the simplest way is to order it online.
On Amazon you can find it in both the 3 and 7 oz variations. I recommend going for the 7 oz bottle as the price per ounce is usually more convenient.
Lectric Shave Alternatives
The first obvious alternative would be Afta by Mennen. Afta is a pre electric shave gel, so it’s easier to apply.
Afta Pre Electric
It also costs less than Williams Lectric Shave and it’s not that oily.
However, I would still opt for Lectric shave as it does seem to work better, especially when it comes to closeness.
Also, the scent of the Afta is too strong for my liking and the gel tends to gunk up the razor sometimes.
Tabac Pre Electric Shave Solution
The pre-shave from Tabac Original is another excellent product.
The price is higher compared to the other lotions, but it even outperforms the Lectric Shave and has that nice, mild Tabac-specific fragrance.
I personally prefer it because it doesn’t leave any oily residue on the skin.
Speick Pre Electric Shave Lotion
Speick is a German family-owned company that has been making high-quality personal care products for men since the ’20s.
Their pre-electric shave is currently my personal favorite.
It works at least as good as Lectric Shave, it smells better and it’s not oily.
It’s a bit pricey though and not always easy to source outside of Europe.
Great article and review.I was shocked to find out exactly what I wanted to know! Thanx!
Thank you for the kind words, Carey. Much appreciated!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
It’s a little expensive in the most expensive country in europe Ireland
Is Afta shave lotion pre and after still available? Was always available at Walmart but suddenly it’s not there. Visited 3 different Walmart’s all out.
I’m afraid I do not have any info on this, but both the after and pre are still available online.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I echo the thoughts of Carey Stuart. I have just started to use Lectric Shave and also like the results. Darn well worth what I paid. I also use a Braun series 7 shaver and find an improvement using the Williams product.
Ovidiu, I really appreciate your article and hope others will follow the trend of real journalism like you! Thanks!!!
Hi Tim,
Thank you so much for your words of appreciation! I’m glad you found the article useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I am a lot older than most of you (67) and I have used Lectric Shave for decades. I haven’t used a conventional razor since I was 16. Lectric Shave works better than anything I have ever tried. On a recent date about 5 hours after shaving, my girlfriend even said I smelled nice. I don’t use cologne.
Here is something additional to know. I found out years ago that Lectric Shave has another hidded use. It makes sense when you look at the ingredients. Your wife or girlfriend calls you in to get ready for an important night out. You have just finished working on the car or whatever and your hands are stained with oil, grease, soot, whatever. Before you try to wash it off, use Lectric Shave to wash your hands. Just a splash like when you shave. Work it around well; then just wash your hands with your favorite soap. It really cuts the grease that leaves those stubborn stains on your fingers. A bit expensive to degrease your car, but saves a lot of time when you have to clean up in a hurry.
Hi Galen,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with our community. I never really thought about using Lectric Shave for anything else besides shaving. While a mechanic usually takes care of fixing my car, I love cycling and I’m always tinkering on my bike, so I know what it takes to wash a pair of greasy hands. I’ll give it a try next time. 🙂
Best,
Ovidiu
Can you use lectric shave with a regular razor
Definitely not — you’ll want a shaving/pre-shave oil (like the Art Of Shaving or Somersets oil) or a pre-shave cream like the one from Proraso. The latter must be applied prior to shaving cream/gel.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu, I’m in my eighties and bed ridden so for some time now I dry shave with a conventional Hydro 5 Schick razor. Used aftershave as a lubricant of sorts but finally switched to Lectric Shave and I can assure you that it works great with the Hydro 5. I can now shave in half the time with much better results all around. I change blades twice per month (though I could go for a whole month as I did with a wet Hydro 5 shave) but at Two bucks per blade at Walmart, my cost is only $4 per month.
Bottom line: Yes, I get great results dry shaving with my conventional Hydro 5, using my Williams Lectric Shave. Thanks for sharing your research with us, Ovidiu. Your articles are well done.
Hi Doyle,
Many thanks for your comment, I really appreciate it.
That’s awesome, never thought about using a pre-shave in this manner. But it seems to definitely work, so that’s all that really matters.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
My findings exactly. I wet shave and use a CVS clone, “Blade” Lectric Shave. It makes a significant differnce. I think that it is a great pre-shave treatment.
I use the CVS clone too. Price is a little better and, to me, the fragrance is nicer and not as heavy as the Williams’ product. However, I’m having trouble finding it lately. I think CVS stopped making it. Is this your experience too? Will have to check other drug store chains. I think Rite Aid had their own version at one time and it was ok. I remember preferring the CVS one though.
I work from home so sometimes I don’t need to shave. To save money on razors, I use ‘lectric shave to help un-curl my facial hairs. This prevents facial hairs from becoming ingrown or itchy. A daily application of ‘lectric shave works very nicely for this application.
That’s actually very interesting, I never thought about using a pre-shave in this manner. But it makes sense — and if it also works as intended then by all means continue using it.
Thanks for sharing!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
does it have an out of date for electric shave .can not find out of date on bottle.bottle is several years old 3 to 4 yrs old.
I couldn’t say anything with certainty, but I know that the Afta Pre-Electric for example (which is a similar alcohol-based pre-shave) has a two-year expiration date. I do not know how effective a 4-year-old product would be or if it poses any risks. My advice would be to get a fresh bottle.
Ovidiu, thank you for the good review. I’ve been using Lectric Shave for 40 years now. QUESTION: We’ve started noticing that Walmart is not carrying Lectric Shave anymore. Also, CVS and Walgreen no longer carry their generic versions, making Lectric Shave higher priced than before when you can find it. Is there something going on in the Pre-Electric Shave Lotion world that it is losing popularity and retailers are starting to not carry this product?
Thank you for your comment, Brett. It would be difficult to pinpoint the cause precisely, but I think it may have something to do with people buying pretty much everything online nowadays. This has clearly affected physical stores. I doubt that the actual demand for pre-electric lotions has gone down all of a sudden. As you also mentioned, the worst part about it (for us, the consumers) is the price increase.
Been using it for @40 years too. Now all of a sudden I can’t find the stuff anymore.
Hi Fred,
You can still buy it online from Amazon or ebay.
I use it before I blade shave with a bic razor. The smell is clean like a 1950’s barber shop smell. Manly yes, but oh the ladies love it.
Thank you for your comment, Charles. I personally don’t care too much about the smell, but I definitely don’t hate it. It’s great that the ladies around you love it — my lady for example can’t stand it.
Since I started shaving some 40 years ago, I have been a blade only kind of person. However, I was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s so I was thinking that sliding a sharp razor across my face while having tremors may not be such a good idea anymore. I bought what I was told to be the gold standard in electric razors – A Wahl finale, 5 star. Not a good experience, every week I had to chance it with a blade to get what I missed the past week. so I thought I’d try Lectric Shave – And I am a believer! It really works – my shave is now almost as good as my blade was – and with no razor burn.
Hi Randy,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. It really is a great product that can make a big difference.
I wish you all the best!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Brilliant Randy. This is what I wanted to know! I have an Andis Profoil and wanted to know if this will work. I sincerely hope you are getting along well with your unfortunate Parkinson’s diagnosis. All the best mate, from Australia!
If I use a pre shave lotion while shaving with my Braun Series 9 razor, is it still safe for me to clean my Braun razor on the clean and charge station? I ask because I know that I’m not supposed to use shaving cream when cleaning with the Braun clean and charge station. Please let me know. Thanks.
Hi Matthew,
Yes, that should still be safe. An alcohol-based pre-shave lotion dries is a matter of seconds once applied to the face and usually doesn’t leave behind any residues (with the exception of Afta by Mennen, that one gums up, so I don’t recommend it).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
After dry shaving for several years the blades needed replacement. So the guy at the shop installed the new blades (since what I had bought were knock-offs..ugh) and sprayed it with something that reminded me of William’s Lectric Shave. Right then I knew to run to the grocery store where I bought a bottle and have been happy ever since. The shave is closer, I smell better and the shaver smells better as well.
That’s great, Jerry! Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.
Hey!
I have just recently started using your techniques because I have coarse hair and sensitive skin but I am still in the intro stage. I got a Braun series 7, Lectric shave and I ended up going for The Art of Shaving After Shave Balm because its unscented. I am still giving my skin time to adjust to the new shaver and pre/post treatment products so its not perfect yet but it’s getting there. I do want to try the Wet shave at some point but for now my routine has always been to shave after the shower. After reading your articles again I noticed that I should be shaving prior to the shower. So my question is when should I apply the aftershave balm? Directly after the shave or after my shower? Will the Lectric shave dry up the potential grease on your face from a nights sleep?
Any other tips you may have would be greatly appreciated as I want to come out of this with good feeling skin post shave.
Thanks for all your articles and shaving guides!
Hi Zev,
Thank you for your comment. That’s actually a great question.
It’s highly recommended that you don’t shower or wash your face right before a dry shave. So you should apply the pre-shave of your choice, shave, shower, wash your face with cold water and then apply the aftershave balm. Also, avoid splashing your face with warm/hot water during your shower, I always get a rash when I do that.
An alcohol-based pre-shave should take care of any excess grease/oils. And speaking of pre-shaves, I find Lectric Shave a bit too oily for my liking, so I prefer using the pre-shave lotion from Speick. If you can get it, I highly recommended it.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi
After reading your reviews (and a few others) about the ARC 5, decided to finally end the use of rotary shavers (always leaving my neck with the looks of a burning torch…), and give it a try to a foil one.
Paired the Arc 5 with the Williams Lectric, and have been very satisfied.
Just one simple question: Do you think the ventilated 15 seconds are really enough time to get the hair to stand up vertically, or it would be an advantage to hold a few 15/30 seconds more?
thanks
Hi Pedro,
The hairs will begin to stand straight the moment you start massaging the lotion into your beard (make sure to work it in really well). The recommended 15 seconds are meant to allow the solution to evaporate so that your skin will be perfectly dry when you start shaving. So if after 15 seconds the skin is dry, you can go right ahead and start shaving. You should only wait for more (another 15 seconds or so) if your skin is not completely dry.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
I’m writing all the way from Israel to let you know how much this site has helped me transition from blade to electric shaving. Following your advice I bought a Braun Series 7 and was content with the closeness of the shave already, but today I used Williams Lectric Shave (shipped all the way from Amazon US! Couldn’t find anything similar locally) for the first time and was excited to see even better results! Got a much closer shave, especially in the neck area, took a lot less time than usual, and had to work a lot less against the skin.
I disliked my razor so much that I shaved once a week at best, but now I’m happily shaving 4 times a week. My wife is obviously very happy with this turn of events. So really, thank you for this website and for sharing your knowledge on this subject.
Hi Dudi,
Thank you so much for the kind words and for taking the time to share your shaving journey. I’m glad you found the information useful and you now enjoy shaving with your Series 7. I am humbled and truly appreciate your comment.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
thank you for the excellent written review. You should review more products. Your writing skills are concise and to the point.
Thank you, Ronald, much appreciated. More reviews to follow.
Believe all the hype on Williams electric shave lotion very satisfied on its first use A little pricier then I would normally spend but for the 7 ounces fine I’ll keep looking for a coupon or a discount from Costco
Thank you for your comment, Ignacio. Compared to other pre-shave lotions like Lab Series for example, Williams Lectric Shave is quite reasonably priced. If you can get it cheaper, that’s always better.
–Ovidiu
Man thank you for all the helpful posts on Electric shavers and pre electric products!
No problem, Vik. Glad you found the info useful.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Yes I will agree that there is a huge difference by using a Preshave. Williams is good stuff may try the Spiek next.
Thank you for your comment. I think you’ll like the Speick pre-shave as well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
my husband uses Williams electric shave. I believe it causes his seb derm to flair up.
He is older and has many meds. Also the smell is overwhelming.
Do you think this product could aggravate seboric dermatitis?
Is there an alternative?
That could be the case, but you will definitely have to ask a dermatologist and also provide him the ingredient list of the pre-shave. There are other products like the Lab Series pre-electric shave that are fragrance-free, but they still contain alcohol and you’ll need a specialist’s opinion.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
EXCELLENT ADVICE AND TIPS THANKS !!
No problem, glad you found it useful!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi, I have been using your products for more time than I care to remember. But I am a totally disabled veteran and now have a hard time getting my arms to move quite like that used to. I was in Viet Nam in 68-69 and we would get what they called SP packs out forward, if you don’t quite know what they are just ask an old Nam vet. Anyway, your electric shave is great but I lose most of it down the drain when I try to apply it, SOO is there any way, or is there an adapter for the bottle to roll on or sponge on your pre-shave so I don’tloose so much (the wife asks if I am drinking it. Nother war storynot now. Thank you patients and your products. Respectfully David L Barger
Hi David,
Thank you for your comment. In my opinion using a sponge or a cloth to apply the pre-shave will also waste a lot of product (that will remain impregnated in the sponge). I think in your situation, the best option would be to ask your wife to help you apply the pre-shave. I’ve actually had some emails and comments from users that were wasting a lot of product and didn’t have any motor impairment. So it must be quite difficult for you to do it on your own. Another way would be to use one of those commercially available bottles fitted with an atomizer and just spray the lotion to the face and immediately massage it into the skin. It just might work well enough.
I wish you all the best,
Ovidiu
Just started using an electric razor, bought an Phillips norelco 7000 series (a bit pricey but worth it ) and lectric shave was great. I’m 66 years and I remember the commercials from when I was a kid , great stuff. If you need to get some i found it at win-co foods. Hope it helps.
That’s awesome, Stephen, thank you for taking the time to share this. Enjoy shaving with your new Series 7000!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Do you have any recommendations for a electric pre-shave that is UNSCENTED? (or at least no perfumes – alcohol is ok as the smell goes away)
I had been using Old Ron’s, but that is gone now.
Hi Chris,
I’m afraid I don’t have any — with the Lab Series pre-shave now being discontinued. I’ll update the post as soon as I find (and test) any decent alternatives.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu: I really enjoyed your articles about the Panasonic Arc5 models. Mine just arrived and I’m looking forward to my first electric shave in 30 yrs! Maybe I should’ve waited for the Arc6! Thanks!
Hello Anthony,
That’s awesome, many thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I hope you’ll enjoy using it as much as I do, the Arc 5 is one of the best shavers out there right now, especially for the price.
As for the Arc 6, I’ve been using mine for more than a month now (review coming soon) and I must say that it’s a great shaver, probably the best Panasonic available at this moment — however, it’s not miles ahead of the Arc5 though. To me it is a bit gentler, more refined (vibrates less) and a bit better with longer hairs than the revision G Arc5. But that’s pretty much it, I didn’t find the closeness to be better. Factor in the high price and the difficulty of getting it (and the pricey replacement foil), and I think you made the right call with the Arc 5.
Happy shaving!
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Ovidiu,
Thanks for the post on Williams Lectric Shave! It’s been a staple in my family since it was introduced. We always had that “barber shop” smell in our bathrooms. You said that it was introduced in the 1950s, but do you have any more detail on when and where it was first manufactured?
Many thanks for your comment, Jon. I’m afraid I do not know with certainty where it was first manufactured, but their plant in Glastonbury, Connecticut (before the move to Cranford, New Jersey) would be my guess.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
The label comes off with a sticky glue on every bottle I buy. Why?
I never had any similar issues with mine. I even went to check the bottle I currently have. It takes a lot of force to peel the label off and there’s really no glue residue on the bottle.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Bonjour, excellent article qui exprime par des mots mes ressentis.
Merci pour ce partage et bonne continuation.
Cordialement.
Thank you, Didier, I really appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
I love william’s lectric shave but they used to produce another sent where the liquid was bleu.
How come they stopped the production? That sent was even better
I think that was the formula for sensitive skin (discontinued for quite some time). Never had the chance to try it, unfortunately.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi Ovidiu,
I’m just trying lectric shave now paired with my new Braun series 9 pro. I did feel like I had a great shave using lectric as a pre shave, but I wasn’t sure how to clean up after. Usually I blow and tap out all the hairs from the cassette, then use the clean and charge station (since I dry shave). But when using lectric pre shave, I end up washing the cassette with water first, air drying it, and then using the cleaning station. I’d love to skip the washing step but am afraid to damage the cleaning solution of the station if I don’t.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Hi Massimo,
I personally always skip the manual clean part when I use a pre-shave and have a cleaning station. There’s little to no residue on the shaving head from the pre-shave and I’ve been doing this for years without any damage to the cleaning stations. Washing and drying the head before cleaning it in the station is the super-safe route, but in my opinion overkill and unless you’re using a shaving product that leaves a lot of residue on your shaver (gel, shaving cream etc), I’d go straight to the station after tapping out the hairs.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Once in awhile, I like to use a razor with shaving cream.
Problem is, I can’t find an old fashioned adjustable razor like the old Gilettes. Seems there’s only disposables. Any hints ?
Thank you. “Look sharp”
Hi Bob,
There’s the Merkur Futur which is highly regarded in the shaving community. But it’s on the pricy side and rather bulky. If you prefer a milder razor I highly recommend the Edwin Jagger DE89. It’s a fantastic razor for the money (it was my favorite back in the day).
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hi thank you for this well written article. It was right on time
I just switched from wet shaving to electric and its been great. I will try the lectric shave. Do you use a post shave product as well or just the pre shave and done?
Hi,
Thank you so much, glad you found it useful. I do recommend following up with your aftershave of choice. You can check out some of my favorites here.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
My local store didn’t have any of their in house Branded electric preshave lotion in stock, and the Lectric Shave was over $6 a bottle for 7 ounces. I ordered 2 bottles of the Lectric Shave off Amazon for $5.94 a bottle. I prefer the store brand more because it’s scent isn’t as strong. I believe Vie’Jon makes it.
Unfortunately I cannot get some of these niche-like brands where I live. Lectric Shave does have a strong fragrance and it’s one of the things that make it less appealing for me. But it is effective and the price is just unbeatable.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu
Hello Ovidiu,
Great article.
Do you have a source for the ingredients list or know how much of each ingredient is used? Have you ever tried a home-made pre-shave or found a good recipe for one?
Thanks again.
Hey Wally,
Thanks so much for the comment.
The ingredients are listed on the bottle or box, unfortunately I do not have any info on the proportions/ratios of each.
I personally never tried to make my own since I found a few ready-made pre-shaves that worked really well for me. Also, these are rigorously tested and vetted by chemists and specialists, so as long as a pre-shave doesn’t have specific ingredient you must avoid (like perfume), I think it’s safer and more practical than a DIY solution. And the Lectric Shave for example is pretty affordable as well.
Sincerely,
Ovidiu