This post may contain affiliate links.
I have a last-minute Father’s Day gift idea for you! About a year and a half ago, I was listening to a commercial about a shaving club that delivers razors to your door. (No this is not a post about razors!) In the commercial they also mentioned their amazing shave butter that was better than anything else for shaving. They said they could never go back to regular shaving cream. I decided I needed to investigate shave butter because it sounded wonderful!
In my research, I discovered it is VERY easy to just make homemade shave butter. It has all natural ingredients and is so much nicer than traditional shaving cream. I already had the ingredients in my house from other homemade body products I had made in the past!
I made it first for my husband for a Christmas gift. I think it has been one of his favorite gifts I have ever given him, because he continues to ask me to make more.
After I saw how much he liked it, I have been making it for myself, too. It has reduced razor burn issues I used to have and I am in love just as much as he is! It makes my skin so smooth after I shave!
After that long intro, I am sure you are wondering what is in the shave butter and what makes it so special?! You are going to be amazed by how easy it is. It has just four ingredients.
Homemade Shave Butter
2/3 c. Shea Butter
2/3 c. Coconut Oil
1/4 c. Almond Oil (or Olive oil)
Essential Oils (10-15 drops)
For my husband’s, I like to use a combo of peppermint (It’s on sale this month!) and rosemary or cedar wood essential oils. For my shave butter I use grapefruit and orange oils or this awesome Baby Skin blend from Rocky Mountain Oils. I adore the scent and feel of it!
Melt in a saucepan the Coconut oil and Shea butter. Remove from heat and add in the Almond oil and essential oils. Cool for several hours, and/or refrigerate to harden. If you have time, I prefer to just let it solidify on its own. Once it is solid, let it soften (if you refrigerated it) and you can whip with electric beaters for a few minutes it to give it that soft lotion-y texture. If you let it harden on the counter, you can just stir it to get the same texture.
I put it in small jelly jars in our shower. Mine usually runs out first, so I tend to help him finish his off until I get a chance to make more! 😉
Want another homemade Father’s Day gift? Check out our Dad String Art post!
Janelle Knutson says
Wow! Is it really that easy to make your own shaving cream?! Probably a lot healthier for your skin too. I’ll have to give it a try. 🙂
Karyn Tripp says
It is simple & great for your skin!!
Laura says
Do you have to use coconut oil or can it be any oil. I’m extremely allergic to coconuts. :/
Karyn Tripp says
I think you could replace it. If you don’t use the coconut oil you would need to use more of the shea butter or another oil that is solid when cool.
Buddy says
This stuff is the bomb! I have really sensitive skin and tried other shave butter and it worked great but I had to order it and I wanted something that was more readily available. I ran across this recipe, and I am greatly impressed. A perfect shave with no butchered skin and my skin was very soft and smooth with a great peppermint aroma.
Mo says
How long does this last if my husband doesn’t shave everyday?
Karyn Tripp says
It lasts quite a while! I make it every other month probably.
Phil says
I made a batch last night but this morning it still had not hardened. I had left the mixture on the counter without a lid overnight with a house temperature of 64 F. Any Ideas what may have went wrong?
Karyn Tripp says
Try refrigerating it! Sometimes in the Summer mine does not harden as well, either.
Kristin says
Does this recipe make one jar? I want to make 10 jars so I’m curious how much ingredients I will need.
Karyn Tripp says
This amount makes 2 small jelly size jars. To make 10 you would need to multiply it by 5. 🙂
Brit says
Mine keeps separating:(
What am I doing wrong? I let it cool and the Shea butter sinks to the bottom and hardens with the oils on top.
Karyn Tripp says
Just mix it a few times while it is cooling.
Bachi says
Maybe a silly question, but is this meant to be used after the shaving? A little confused since it’s kept in the shower… 🙂
Karyn Tripp says
Nope, it is used FOR shaving, in place of shaving cream. 🙂
MaKayla Smith says
We’re having a hard time getting our hands on Shea Butter, is there anything you would suggest as an alternative ingredient? TIA! 🙂
Karyn Tripp says
Cocoa butter is a great alternative if you can find that!
Kathleen Kaiser says
It may be too late but I have found Shea butter on Amazon.
MaKayla Smith says
Would cocoa butter lotion be okay?
Karyn Tripp says
Yes, definitely!
Amee Byers says
Do you cover when letting it fool on counter? I’m leaving for work for th day and letting it solidify naturally. Whipping it when I come home 🙂
Karyn Tripp says
I cover mine, yes.
Diane says
Does this lather? Would you apply it with a shaving brush? Thx.
Karyn Tripp says
It does not lather, it is more of a lotion-type consistency. I have never used a shaving brush, so I am not sure about that part. I just rub it on.
Shelby says
When making it says 10-15 drops of oils is that 10-15 of each oil or total combined
Karyn Tripp says
10-15 total
Cristy says
Mine turned out a dark yellow color I think because of the Shea butter but I used the same ingredients you have pictured. Will it lighten when I whip it? How did yours come out creamy white? Did you use a different Shea butter than the one pictured?
Karyn Tripp says
Yes! It definitely lightens as it cools.
Gregory Roth says
Could you add menthol to this for a cool feel?
Karyn Tripp says
You could certainly try! I like peppermint oil for that purpose.
Rue T. says
hi, i tried to make this and it never solidified, it remained a liquid similar to oil. If i put it in the refrigerator it hardened but when I took it out it went back to the liquid form. What did I do wrong? I am sad as I have now tried it twice with the same result and a terrible waste of money in ingredients. I used African shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil and essential oils.
Karyn Tripp says
Oh darn! I have never had mine not solidify. Do you live in a very warm climate? Maybe try reducing the olive oil and/or increasing the shea butter a bit. You can re-use those ingredients, just add in extra shea to make it a more solid form.
Meghan says
Help! I made this for my boyfriend. The only thing I did different was microwave to melt and then I added a dash of vitamin e oil. For some reason, it never solidified! I put it in the fridge and it did, but when I took it back out it just melted again. Any ideas??
dambu says
can I use cannabis oli instead olive oil?
Karyn Tripp says
I have never tried it, but it would probably work just fine.
Megan says
I can’t get this to harden. I followed the recipe minua the essential oils. It had been setting on the counter for almost 16 hours, it is not warm in my house, i moved it to the fridge, it’s been about an hour still liquid. What do i do?
Jen says
Mine never solidified either and it was light brown in color. My daughter made it for her dad, my husband , for Christmas. We spent $40 on ingredients, so it’s very disappointing.
Moira says
I have a question – I’ve made this and it’s lovely and works a treat. But. The shower floor is lethal afterwards and the only thing that I’ve managed to clean off the grease is cif. I’m also having to clean out the pipes with soda crystals. For me it’s a pretty epic, timely and product heavy experience – I must be missing something? Help
jess says
Do you have any suggestions on how to keep the guys razors from clogging up so fast from the oil?
Karyn Tripp says
I just rinse it in hot water & it comes right off.