I’ve seen Bulldog Original Shaving Gel on store shelves so I checked it out the way I check everything else out – by jumping in with Amazon (affiliate link). There were such glowing reviews which made it very tempting to try. As I do with most other shaving temptations – I give in. Priced at $6.99 for 5.9 ounces at Target (affiliate link) it was a cheap temptation. Bulldog comes from an English company that also makes a whole line of men’s skin care products and is distributed here by Edgewell.
Prejudices
At the outset, for the sake of journalistic integrity, I will admit that one of the few prejudices I have is brushless shaving products. I’ve tried a few, including Cremo, and was never satisfied with them. There have been many articles here at Sharpologist and elsewhere of the use and benefits of the mechanical action of using a brush. It is more than a tool for applying shaving cream. But to appear to be fair I would approach this with an open mind. The directions say to wet the face with warm water and rub the gel into the part to be shaved. OK, this sounds reasonable. I took a dollop of this thick gel and spread it over my stubble and tried to rub it in. It stayed as a thin layer of gel with hardly any detectable fragrance.
Testing And Review
So I divided my face in half and kept one side as is and the other I tried to rub in a little more warm water and some rigorous rubbing. This produced the thinnest of proto lather. I then proceeded to shave, with a fresh cartridge. The result? My prejudices were confirmed. Both sides lacked glide, smoothness and lubrication. Don’t even begin to think about cushioning. It is the very antithesis of cushioning. Residual slickness? It is the very antithesis of residual slickness. I also felt it didn’t produce a close shave.
To further demonstrate my appearance of fairness on subsequent days I tested it against other shaving products that require the use of a brush using the half face protocol. A top tier soap (Mike’s Natural) and what I consider a second tier soap (TOBS Lime-Amazon affiliate link) and both outperformed Bulldog in every way
On another day just on a lark I even played around using a damp brush after I had applied the Bulldog gel to the face. And? It definitely increased the volume of the product enhancing it to a very thin lather but too weak to provide any cushioning. Unfortunately, it did not increase the functionality in any way, especially glide and lubrication. Skin condition post shave was too close to declare a clear winner.
Summing Up
Why all the rave reviews on Amazon? I can’t say. While reasonable men may disagree on what is art or the appropriate use of duct tape, for example, I cannot comprehend why anyone would say this was the “greatest” product they have ever used. What did they use before? Library paste?
In sum, this dog of a product is nothing but bull.
Ingredients Water, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Glycerin, Coco-glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium chloride, Sodium hydroxide, Benzoic acid, Fragrance*, Menthol, Dehydroacetic acid, Limonene, Citric acid. *A blend of natural ingredients.
I have been using Bulldog for more than 5 years now and find it to be the best product for a close shave I have ever used and I am an every day shaver. Most negative reviews I have read for the product seem to be from guys who are obsessed with getting a lather. That’s not how gel works. If you are a cream or foam user and that is what floats your boat then stick with that and enjoy your lather. I am a gel user and have been for the past 15 years and I have used pretty much everything from cheap to designer brands. Each to their own.
Stay tuned….
More reviews of brushless shaving creams and gels are coming up!
Wow! Don’t get the hate for this! I use it for travel, to save carrying all the usual paraphernalia. It doesn’t lather because I don’t think it’s supposed to. However, I find it quite slippy enough for two passes.
Yes, some people love it and that’s all fine and good. If I’m going to travel I just use what I like and if Bull Dog does it for you then it’s all good my friend.
Regarding Bull Dog Shave Gel, I totally disagree with your review. Like you, I recently purchased it to try out based on the reviews I had read. I found it to be very satisfactory, providing excellent cushioning and glide. It is meant to be used as a clear gel applied by hand and not with a brush to generate a lather. The scent is subtle but pleasant. It is one of the best shave gels out there in my opinion. Many others seem to agree.
Chris, If we are talking about using the best gel I would have to say DEEP CLEAN SHAVE SHAVING GEL from Nivea also Aveeno Positively Smooth Moisturizing Shave Gel these are my best top picks for gels.
Wow Saul, you are kind of late to the game on the Bull Dog Shaving Gel experience. 6 years ago I did a review on this product and nothing has changed, it’s just as useless then as when you tried it.