I often shave with one of these:
I replaced the stainless steel handles with mock tortoise shell. Looks fab and leaves a truly BBS (baby butt smooth) face. I’ve noticed that the hair takes longer to grow back, and I've never had an ingrown hair. I also have a very nice vintage straight razor passed on by my grandfather. I had it restored and fitted with a new handle, and now it looks (and shaves) as good as new.
We so often hear commercials tell us that shaving is a horrible, awful chore and that we should strive to get it done as quickly as humanly possible. I disagree. I believe it can be a very relaxing, very ‘male’ ritual that can be taken slow and actually enjoyed.
Sure, there are times when we are in a hurry; for that I whip out my Mach3. But there is one thing I never skimp on, and that is preparing
real shaving cream. I never use that crap from aerosol cans. For years I’d have little red bumps after shaving and a very itchy face. I was introduced to the concept of
real shaving cream around the same time I became interested in straight razors. (By “real” shaving cream I mean the kind you mix up yourself with a badger-hair brush.)
The difference will leave you astounded, and in all honesty it does not take that much time. I can have a bowl of rich lather ready in less than a minute.
My favourite brands are:
NancyBoy and
Taylor of Old Bond Street* (their
avocado shaving cream is out of this world and frequently sold out for a damn good reason). I have sensitive skin and both of these brands are just fine with me, and the prices will not leave you broke. They last for a long time.
Lastly, I switched to a moistening aftershave cream/gel instead of alcohol-based. NancyBoy makes a great aftershave gel (I only wish I had ordered more at the time!), and a Canadian company,
Burt’s Bees**, makes another. Both of these products are completely natural and reasonably priced for the quality/quantity.
As I mentioned earlier, a lot of guys swear by safety razors and they are enjoying a major resurgence in popularity, too. As the cost of “mainstream” razors continues to climb, I think a lot of guys will be looking for “alternatives” -- and perhaps coming to realize that granddad had the right idea, after all!
For more talk about all-things shaving, check out:
BadgerandBlade.com
* I linked to Taylor of Old Bond Street's company website, but their products are widely available in the US.
** Canadians can buy Burt's Bees products (and many others) from
Well.ca with free shipping and no minimum order limit. They ship to the US, too, but charge a fee.
