How do you know if your razor needs stropping?

Kevin
Pueblo, CO

How long do you soak your brush before your shave?

Andrew
Via Email

The paradigm of British wetshaving was changed with the debut of The Bluebeards Revenge. This brand kicked Geo. F. Trumper in the arse and gave D. R. Harris and Co. a collective black eye. The modern and whimsical products from Bluebeards maintain the quality of these traditional British brands, but bring wit, sarcasm, and big stamped skull and crossbones to the market.  This article takes a look at the Scimitar, the premium double edge safety razor that bears the distinctive Bluebeards logo.

Floïd aftershave is a brand that has been a favorite among master barbers and wetshaving enthusiasts for many years. The Floïd brand is produced in two different lines: Spanish and Italian. Both types have unique properties that actually allow the products to stand on their own.

In recent years, more and more men have come to realize the benefits of traditional wetshaving.  As men have abandoned their canned gels and plastic razors for more traditional products, many have also come to realize the benefits of a skin care regimen.  Twinluxe, a luxury skincare and shaving brand, offers a complete men’s solution that incorporates both proper skin care and shaving in their product portfolio.  I have been impressed with Twinluxe’s shaving products and was curious to see if its skincare system worked equally as well.  This review takes a look at the core component of the skin care line, the Renewing Face Wash & Scrub.

Traditional Italian soft soaps have been popular among wet shavers for many years.  They blur the line between shaving soaps and shaving creams because they contain soap ingredients, but most are soft and putty-like in texture similar to thick creams.  Recently I tried Cella Crema da Barba All’Olio Di Mandorla, which is another well-regarded example of these classic Italian products.  Having had good experiences with similar soaps, such as P.160 and Volobra, I was looking forward to seeing how Cella’s soap performed.

The double edge razor blade is a simple piece of steel with two cutting edges, one on each side of the blade. It mounts into a traditional safety razor and provides a close shave. Despite this straight-forward concept, there remains a lot of confusion about blades in general. How long do they last? How do you choose the right one? What is the safest way to store them? This article discusses double edge blades and answers some of the most frequently asked questions about them.

The rose fragrance is one of the staples in traditional British wet shaving.  Well-known brands, such as the famous "3 Ts" (Trumper’s, Truefitt & Hill, and Taylor of Old Bond Street), have included rose in their lineup of soaps and creams for many years.  Interestingly rose was not part of the D.R. Harris & Co. catalog until only a year or so ago.  I was curious to see how the D.R. Harris Rose Shaving Cream stacked up to the competition.

Semogue shaving brushes from Portugal have earned a loyal following among wet shavers around the world.  All Semogues are handmade with high standards of craftsmanship and handle designs that set them apart from brushes produced in other parts of the world.  Over the past few years, Semogue has offered several Owners Club model brushes that feature the finest materials and finest workmanship the brand has to offer.  I was excited to see how Semogue’s new two-band badger brush stacked up against other two-band brushes that are filled with this sought-after grade of hair.

Wet shavers are familiar with toner and astringent because they are similar to a good aftershave. They are an excellent follow-up to a good face wash, and they simultaneously try to soothe, close pores, disinfect, nourish, control oil, and mildly exfoliate dead skin cells. While you use a toner or aftershave every time you cleanse your skin, you can use an exfoliant or mask from time to time when you need the heavy-duty tools in your skin care arsenal. These are the products that are used less frequently, but yield fantastic results when used consistently.