Potassium alum mineral salt, the potassium double sulfate of aluminum, is a unique mineral because it has antiseptic and astringent properties that are particularly useful for wet shavers.  When rubbed on wet skin, alum provides a mild stinging sensation similar to that of an alcohol-based aftershave splash and it helps to close pores and tighten the skin while also sealing any small nicks from shaving.  Prior to the invention of antibiotics, alum blocks were used regularly to prevent infections that might have occurred from nicks or cuts. While alum blocks are typically cut into square or rectangular blocks, a more innovative alum product has been designed for the traditional wet shaver, the RazoRock.

Most shaving retailers agree that the best-selling D.R. Harris soap is the Arlington shaving soap.  The unique citrus fragrance is widely popular, and this soap remains one of the few hard soaps that contains tallow, which produces a rich and creamy lather. This article takes a closer look at this beloved shaving product.

Recently I was offered a trade for a vintage Simpsons Chubby 3 Best Badger and I was excited about receiving the brush. It was originally purchased for around $325 about 10 years ago and was never part of a regular rotation. Because it is a Somerset shaving brush, it could still be valuable to collectors and could easily be priced over $200 on the used market.  I was very disappointed to receive the brush and discover that many bristles in the inner core of the loft were broken off.  When I made the dreaded phone call to the brush’s owner, he was very gracious. He said he had not given much thought to brush care and he did not know that the brush loft was not supposed to sink in after use. He is not alone; it is common to see online pictures of raggedy used shaving brushes. The goal of this article is to inspire wet shavers to use their brushes in ways that do not indent or invert the brush lofts.

With around 20 shaving brushes in my collection, I don't often become excited about using or obtaining brushes anymore. This was, of course, until I happened to come across a stunning specimen of a shaving brush offered by Rooney.  The Heritage “Stubby” XL series has been released under a Limited Edition run with three different sizes: 1XL, 2XL, and 3XL. Both the 1XL and 2XL have found their way into my rotation, and the 3XL may follow soon. The 2XL is like no other brush I have owned and its performance is definitely second to none.

Because of its luster and durability, the shaving industry has been using stainless steel for decades. Razor blades made the transition from carbon steel to stainless in 1965, and there are many quality straight razor designs in the material. Manufacturers of double-edge safety razors have also transitioned to stainless and have produced a few models that have taken the industry by storm. While most safety razors are metal with a finish overlay, this class of razor is made entirely of stainless steel, which does not flake, peel, wear down, or rust like other metals. More importantly, the new class of stainless steel safety razors is considered by many to be the best constructed shaving instruments available.  The quality of these razors makes them a pleasure to use and the iKon Bulldog Safety Razor is no exception.