Ask Aaron Q&A: Safety Razors - Closed Comb vs Open Comb
Sean Chawla-Duggan, from the UK, asks:
“Aaron, I have a very tough thick beard hair, and while when I do have the luxury of time I get a very good shave with a straight razor, I’d like to have a safety razor for mid week quickies. Should I use open or closed comb?”
AARON SAYS
“Mr. Chawla-Duggan,
Thank you for writing in! There is much debate surrounding the safety bar vs. open comb with strong opinions on both sides. Open comb razors do tend to be more aggressive and can give an easier shave for those of us with tougher beards. The shave also heavily depends on how sharp your blade is. If you like the look and feel of an open comb, go for it! There is a great open comb version of the Merkur HD which I highly recommend as well as the Muhle open comb.
Happy Shaving!
Aaron”
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Merkur 34C voted world’s best razor
The Merkur 34C Heavy Duty Classic has been named the world’s best razor.
The iconic shaving product took first place in the About.com 2011 Readers’ Choice Award for best razor.
Now in its fourth year, the Readers’ Choice Awards honour the world’s best products, features and services across more than a dozen categories, ranging from technology to hobbies to parenting and men’s grooming, as selected by its readers.
The Merkur 34C Heavy Duty Classic beat off competition from the likes of the Gillette Fusion ProGlide, Gillette Mach 3 and Shick Hydro 5 to scoop the coveted award.
“We are not surprised that the Merkur 34C won this very prestigious award. This is one of our best selling razors and is every thing a razor should be. No cartridge razor could ever compete with the quality of the Merkur 34C.
“Sometimes you hold a razor in your hand and it feels just right. The chrome finish 34C is one of those razors. The combination of weight, craftsmanship and looks make it the perfect entry into double-edged razor shaving. A true heavyweight classic!”
In January, About.com’s readers were asked to nominate their favourite grooming products. After a nomination period that saw a flurry of activity, four finalists were chosen in each category. From February 11 through March 8, 2011, readers cast tens of thousands of votes every day via the About.com website.
The Bluebeards Revenge shaving cream took second place in the best shaving cream category, while The Bluebeards Revenge post shave balm finished third in the best aftershave category.
The Bluebeards Revenge shaving cream, our best-selling cream, received nearly 40 per cent of the votes in its category, and was only narrowly beaten by The Art of Shaving, which is owned by Procter & Gamble.
We would like to thank all of our customers and readers who took the time to vote.
Ask Aaron Q&A: Shaving Creams vs Shaving Soaps - Which are better?
Robert Ashford, from the UK, asks:
“Can you please advise on the pros/cons re: Shaving Cream vs. Shaving Soap. (Also the use of shaving creams/soaps in bowls). Can you use the wet brush against each, and not taint the product? I Currently use a shave cream from tube, but am intrigued by the likely hood of just building up a lather in the self provided cream/soap in a bowl. Thanks in advance.”
AARON SAYS
“Mr. Ashford,
Thanks for you question! On any shaving related forum on the internet you’ll find this discussion: “Which is better? Soaps or Creams?” In my opinion: neither. They both have equally great characteristics and will serve you well whatever you choose. Personally I use both and find great satisfaction with both types of products.
Pros: Soaps generally are considered to have a “slicker” shave due to certain ingredients such as tallow, lanolin, glycerin and bentonite clay that are added to the soap. This provides a smoother and gentler shave especially for heavy bearded gents. Creams have the reputation of being easier to begin learning on, easy to lather and have a more moisturizing feel after the shave is done.
Cons: Soaps generally take more time to learn how to lather well and can be sometimes a bit drying to the skin. Creams have the tendency to dry out a bit faster on your face and not provide as smooth a shave. (Caveat: there are ALWAYS exceptions!)
But which one to pick?? You will get a different experience out of both and both provide good shaves. Honestly I say use both, I do. If you find yourself leaning towards one product or the other you have my blessing! I don’t think you’ll go wrong with either.
Using cream or soap in the tub or container it comes in will not effect the shave, nor will dipping the brush into the container to gain product taint the product. The only exception to this I have heard is there is a possibility if some sort of bacteria is on your brush and you dip it into a cream that does not have any preservative in it that the bacteria could turn the cream. However, I have never had this happen to me, nor have I known anyone that this happened to. The thing about this I will say is that i recommend building your lather in a separate bowl from the one that contains your sap or cream. When you building the lather on top of product you are continuously using more product in the process and the time it will last will be a lot less costing you more money in the long run. For that reason alone I recommend a separate bowl, plus it’s easier to see you lather develope and know when it’s ready for shaving.
This is a bit long winded, but I hope it answers your questions!
Smooth shaving!
Aaron”
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Ask Aaron Q&A: Finding the best double edge shaving products - Is it a case of trial and error?
Charles Singleton, from the UK, asks:
“Hi Aaron, it seems to me that double edge shaving is not as clear cut as shaving with my Mach 3! Now I have a wide choice different blades, razors, creams and brushes. Looking at reviews on websites and forums I get confused as to what to choose because when I find something that has a positive review I usually find an equally negative one! Is it just a case of trial and error as I can see this getting expensive?!”
AARON SAYS
“Mr Singleton,
Yes! I agree the many choices and options can be a bit overwhelming. If I can let me offer some products and advice to help get you on your way.
To start with get a good brush such as a Simpsons, Vulfix, Kent or Bluebeards Revenge. This paired with a good cream such as Bluebeards Revenge, Taylor of Old Bond Street, Proraso, Geo. F. Trumper’s and Truefitt & Hill will increase the quality of your shave a lot, even if you decide to keep going with your Mach 3. Should you take the plunge and go with a safety razor the Blue Beard’s Scimitar, Merkur HD, and the Parker 98 or 99R razors will be great ways to start. The most subjective part of wet shaving is the blade. For blades I really suggest you start by buying a single pack of each brand and figure out which rand works best for your face and hair types. Gillette, Merkur, Derby and Israeli made blades are great to start with. I highly suggest waiting on the Feather blades until you gain more experience. They tend to be *cough* VERY unforgiving of student mistakes.
These suggestions should narrow down the choices for you and I hope you enjoy your journey into wet shaving!
Happy Shaving,
Aaron”
Do you have any burning questions you would like ask our wet shaving expert Aaron Wolfenbarger? CLICK HERE TO ASK AARON YOUR QUESTION
The MAD March Sale at The Shaving Shack
It’s the shaving sale of the century - a massive array of razors, shaving creams and shaving brushes with up to 60% off - act fast and stock up on your favourites!
Parker 98R Heavy Duty Premium Barberpole
Fancy treating yourself to a stylish double edge safety razor? Well look no further than the Parker 98R Heavy Duty Premium Barberpole - Parker’s answer to the awesome Merkur 38C!
We believe Parker have surpassed themselves with this beautiful razor. Taking styling cues from the exceptionally popular Merkur 38C, this chrome plated razor provides excellent grip, balance and performance.
The head is taken from their top of the range 3 piece razors which are near identical to the heads of the Merkur 34C/Merkur 38C and likewise, the barberpole handle design is very similar to the Merkur 38C.
Mike Sandoval, from Shaving101.com, is also a big fan of this razor, describing it as “a good value razor for the budget conscious wet shaver”.
WAS £29.00, NOW JUST £15.99 - SAVE 46%
Parker Model 52 Metal Safety Razor with Chrome Finish
If you fancy something a little cheaper then why not opt for the Parker Model 52 Metal Safety Razor with Chrome Finish. This razor offers a screw down blade change and a substantial feel.
WAS £25.99, NOW JUST £9.99 - SAVE 61%
Simpsons Duke Best Badger Brush (D3)
This is a very impressive and popular shaving brush, handmade in England and densely filled with best badger hair.
Dimensions: Bristle Diameter: 45 mm, Bristle Length: 45 mm, Overall Length: 95 mm, Handle Diameter: 35 mm
This really is the height of shaving brush quality. Buy yourself a piece of English luxury today!
WAS £71.49, NOW JUST £50.00 - SAVE 30%
Simpsons Polo 8 Best Badger Brush (PL8)
The Polo is another great brush from the experts at Simpsons. The handle has a great size and shape to it with a ridge that provides excellent grip. Handmade in England it is densely filled with best badger hair.
WAS 84.99, NOW JUST £59.99 - SAVE 29%
These are just a few of the very special deals we have in the March sale. You can check them all out by clicking here. But hurry as the sale ends March 31.
Ask Aaron Q&A: Would you recommend the Merkur 34C safety razor?
“Hi, I am currently a disposable multi-blade user and am getting very frustrated at the high cost. I started looking for alternatives and quickly realised that there is a lot of recommendations to go back to the single blade safety razor. Having dug deeper it seems that the Merkur HD 34c is highly recommended. Would you also agree with this recommendation for someone who has used a multi-blade razor for years and also has sensitive skin?” asks Paul Neve, from the UK.
AARON SAYS
“Mr Neve,
The Merkur 34c is certainly a highly regarded razor, and for good reason. It’s weight, medium aggressiveness, and relative affordability make it one of the ideal razors to start your wet shaving journey on. I think you will find it to be a great tool and certainly a good razor. I use one myself! Another thing that will help you greatly is to purchase a blade sample pack. Blades are the most subjective part of learning wet shaving and the sampler will greatly help you find which is best for your hair and skin. We wish you the best of luck beginning your journey, feel free to get in contact again with any more questions!
Smooth Shaving!
Aaron”
Do you have any burning questions you would like ask our wet shaving expert Aaron Wolfenbarger? CLICK HERE TO ASK AARON YOUR QUESTION
The Bluebeards Revenge ‘Privateer Collection’ arrives at The Shaving Shack
We are delighted to announce the safe arrival of The Bluebeards Revenge ‘Privateer Collection’.
The new range is an exclusive set of contemporary shaving tools designed for comfort, visual impact and individuality.
The Bluebeards Revenge 'Privateer Collection' Brush
A unique, stylish and contemporary brush for the modern man!
The highlight of the new collection is the pure badger brush, which is fashioned from durable high-grade resin sporting a silver The Bluebeards Revenge logo against a rich bespoke “Bluebeards Blue” colour.
High-grade resin requires expert craftsmanship where the material is turned from round rods and then polished.
The Bluebeards Revenge 'Privateer Collection' Mach 3 Razor
The chrome ring at the base of the hair provides an understated yet elegant modern accent to the brush.
It comes with a clear acrylic “The Bluebeards Revenge” drip stand for storing, presenting and correctly drying your brush.
This luxurious badger brush has a bristle diameter of 45mm, bristle length of 55mm, handle diameter of 35mm and an overall length of 110mm.
A unique, stylish and contemporary razor for the modern man!
The ‘Privateer Collection’ also consists of a luxurious Mach 3 razor that is fashioned from durable high-grade resin sporting a silver The Bluebeards Revenge logo against a rich bespoke “Bluebeards Blue” colour.
The Bluebeards Revenge 'Privateer Collection' Mach3 Set
Lightweight yet comfortably substantial, the handle provides for a solid grip. The razor is 13cm in length and has a total weight of 32.5g with blade attached.
Both of these fine shaving products are also available to buy as a set, which comes gift boxed and includes a free tub of The Bluebeards Revenge shaving cream worth £14.99.
We are also pleased to announce the arrival of two Bluebeards Revenge shaving bowls.
The first is made of stainless steel and is ideal for whipping up a lather using The Bluebeards Revenge shaving cream.
The second is a platinum rimmed bowl made from the finest porcelain.
Ask Aaron Q&A: I keep cutting myself, am I using the right double edge razor blade?
“I bought a Parker 82R Super HeavyWeight Butterfly Open Safety Razor along with Feather Hi-Stainless Double Edged Razor Blades and to be completely honest have stopped using it after about 6 or more shaves due to the amount of cuts under neck and at corner of mouth. Am I using the correct blade? Why is this happening (I was so disappointed I now use a 150.00 Braun series 9 electric but would love to have carried on using a proper razor, and have always been a wet shaver since 16 so 24 yrs now,” asks Paul Ewing, from the UK.
AARON SAYS
“Mr. Ewing,
Thanks for your question! If you are relatively new to wet shaving I suspect the Feather blades are the culprit. The Parker is a good razor, but the Feathers are extremely sharp and have the reputation of being called “ninjas” on wetshaving forums because of their sharpness. They are great blades but can very unforgiving especially to the beginner. I suggest finding some other blades such as Derbys, Gillettes, or Israelis to use for now. Once you have more experience under your belt revisit the Feathers, they might become your favorite blade!
Smooth Shaving!
Aaron”
Do you have any burning questions you would like ask our wet shaving expert Aaron Wolfenbarger? CLICK HERE TO ASK AARON YOUR QUESTION
Ask Aaron Q&A: Stropping a straight or open razor
“Hello Arron, I have just purchased a straight razor and I have been very CAREFUL in using it. When I strop the blade, how long will it be before it gets sharp? I have stropped 40 times. I kept the blade flat and delicate when using it but I do not seem to get the shave I want. I did get A TINY bit of razor burn but no nicks,” asks Maxx Buczynski, from the UK.
AARON SAYS
“Mr. Buczynski,
Straight Razor shaving is the ultimate in wet shaving and highly regarded. It also takes the most time to master out of all the options out there. Since you just started I say give it some time. Most of the experts agree that it takes weeks, as in eight to ten weeks, for someone to learn to start shaving well with a straight razor. I think that with practice you will begin to see your technique improve and the shaves that you want start appearing.
If at that time things still are not going to plan, here are a couple of things that I would evaluate. It might be that in your learning process the edge has been accidentally dulled despite your best efforts. That’s okay, it happens to every learning straight shaver. Send it to be honed by a reputable person, this will do wonders for your blade. Also make sure you have a good quality strop, this can make also a big difference in the edge you are putting on your blade.
Kudos to you for taking the plunge into straight razor shaving! I highly recommend you join a wet shaving forum and begin to ask questions and participate there. You will learn great amounts of information from the gentlemen there and by experimenting with your own shaves. I wish you all the best!
Smooth Shaving!
Aaron”
Do you have any burning questions you would like ask our wet shaving expert Aaron Wolfenbarger? CLICK HERE TO ASK AARON YOUR QUESTION
Ask Aaron Q&A: Is it okay to mix and match different shaving products?
“Dear Aaron, Is it okay to mix and match different shaving products?” asks Glenn Bullough, from the UK.
AARON SAYS
“Mr. Bullough, Thank you for your question! This is a good question, and it is perfectly fine to mix different brands and kinds of shaving products. If you wanted to use all the same brand that is a great option as well. I know many men (including yours truly!) that both use a single product range for one shave and for the next shave will use a conglomeration of different products.
Smooth Shaving! Aaron”
Do you have any burning questions you would like ask our wet shaving expert Aaron Wolfenbarger? CLICK HERE TO ASK AARON YOUR QUESTION
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