New poll: Which wet shaving forum do you visit most?
On the right hand side of our blog is our latest poll, which wet shaving forum do you visit most? At the Shack we’re well aware of these fantastic wet shaving forums that dish out plenty of helpful advice free of charge. Spending some time on these forums is invaluable for the newbie and we urge you to get involved in these communities to get the most from your wet shaving experience.
A few of our customers start out on these forums so we’re interested to know where most people are coming from. We’re aware that we’ve only chosen the English language wet shaving forums so if you feel we’ve missed a major forum out, then please feel free to email us to ask to include it.
Merkur Vision 2000 nuances
The Vision 2000 is Merkur’s top of the range razor. However, when purchasing one of these impressive razors there are some things to be aware of.
As with our article on blade alignment, these razors are hand crafted and have certain tolerances built into them. The Vision 2000 tops the list in terms of tolerances, having a complicated internal mechanism that is designed to be robust. One of the characteristics of the Vision is the way in which it 
adjusts the blade gap up and down in a lopsided fashion. It is perfectly normal that it adjusts in this fashion, otherwise the razor would seize up with even the smallest bit of soap residue inside. It does not influence the end result and you’ll get a great shave!
Even though the Vision is designed to be robust it still requires regular cleaning as per Merkur’s guidelines.
Caring for your Merkur Razor
Your Merkur razor is a quality piece of engineering and should be treated as such. The following is from Merkur regarding the maintenance of their safety razors. Please note that failure to follow these maintenance guidelines could invalidate your warranty.
Maintenance of Merkur Safety Razors
Dear Customer,
In order to prolong the live of your safety razor it is necessary to clean the moving parts of your razor after each shave, for example with a soft nail brush or tooth brush. Only if the soap residue is removed thoroughly, the mechanics of your razor will work satisfyingly in the long run. We suggest to completely break down your razor for a thorough cleaning with each new blade that you install in the razor.
IN CONTACT WITH HARD, CALCIFEROUS WATER all parts of the razor need to be decalcified regularly, depending on the concentration of lime in your water. The parts should be put into a diluted and lukewarm decalcifying solution for a maximum of 15 to 30 minutes and should be moved in the solution every few minutes. It is also recommended to move the mechanical parts a few times, so the solution can get into every crevice. A more extended contact with the decalcifying solution will destroy the surface and corrode the metal of your razor.
DOVO/MERKUR Stahlwaren Solingen-Germany
Double Edge Shaving vs Mach 3
BEAT THE CREDIT SQUEEZE! LUXURY DOUBLE EDGE SHAVING FOR THE MODERN MAN!
Why are so many people switching from Mach 3? The cost, the affordable luxury and of course the sheer pleasure.
Recently there has been a huge demand for double edge shaving as people increasingly turn away from expensive multi-bladed systems and start to enjoy the daily chore that most men face each morning.
You will save money. As the following example shows, you will actually save money in the longer term. Not bad during a recession, saving money and enjoying luxury every day!
PRICE COMPARISON MACH3 VS DOUBLE EDGE
Based on an average use of one Mach3 cartridge / two double edged razor blades a week
MACH3 CARTRIDGE YEARLY COST
Typical cost for twelve cartridges is £11.99 - (£11.99 divided by 12 weeks of shaving x 52 weeks a year = £51.96 for a year’s worth of Mach3 cartridges.)
DOUBLE EDGED BLADE YEARLY COST
At the Shaving Shack, we do 30 blades for £5.99 (15 weeks shaving at two blades a week). So: £5.99 divided by 15 weeks of shaving x 52 weeks a year = £20.76 for a year’s worth of double edged razor blades.
That’s a saving of around £31 a year and less than half the cost of shaving with Mach3s.
Merkur 570 Chrome Progress Safety Razor
In the first year the saving is more than enough to cover the investment of a double edge razor.
OK, I’m interested! What kit do I need? These are the basics:
Double Edge Safety Razor - by far the most popular for newbies and veterans alike is the Merkur 34C (£28.99) and the longer handled version, the Merkur 38C (£33.99). As a cheaper alternative I would recommend the latest Parker razors (£20.99)
If you really want to treat yourself to a contemporary looking razor then look no further than the Merkur Futur (£44.99), a fantastic piece of German engineering!
Double Edge Razor Blades - buying one of the razors above will qualify you for our free gift of 10 free double edge blades for spending over £9.99 - that’s about 5 weeks of shaving on average and a great start!
Shaving Cream - for the perfect creamy rich lather forget goop in a can! Try some great quality yet inexpensive Proraso (£5.50) or Omega (£3.95) cream.
For affordable luxury and some great scents, indulge in any of the Taylor of Old Bond Street range (£6.95) offering the best value for money quality you will find today.
Shaving Brush - treat yourself to a badger brush such as our popular Buccaneer (£14.99) or Pure Badger (£15.99) brush which is used to apply the lather.
Again, for something a little bit special try the GB Kent badger brushes (from £27.99) or the ultra luxurious Simpsons range (from £64.99).
So, by investing a total of less than £40 based on the recommended products above you can experience this wonderful world of luxurious shaving and make savings year on year!
Lastly, don’t forget our Shave Points Rewards Program which rewards regular shoppers. Example, spend £60 on products and get 60 Shave Points. 15 Shave Points can be redeemed for £1 so the above example would give you the equivalent of £4 off your next order.
Badger hair…a question of ethics.
In response to the growing concern of the ecologically aware retailer and indeed most important of all the conservation orientated person in the street, it is necessary to clarify one or two points concerning the use of Badger Hair in Shaving Brushes. All Badger Hair is imported from China . At this point it is important to note that British, American and Canadian Badger are of no interest to brush manufacturers and cannot be connected with today’s limited trade. China being the main exporter of Badger Hair , do so with very strict control on the amount exported each year, clearly displaying their awareness of environmental conservation. The Badger population is carefully monitored avoiding any decreases in their numbers. (It should be remembered that the Badger is a source of meat to the Chinese people and is available in the markets). Chinese Badgers are collected from the wild and are not in contravention of the Washington Treaty of Endangered Species.
This has been an industry for the people of China for hundreds of years and it should also be remembered that an increase in the Badger population would quickly be regarded as vermin and a pest to agriculture. The high prices paid for Badger Hair, it’s removal being a costly operation, means that any significant growth predicted in it’s demand has little foundation. Such an expensive product will never be part of the fashion boom. Britain , Europe and America all operate very strict import controls ensuring that any Badger Hair brought into these countries is done so with all legislative agreements being strictly adhered to.
The ecologists in both the exporting and importing communities of Badger Hair have created a system preserving the Badger, an important source of livelihood for hundreds of years in the Far East and ensuring that a small market does exist, creating valuable work in an industry which dates back to the time when wet shaving was first recorded.
Source: Progress Vulfix http://www.vulfixoldoriginal.com/
Why is my shaving brush shedding hair?!!
Relax. Shaving brushes can go through phases of shedding hair, especially at the beginning when the brush is settling. A new brush can typically expect to shed hairs for the first three months of its life as it sheds any loose hairs not removed in the manufacturing process. This can happen regardless of whether the brush is premium or not as they are held together by the same means. The problem arises if it is continuous.
If your brush is shedding hair then here are some things to check out:
- If the hairs that the brush is shedding are short hairs then this can be a result of hairs breaking rather than shedding due to the brush being used incorrectly ie. Not letting the bristles soak in warm NOT hot water to soften them before use. Soaking a brush in water that is too hot can cause the epoxy resin in the handle to expand causing the handle to crack or the hairs to shed. For this reason it is always best to try to soak the bristles and not the handle.
- If you do have a brush that is shedding it is common practice to comb thru the bristles with a fine toothed comb, this can help to remove any loose hairs.
With the above in mind we normally ask you to use a shedding brush for a few more weeks to see if it is continuous. If it is still shedding after a few weeks then get in contact with us to discuss a possible replacement. It will then go to the manufacturer for assessment and then a replacement can be arranged.
New selection of FREE gifts on all orders over £9.99!
I’m delighted to be able to offer one of the following for every order over £9.99 (excluding postage and packaging):
- 10 Feather Double Edged Razor Blades
- 10 Derby Extra Double Edged Razor Blades
- 10 Israeli Made Double Edged Razor Blades
- 10 Gillette 7 O’ Clock Double Edged Razor Blades
- 100% Cotton Face Flannel
- 1 x Exfoliating Body Puff
Simply add £9.99 worth of product to your basket and select your chosen free gift…happy shopping!
The fantastic Parker 82R Super HeavyWeight Butterfly razor now in stock!
Parker 82R Super HeavyWeight Butterfly
Finally, after being requested many times by our customers, we’ve got this great razor in stock. If you are into the heavier, rugged and more sturdy type of double edged razor then this is certain to interest you. Check it out here:
Merkur 34C and 38C - limited stock available for preorder!
OK, further to my last blog post we’ve had a surprise confirmation that a limited number of Merkur 34C and Merkur 38C will be delivered to us on Monday. We have made them available for preorder on the website so if you place an order now, we should be able to get them out to you on the Monday or the Tuesday.
Merkur - February 2010 update
Merkur currently have a bit of a delay in keeping up with demand for their razors. Consequently it’s looking like March 2010 before we get the likes of the 34C and 38C back in. However, they sometimes surprise us with ad hoc shipments so this is all subject to change! We do have a limited stock available of the adjustable Merkur Futur and the Merkur 33C Classic so buy now while you can!
Don’t forget the Parker range as a cheaper alternative, especially my personal favourites, the Parker 3 Piece razors.
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