Shaving Shack products shortlisted for coveted grooming award
Three popular Shaving Shack products have been nominated for a coveted men’s grooming award.
The Bluebeards Revenge’s beard-reducing shaving cream and the Men-U shave cream have been shortlisted for best shaving product in the Lookmantastic Hair and Grooming Awards 2012.
The Men-U Facial Moisture Lift is up for Best Moisturiser.
The public have until June 19th to vote for their favourite products, with the winner announced at an awards ceremony in London on July 11.
The Bluebeards Revenge and Men-U brands are no strangers to winning prestigious awards and accolades. The Bluebeards “Scimitar” Double Edge Razor was named the winner in the About.com 2012 Readers’ Choice Award for best wet shaving razor.
The brand’s shaving cream has also picked up two About.com awards and was shortlisted for a Pure Beauty 2011 grooming gong.
Men-u scooped an FHM award in 2004 for best wet shave product.
VOTE FOR OUR PRODUCTS BY CLICKING HERE.
Ask Aaron Q/A: Products to fight razor rash & burn & shaving spots
David Mahood, from UK, asks:
“I have just found this site. I am a professional person and need to shave once, maybe twice each day. I currently use Mach3 blades and sensitive shaving foam or gel. My problem is that I suffer really bad redness around the mouth and chin which quite often results in spots after close shaves. Can you recommend any products that will help or relieve my symptoms?”
Aaron suggests using a single bladed razor like the Merkur 37C Slant Bar DE Safety Razor
AARON SAYS
“Mr. Mahood,
Welcome to our site! Glad that you have been able to find us. As one who also works in a professional environment, I understand your dilemma. The first thing I would recommend is using a good post-shave balm. The ingredients in the balm will help to moisturize and heal your skin after shaving, and reduce the redness and burn.
Secondly you ought to try a pre-shave oil under your shave cream. The oil adds an extra protective layer that increases slickness and moisture to your shave.
If you are willing to go even farther down the rabbit hole I would suggest that you reduce the number of blades you shave with, and consider using a single blade safety razor such as many of the Merkur, Edwin Jagger, Parker, and Bluebeard’s razors we have here on the site. Along with this I would use a good quality cream and brush. These products are meant to give a comfortable and close shave without the irritation that occur by using the canned cream and gel products.
For creams I would recommends any Taylor of Old Bond Street, The Bluebeard’s Revenge, Proraso, Cyril Salter and many others here on the site. If you would like any more assistance or help in taking the plunge with traditional wet-shaving please feel free to contact us here and we’ll be glad to help! Thanks for your question!
Smooth Shaving!
Aaron”
Do you have any burning questions you would like ask our wet shaving expert Aaron Wolfenbarger?
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Ask Aaron Q/A: Shaving creams and soaps perfect for heavy, thick stubble
Joe Rennie, from UK, asks:
“Hi there, needing a bit of advice on recommendations. I have heavy and thick stubble and for ten years I had used a shaving oil with Zirh shave cream due to its thick and creamy consistency, unfortunately I’m finding it harder to source Zirh these days and was wondering if there are alternatives out there that will match it? I’ve tried some other makes and all seem very thin in comparison, which doesn’t give a good shave on my heavy stubble. Would I be best opting for a traditional soap or another cream. Like I say I have fairly sensitive skin and need a product that matches the thickness and consistency of Zirh shave cream, any suggestions? Many thanks Joe Rennie.”
AARON SAYS
“Mr Rennie,
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but from my understanding the Zirh line of products has been discontinued, which is why you are finding them harder and harder to locate. For a thick brushless cream I would suggest you look at Baxter of Calinfornia, Barc, Pacific Shaving, or try some other creams such as The Bluebeard’s Revenge which can be used both with and without a brush. These all have that thick, protective cushion you’re looking for. Going with a soap would be a good alternative too. Mitchell’s Wool Fat shave soap is most excellent as also are the Bluebeard’s, Tabac, Truefitt & Hill, Irisch Moos, and Edwin Jagger amongst others. There are definitely some great products out there I hope this gives you some idea of the alternatives you can find!
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: Upgrading my shaving kit, what should I invest in?
Chris Walker, from Hungry, asks:
“Hi there, I was wondering what next to invest in to upgrade my shaving kit? I currently own 2 DE razors (A Merkur 11c and a Muhle 89R) and these are great but I have a very cheap drugstore brush and cream. Which would you recommend buying first? A quality shaving brush or quality shaving cream to upgrade?
Many Thanks, C.”
AARON SAYS
“Mr. Walker,
I would recommend upgrading to a better cream next. Using a better cream will much improve your shave and you can still use the inexpensive brush for quite some time and still get good results. I would suggest you try Bluebeard’s Revenge, Taylor of Old Bond Street, Edwin Jagger, Truefitt & Hill and many others you will find here. Good luck and enjoy the new cream!
Cheers,
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: Could you recommend a razor and cream for sensitive skin and thin blond hair?
Robin Worboyes, from the UK, asks:
“Dear sir, I have long struggled with poor shaving results, using the typical shop brands, and would like to shave properly (having never actually been taught). Could you recommend a razor and cream etc for sensitive skin and thin blond hair. I would also very much like to know where the badger hair comes from (I thought it was a protected species) and how it is sourced? Many thanks, Kind regards Robin.”
AARON SAYS
“Mr. Worboyes,
Thanks for your question! I can certainly recommend some products for you! As to razors I recommend the Merkur 34c, the Bluebeards Scimitar, and the Muhle R89 & R106 razors. As far as creams, I really like the creams carried here at Shaving-Shack including (but not limited to) Bluebeards, Taylor of Old Bond Street, Proraso, and Cyril Salter among others. You should be able to find something in those that would satisfy your scent palette and shaving needs.
To answer your second part of the question Badger is a protected species in Most of Europe and the USA. However most badger hair comes from China where the badger is still quite a nuisance and many of the farmers there trap them to protect their crops, selling their furs to brush manufacturers. I hope this helps ease your mind that they are not being killed needlessly! Thanks for you questions, and good luck with your shaving journey!
Best of Shaves,
Aaron”
Do you have any burning questions you would like ask our wet shaving expert Aaron Wolfenbarger?
CLICK HERE TO ASK AARON YOUR QUESTION
Vintage Shaving Company arrives at The Shaving Shack
The Shaving Shack is delighted to announce that it is now stocking the very stylish Vintage Shaving Company brand of men’s skincare products.
Vintage Shaving Company is a new men’s grooming brand, bringing together values of tradition, quality and simplicity with the latest technologies in formulations and environmentally considerate componentry.
The high quality components are 100% recyclable, and all papers are ethically sourced from sustainable forests. Everything is made in England.
Previously exclusive to Harrods, this revolutionary men’s grooming line launches on The Shaving Shack with two exciting collections, Trad and Mod.
Trad is the epitome of a classic, traditional men’s fragrance. The barber’s pole design harks back to the days of real gentlemen’s grooming habits, while strikingly refreshing citrus & lavender notes smoothly blend to the woody undertones.
The Mod fragrance is every bit as rebellious as the roundel symbol embellished in its packaging design. Never before have bergamot, lemon and spearmint been blended in a men’s fragrance to such an effect. The enlivening result tones to a heart of floral notes, blending effortlessly to a vanilla and woody base. Rebelliously masculine.
The Shaving Shack is stocking three products from each of the MOD and TRAD range – the exfoliating face wash (150ml), shaving cream (150ml) and the daily face balm (150ml).
The world’s top 10 shaving creams
In today’s market of endless possibilities, one can’t help but feel dizzy when having to choose a shaving cream (or any item for that matter).
After all, when it comes to shaving, making a poor choice is more than a waste of one’s money, it also means a poor shaving experience, which as most shavers know could set the tone for the entire day.
In order to ease the process of finding the most suitable shaving cream for your needs, I’ve created a list of what I consider to be the top 10 shaving creams available on the market today. Please let me know if you agree or disagree with my selection by posting a comment below.
1. Proraso Shaving Cream Tube
The Proraso brand, which comes from the beautiful city of Florence in Italy, is a piece of Italian history which dates back over 100 years. It is considered to be the oldest industrial cosmetic product in Italy, and its unique recipe has been passed down from generation to generation.
The Proraso Shaving Cream Tube contains key ingredients like eucalyptus, menthol and glycerine; Which in turn gives a refreshing, tingly sensation on the skin that lasts long after the shave is over.
However, don’t let the eucalyptus and menthol put you off, this shaving cream doesn’t smell “mediciny” at all, it actually has a nice subtle scent which kind of reminds one of an old school barbershop.
One of the most amazing things about the Proraso Shaving Cream Tube is that a small drop of shaving cream, about the size of a dime could be used up to lather one’s entire face.
It comes in the form of a tube as a container, which is quite unique, and helps one squeeze out even the last drop. Both these facts enable one tube of Proraso Shaving Cream to last for approximately 4-5 months.
The pricing of the Proraso Shaving Cream Tube, is quite surprising, as it is one of the most affordable Shaving Creams available today, with a price of only £6.09 (150ml). This, combined with the fact that the Proraso Shaving Cream is considered one of the best shaving creams in the world (if not the best), almost gives me a sense of guilt whenever I purchase it.
2. Musgo Real Shaving Cream
The Musgo Brand comes to us from an uncommon country in the field of shaving, the country of Portugal. Far from being a new player in the market, Musgo has been around since 1887.
Musgo are considered unequalled in terms of combining lanolin in their shaving products.
Their successful combo of lanolin and glycerin creates a fantastic moisturizing effect which makes it possible to begin the shaving process quicker than almost any other shaving cream in the market without having to settle for the quality of the shave.
Its wonderful fragrance is due to the fact that it contains Patchouli, a herb of the mint family which has been used for centuries in alternative medicine and in perfumes. It is also responsible for the enjoyable cooling down sensation during and after the shave. This, as well as the fact that it contains alcohol could be a downside for those with extremely sensitive skin. However, most individuals with sensitive skin who have tried the Musgo Shaving Cream reported no such issues.
3. Trufitt & Hill 1805 Shaving Cream Bowl
Like the Art of Shaving, the Trufitt & Hill Shaving Cream is glycerin based (which locks and maintains the water and their moisturizing effect). But while the Art of Shaving is relatively a new player (having been founded in 1995), Trufitt & Hill have long stood the test of time having been in operation since 1805, a time when they provided service to all the reigning monarchs of the Victorian Era. They have also recently received a Guiness book world record for being the oldest barber shop still in operation today.
The scent of the 1805 Shaving Cream is considered by many to have the best fragrance of all the shaving creams offered today. This is due to the fact that it is infused with their famous 1805 cologne, which has a fantastic oceanic fragrance.
The Trufitt & Hill Shaving Cream is also known among shavers to give an unusually close shave, which is ultimately the goal of most shavers (knowing the products you’re using were also used by King George III is also nice).
4. Castle Forbes Lime Essential Oil Shaving Cream
The Castle Forbes brand hails from the beautiful country of Scotland, and is named after the famous Forbes Castle built in 1815 by the 17th Lord Forbes, which is still being run and used today by his great-great-great grandson Malcolm Forbes. After deciding to help his wife’s passion for perfumery, Malcolm decided to turn the old dairy near the castle into a perfumery. With the help of their friend and perfumer Andy French, they soon thereafter began offering quality perfumes under the Castle Forbes Brand, as well as Shaving Creams, Aftershaves and Soaps .
The box containing the Lime Essential Oil Shaving Cream has by far one of the most beautiful presentations of a shaving cream I’ve ever come across. The jar is pretty small in height, yet very wide which makes it extremely helpful when you load your brush with cream. Inside the jar you’ll find a very thick cream which has a terrific sweet scent of lime that is claimed by many to have the best fragrance out of all the lime scented shaving creams in the market.
The Castle Forbes Lime Essential Oil Shaving Cream contains many ingredients including glycerin, lime essential oil and coconut acid. It also contains aloe vera to help sooth the skin, and ease the shaving process.
In terms of latherability this cream performs incredibly well. It lathers quickly and creates an extremely thick and rich lather with exceptional cushioning.
What I find most impressive about this product, is that it is able to moisturize the skin in a perfect balance by not leaving the skin completely dry nor over moisturized.
In addition to the Lime Essential Oil, Castle Forbes also offers : Lavender and Cedar & Sandalwood Scented Shaving Creams.
5. Geo.F. Trumper Extract of Limes Soft Shaving Cream
It’s almost impossible to make a complete list of high quality shaving creams without mentioning the Geo. F. Trumper brand.
Geo.F. Trumper has been in the industry for more than 135 years, and is considered by many to offer the best shaving creams in the world.
The jar of the Trumper Extract of Limes Soft Shaving Cream comes inside a pink cardboard box which may sound a bit peculiar at first, as most lime scented shaving creams usually come in green colored packages. The pink color was actually chosen as a replacement for the original color during World War I due to a shortage of green color, and became its trademark ever since.
Inside the jar there’s a nice, foamy light green shaving cream which has a fabulous mild fragrance that resembles citrus. The cream lathers very quickly and builds up to a rich and thick lather which provides great cushioning during the shave and also keeps the skin moisturized longer than most shaving creams.
In addition to this magnificent lime scent Geo.F. Tumper offers six more scents: Almond, Coconut Oil, GFT, Rose, Sandalwood and Violet.
6. All Natural Speick Shaving Cream
The Speick brand is named after the unique ingredient that is present in all their products, known as the Alpine Speick, or Alpine Valerian. An ingredient that can only be found in the high alps of South Austria.
After the Speick is harvested, it is then transported to their factory located in Stuttgart Germany.
The speick plant is the source of the fantastic spicy, yet light fragrance present in all their products. It is also known to have a wonderful effect of calming the nervous system and rejuvenating the mind as well as the body.
The All Natural Speick Shaving Cream is a perfect fit for those who suffer from sensitive skin, as it also contains bees wax which has an amazing natural moisturizing effect that gives one the freedom of not having to constantly relather as it stays on the skin even after several passes with the razor.
The All Natural Speick Shaving Cream is an amazingly affordable product, with a price of £2.48 for a tube containing 75ml, perfect for traveling and carrying during flights.
The only noticeable downside of this product, and I’m nit picking here, is its poor packaging, as
it arrives in a generic red box which does not market very well.
It has also received the highest rating from the German consumer “Oko-Test Magazine” which focuses on authentic tests of natural based products.
7. Omega Shaving Cream
The Omega Shaving Cream belongs to the Pennellificio Omega S.p.a. and is being manufactured for them by Proraso. Most shavers argue about the differences between the Proraso Shaving Cream and the Omega as they are strikingly similar. So what are the differences?.
1. The Omega Shaving Cream is considered more subtle than the Proraso, containing less Eucalyptus.
It also contains Lanolin, which the Proraso does not.
What is Lanolin?
Lanolin is a unique ingredient which is made from the wax taken from sheep’s wool, and is done so without harming the sheep during the process.
It is used medically in order to treat rashes and burns and has an incredible moisturizing effect as it binds the water from escaping the body as well as rejuvenates the skin cells.
2. The pricing of the Omega shaving jar is £4.09 as opposed to the Proraso shaving jar which is 5.69. Both are of course amazingly cheap considering they’re quite possibly the best shaving creams in the world.
I prefer, and also rank the Proraso way above the Omega because I find that the Proraso does its job almost perfectly, and is both time tested and the original.
8. The Gentlemens Refinery “The Standard” Shaving Cream
The Gentlemens Refinery brand was founded by Perry Gastis, who has a rich history of working for both The Art of Shaving as a master barber, and an executive barber for Truefitt & Hill in North America. Needless to say he has the credentials.
Dissatisfied with the use of synthetic additives present in most men’s grooming products, Perry Gastis decided to develop his own line of products, with a focus on using the rarest and finest natural ingredients.
The Gentlemens Refinery “The Standard” Shaving Cream arrives in an elegant black box with silver lettering, which gives it a lavish look. When opening the jar there’s a light “soapy” smell of coconut.
The cream contains glycerin and coconut oil, French lavender oil, sandalwood oil, as well as the unique Ylang Ylang Oil. The Ylang Ylang Oil is a natural moisturizer commonly used in anti-aging treatments.
“The Standard” Shaving Cream is also alcohol and paraben free, which allows it to be more forgiving on the skin.
Overall, “The Standard” Shaving Cream performs quite well and creates an excellent lather lubricating your skin throughout and after the shave. However, I see no added value that could justify its price tag of £17.5, which is nearly triple what the Proraso Shaving Cream Tube costs.
9. The Art of Shaving Shaving Cream - Unscented
The Art of Shaving is currently one of the hottest names in the men’s grooming niche.
They specialize in providing Aromatherapy based, alcohol free products.
While they offer a variety of shaving creams with unique scents, the unscented shaving cream is definitely their best product. It is hypoallergenic which is perfect for men who have sensitive skin and suffer from razor burns, ingrown hairs or simply hate the smell of scented shaving creams in general.
The thick formula contains key ingredients like glycerin (which locks the water and sustains their moisturizing effect), coconut oil and essential oils. It is perfect for handling a thick beard due to the thickness of the foam.
A major downside for the Unscented Shaving Cream, as well as most of the products offered by The Art of Shaving is the high prices. The Unscented Shaving Cream costs around £18, and offers a poor value for the money as it does not surpass its more affordable competitors mentioned above.
10. Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream
Located at the well known Jermyn Street in London, the Taylor of Old Bond Street is a veteran in the field of luxury grooming products for men, with an experience of well over 150 years.
It is considered an alternative to the somewhat expensive Geo.F. Trumper brand, especially when it comes to their Sandalwood Shaving Creams.
Some of the ingredients of The Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream include : Sandalwood, Cedar, Rosemary, Jasmine, Rose and Lavender.
The latherability of the TOBS Sandalwood Shaving Cream is definitely up to par with the Geo.F. Trumper, some would even say it is slightly better, as it gives one of the most durable lathers of almost all the shaving creams offered today.
There are two main reasons for the TOBS Sandalwood Shaving Cream to be ranked lower than the other shaving creams mentioned in this list.
1. The scent of the TOBS Sandalwood Shaving Cream is way too powerful and intrusive, and even if one enjoys the smell of sandalwood, this specific shaving cream tends to bring a somewhat artificial sandalwood scent.
2. The moisturizing effect of the TOBS after the shaving process does not have as much of a lasting experience as some of the other shaving creams in the list, and tends to leave the skin dry at times.
Still, at the end of the day, if you decide to give The Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream a try, you are most likely going to have a very luxurious and affordable shaving experience.
For the price of £7.95, the Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream is a great bargain, especially compared to the Sandalwood Shaving Cream offered by Geo.F. Trumper for £14.
In case Sandalwood is not your cup of tea then you’ll be glad to know that there are eight more scents for this shaving cream including: Almond, Lavender, Rose, Lemon & Lime, Avocado, Eton College, Mr. Taylor and Shaving Shop.
Additionally, Taylor of Old Bond Street offers two shaving creams which are made especially for men with sensitive skin, both parabens free.
Ask Aaron Q/A: Shaving kits and sets for beginners
Johnte Thompson, from the UK, asks:
“Hello, This is my first time using this type of shave (traditional wet shaving), I have always been the shaving foam type. Now I want to join the club but my question is where do I start, which is the best brush? What type of soap / cream should I use? Hope you can help. My budget is around £80 to get started.”
AARON SAYS
“Mr Thompson,
Welcome to the club! There are numerous options for you, from piecing together a kit of your own, to picking out one of the many prepared sets with brush cream and razor already together. If you would like a prepared set I would go with this BlueBeard’s Revenge Set. This would be easiest and fits well within your budget. Or you can use this set and keep your current razor and start shaving with the badger brush and cream. Whatever you choose, welcome to the club and enjoy!
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
Ask Aaron Q/A: Can you recommend me the best shave brush to use with shaving cream
Gary Chinchen, from the UK, asks:
“Please could you recommend a good shave brush to use with creams predominately, this is the first brush I have purchased so no idea what I should be looking for, I am sinking in conflicting advice. I’m looking to spend around £50.”
AARON SAYS
“Mr. Chinchen,
Thanks for your question! Generally for creams you would want a brush that is taller (or has a tall loft) and has a slightly longer handle. Some good choices are the Progress Vulfix 660, the Blubebeard’s Revenge “Privateer”, and the Kent BLK2 brush. These are some good standards to go with when lathering creams!
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
Youtube shaving guru Mantic59 tests out the Bluebeards Revenge
Double edge shaving guru Mantic, a veteran of the BadgerAndBlade and ShaveMyFace forums, has been testing the much-hyped Bluebeards Revenge shaving cream.
Mantic's Youtube videos have been seen by more than 4 million people
The American has been shaving with the cream to test whether the product can infact reduce and slow down beard growth with regular use.
So what were his findings? “I started to notice a difference in my beard after about 45 days of continuous use: hair started to get noticeably thinner and shorter,” said Mantic. Read his full review by clicking here.
The Bluebeards Revenge contains a miracle ingredient called Decelerine - which the manufactures Lipotec say can reduce beard growth over time.
According to Lipotec, in tests Decelerine showed a 30% decrease in hair length as well as a 16% reduction in hair density after 60 days.
As well as slowing down beard regrowth, Decelerine also relieves and soothes the effects of shaving (especially skin prone to irritation and dryness) by providing moisturisation and protection to facilitate its regeneration.
Mantic has helped thousands of wet shavers with their technique with his YouTube videos and forum postings.
Check out Mantic’s video review of The Bluebeards Revenge.
For more great videos on the art of traditional wet shaving, visit Mantic’s website http://mantic59.blogspot.com or Youtube channel - http://www.youtube.com/user/mantic59he much-hyped
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