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.
What is a cut throat razor?
Cut throat razors, also referred to as straight razors, have been around for many years and are generally recommended for those who have experience in the art of wet shaving.
Cut throat razors are still very popular male grooming products today, especially with ‘real men’ like Tom Trueman who are looking for a closer shave.
If you are looking for something that will give you the closest shave, then listen to those who use them, who still argue that this is the only way to shave!
Straight razors, which have a blade that can fold into its handle, must be used with great caution as they are extremely sharp razors, but without the protection of a safety razor.
Dan, customer services manager at the Shaving Shack, said: “At one time, these razors were the main way that most ‘real men’ used to shave. However, they require a considerable amount of skill to use, so be careful. This skill can be honed through practice, but as long as you take care during shaving the results can be amazing.”
If you are new to traditional razors, help and advice is available here.
Our best-selling cut throat razors include the Parker 34R White Shavette (SRW), Cuthroat/Open Razor Starter Kit and the Dovo Bismarck 6/8 Open Razor.
So why are double edged razors still the razor of choice for real men?
These days, while you are watching anything on TV it is almost impossible to escape from the latest ads describing how great the ‘new’ electric razor blades actually are. These models are so much better than the last, apparently, and will give you the best shave possible. That is, if you believe all the hype.
There is so much money to be made from getting males who are old enough to shave to spend their hard earned cash on the latest all singing and all dancing electric razors. Not only do they cost a packet in the first place, you have to spend a fortune each year on expensive replacement blades.
Therefore, it is no wonder to learn that many blokes are not taken in by this clever marketing but judge their razor solely on results. It is no secret that the old ways are usually the best. Sure, you can always claim to improve on shaving products, but at the end of the day the quality of the shave speaks for itself.
If you need reminding of the benefits of using double edged razors, then firstly, there is the amount of money to be saved. Just by switching from a Mach3 or Fusion model to a double edged razor you will start to notice the extra cash you have in your wallet, which you can put to good use.
The main reason that these razors are superior is the effectiveness and closeness of the shave, with less irritation of the skin. Electric razors pull on your facial hair, leave more stubble and are decidedly uncomfortable to use. It is also a myth that electric razors are faster to use too.
Double edge razors are surprisingly easy to use and the investment in these decent razors is certainly worth it in the long run, as real men can testify. Indeed, many men have tried out these electric gimmicks and have now gone back to a traditional, manual razor.
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Newbies…always start with Taylor of Old Bond Street shaving cream!
One of the common newbie questions I get asked is which cream to try first.
I would always recommend any of the Taylor of Old Bond St shaving creams as I feel they offer the best mix of quality/value so consequently are an excellent starting point. I would start by choosing a scent you think you might like so if, like me, you have a penchant for Almond slices, then the Almond scent may be a safe scent to begin with. My personal favourite is Avocado, not because it smells of Avocado (it doesn’t!) but because the unique scent is refreshingly different from the others and I quite like the Guacamole-esque appearance! There is no discernible difference between the lather that the different scents produce, they’ll all work the same just in case you were wondering!
To adjust or not adjust….the best double edge razor for a newbie
I frequently get asked this and often the decision is between a fixed head Merkur 34C (and it’s long handled version, the Merkur 38C) and the adjustable headed Merkur Futur.
Most fixed head razors we sell will fit the bill 99% of the time. However:
- if you have particularly heavy growth or
- are the tinkering kind who likes to experiment with different blade gaps or
- simply like futuristic designs…
then the Futur could be the one to go for.
To complicate matters, if you like the Futur, chances are you will like it’s bigger brother, the Vision 2000. The Vision is a bit heavier, bigger and can dial a wider blade gap than the Futur - the ultimate safety razor for all occasions! It also has a claim to fame in that it made an appearance in an episode of the 2004 series of Battlestar Galactica, a great little fact to accompany the perfect gift for a sci fi fan!








