Ask Aaron Q/A: Can you recommend me the best shave brush to use with shaving cream

By Aaron Wolfenbarger on June 28, 2011

Posted in Ask Aaron Q & A, Shaving Brushes, Shaving Creams, Shaving Tips | Comments (0)

ask aaron 420 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.”

The Bluebeards Revenge Privateer Collection Badger Brush

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”

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Ask Aaron Q/A: The Merkur Futur Razor

By Aaron Wolfenbarger on June 28, 2011

Posted in Ask Aaron Q & A, Double Edge Shaving, Safety Razors, Shaving Tips | Comments (0)

ask aaron 420 Ask Aaron Q/A: The Merkur Futur Razor

Brian Harvey, from the UK, asks:

“Merkur Futur razor - which of the two finishes (satin or shiny chrome) is the least slippery to hold whilst shaving?”

Merkur Futur 760 Safety Razor with Satin Chrome Finish

AARON SAYS

“Mr. Harvey,
I have yet to compare the two side by side, but if i were to guess I would say that the matte finish razor would be easier to hold. However my guess is there wouldn’t be much of a notable difference. Whatever you choose, stay smooth!

Smooth shaving,
Aaron”

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$100k sapphire razor now being stocked at The Shaving Shack

By Tom Trueman on June 22, 2011

Posted in Shaving in the News, Shaving Shack News | Comments (0)

The Shaving Shack is delighted to announce that we are now stocking the $100,000 Zafirro Iridium razor.

Is it April Fools Day again?

The pure sapphire blades are atomically sharp and guaranteed to last 10 years

Unfortunately, we are not really stocking this luxurious new razor but I thought I would give it a product mention anyway.

According to Zafirro, it’s the world’s first razor with sapphire blades. The handle is made primarily from iridium, one of the rarest and strongest metals in existence.

“In addition to vastly extended blade life, the solid white sapphire blades offer a number of additional advantages over conventional steel blades. They are hypoallergenic, impervious to oxidation and corrosion, and very sharp,” said Zafirro in a statement.

“The sapphire is sharpened using high-energy, ionized particles to create an edge less than 100 atoms in width, 5000 times smaller than the width of a hair.”

The company says it will only produce 99 of the Iridium line, which went on sale yesterday for $100,000.

Zafirro will only produce 99 of the Iridium line

The blades include a 10-year guarantee and Zafirro will provide complementary servicing and professional cleaning for Iridium customers, as well as resharpening if necessary.

Sounds like a bargain!! For more information, visit www.zafirro.com.

Well if you haven’t got a spare $100k lying around then you might want to pick an alternative razor brand such as Merkur or Parker, we’ve got plenty of these in stock.


Ask Aaron Q/A: Combining different Merkur DE razors

By Aaron Wolfenbarger on June 14, 2011

Posted in Ask Aaron Q & A, Double Edge Shaving, Safety Razors, Shaving Tips | Comments (0)

ask aaron 420 Ask Aaron Q/A: Combining different Merkur DE razors

Jack Lovell, from the UK, asks:

“Hello Aaron, I presently have a Merkur Futur and Vision 2000 razor which I like because of their hefty weight. For my next heavyweight razor I would like to cobble together a Merkur 43C stainless steel handle with a Merkur 37C slant bar head. Will these two components marry together? Many thanks and regards. Jack”

Merkur 37C Slant Bar DE Safety Razor

AARON SAYS

“Mr. Lovell, It’s nice to find anther heavy razor lover! My personal tendency is to favor razors with a heavier feel than others. While I have not tried pairing the two different parts, I will assume that you should be able to match the two razor parts together. I would also offer you a suggestion, have you looked at the Merkur 39c slant barberpole? It is one of the heftiest razors Merkur produces, and has the slant head on top. This might produce the razor you desire! Good luck!

Happy Shaving, Aaron”

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Ask Aaron Q/A: Top tips for avoiding nicks & cuts whilst double edge shaving

By Aaron Wolfenbarger on June 14, 2011

Posted in Ask Aaron Q & A, Double Edge Shaving, Safety Razors, Shaving Tips | Comments (0)

ask aaron 420 Ask Aaron Q/A: Top tips for avoiding nicks & cuts whilst double edge shaving

Richard Mitchell, from the USA, asks:

“Hi, Have been using a straight razor which I got from Turkey - was concerned about safety although I did not cut myself at all and had a really good close shave. I bought a Parker DE razor and have done nothing but cut and nick myself. I even changed the shave soap thinking it was that, could the razor be faulty or what am I doing wrong? Thanks Richard”

AARON SAYS

“Mr. Mitchell, I am sorry you’re having such trouble. The two main things that come to mind are these: the angle and the blade. The blade angle for a double edge razor is quite different from a straight razor and should be at about 30 degrees or so. The next would be that you are using a blade that is not suitable for either your skin or hair type. I would purchase a few different types or brands of blades, or buy a sample pack and see how that changes the shave for you as well. It is a powerful as turning on a light switch in a dark room when finding that right combination!

Happy shaving!

Aaron”

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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.

471307544 300x228 Youtube shaving guru Mantic59 tests out the Bluebeards Revenge

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


Ask Aaron Q/A: Top shaving tips for the top lip and under the chin

By Aaron Wolfenbarger on June 5, 2011

Posted in Ask Aaron Q & A, Shaving Tips | Comments (0)

ask aaron 420 Ask Aaron Q/A: Top shaving tips for the top lip and under the chin

Kevin Spanner, from the USA, asks:

“Hi, can you describe your top lip and under chin routine? I’m having difficulty in those areas thanks.”

AARON SAYS

“Mr. Spanner,
Well, honestly I sport a Van Dyke, so I rarely shave those areas. However, when I do here is what I do. I prep the whole area as usual but on each pass of the upper lip make sure to stretch the upper lip as much as possible, and instead of going directly against the grain go slightly angled. So if north is fully against the grain go northeast or northwest. For the chin tilt your head up, stretching the skin, as well as draw your lower lip into you mouth. This also flattens your chin making it easier to shave. I hope these help!

Smooth Shaving,
Aaron”

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Ask Aaron Q/A: Is a boar hair brush stiffer than a badger hair brush?

By Aaron Wolfenbarger on May 25, 2011

Posted in Ask Aaron Q & A, Shaving Brushes, Shaving Tips | Comments (0)

ask aaron 420 Ask Aaron Q/A: Is a boar hair brush stiffer than a badger hair brush?

John Box, from the USA, asks:

“Is a boar hair brush stiffer than a badger hair brush?”

The Bluebeards Revenge 'Corsair' Super Badger Shaving Brush

AARON SAYS

“Mr. Box,
Yes, you are correct a boar hair brush can be stiffer than a badger hair brush. The boar hair is quite typically larger in diameter than badger hair and this will most often lead to a stiffer brush. However very good quality boar brushes can often be almost if not as soft as a badger. Some other things that can effect stiffness if a brush is knot density (how tighty packed the hair is) and the loft or height of the hair from the top of the handle to the tips of the hair. Those can have significant influence on how the brush feels on your face as well as the type of hair. Whatever the choice, I hope you find a great brush!

Smooth shaving!

Aaron”

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Ask Aaron Q/A: Shaving under the nose

By Aaron Wolfenbarger on May 25, 2011

Posted in Ask Aaron Q & A, Double Edge Shaving, Safety Razors, Shaving Tips | Comments (0)

ask aaron 420 Ask Aaron Q/A: Shaving under the nose

Steven Kirk, from the UK, asks:

“I have recently converted to de shaving. Having purchased a Merkur Futur I have been delighted with the results. However I am struggling to shave around the nostrils. Please do you have any suggestions for technique, or a smaller razor for this purpose?”

AARON SAYS

“Mr Kirk,
Congratulations! You have purchased a great razor to use on your DE shaving adventure. It is a big razor, for which it has received some complaints, but I think the benefits definitely outweigh the disadvantages. Try pushing your nose out of the way as much as possible. Also, you might want to try shaving at a 90 degree angle to your lips (r to think of it another way, with the blade in line with your nose) and shave toward your ears. If you decide that it’s too much trouble and want to try a smaller razor for just that area, I recommend the Parker 97R, the Goodfella razor, or the Bluebeard’s Scimitar, or if you can find one a mustache razor. They all have slim profiles which would be good for shaving right under the nose.

Smooth shaving!

Aaron”

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Ask Aaron Q/A: Preventing razor burn & razor bumps

By Aaron Wolfenbarger on May 19, 2011

Posted in Ask Aaron Q & A, Double Edge Shaving, Post Shave, Razor burn, rash & bumps, Shaving Tips | Comments (0)

ask aaron 420 Ask Aaron Q/A: Preventing razor burn & razor bumps

Matt Herridge, from the UK, asks:

“Hi there, I’ve recently started shaving with a DE razor, I always get a very good close shave with no irritation, nicks or cuts even after shaving against the grain which I often have to do as I am in the British army, until the day after, that’s when I wake up with red bumps and very tender feeling skin especially under and on the front of my chin and my neck. My cheeks and top lip stay fine, any help would be greatly appreciated.”

AARON SAYS

“Mr Herridge,
It sounds as if you’re getting some razor burn and bumps. I would suggest paying very close attention to your razor angle, and making sure it’s not too shallow on your face. Also, try some stretching techniques to flatten and smooth those areas. This should greatly help! Also, use a nice soothing aftershave balm to help calm the areas, and a lotion or moisturizer before bed.

Smooth shaving!

Aaron”

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