Ask Mantic Q&A #2&3: Brush Break-In & Types
Posted in Ask Mantic, Shaving Brushes, Shaving Tips, Shaving Videos | Comments (0)
In May, we managed to get a Question and Answer session with American wet shaving legend Mantic, a veteran of the BadgerAndBlade and ShaveMyFace forums.
The session proved very popular, with lots of excellent entries being submitted. We cherry picked the very best ones and sent them onto the wet shaving guru.
The first question Mantic answered was: “Why do I on occasion find that the lather from a soap is fine on the first pass, really creamy and slick, but when I start to apply with the brush for subsequent passes, it has turned airy and foamy? It is with soaps that I have had good results from before too.” You can watch his detailed answer by clicking here.
Today Mantic answers two more questions.
David asked: “It is assumed that boar shaving brushes need to be broken in. Do badger brushes also improve after a break-in period? I have read occasional mentions of this but have seen no definite discussion on the shave forums.”
And Kevin wanted to know: “Not having much experience with different brushes, is there a particular type of brush that I should use with soaps or creams? Boar hair brushes, or badger hair brushes?”
You can watch Mantic answer both of these questions in the video below.
Parker 98R Safety Razor Reviewed by Shaving101.com
Posted in Double Edge Shaving, Parker Razor Reviews, Safety Razor Reviews | Comments (2)
We recently sent out a Parker 98R safety razor to Mike Sandoval, who writes for leading US wet shaving website Shaving101.com.
Mike had politely told us before we sent him the 98R that he had already tested the Parker 91R and had given it a “less-than-favorable” review.
However, he said he was open-minded and really wanted to give Parker another chance to prove they produced quality razors.
So off went the 98R by plane across the pond…
The US wet shaving guru started off his 98R review by saying: “When unpacking the razor, I was most surprised by the weight of the 98R. The handle and cutting head weigh in at approximately 4.3 ounces (121 grams), making this one monster of a razor.
“The handle design is a variation of Merkur’s barber-pole style and has a one-direction spiral-knurling pattern instead of the diamond pattern found on the Merkur. The knurling is cut deep and uniformly, and it provides a good grip surface on the handle.”
He went on to add: “The chrome plating on the razor and cutting head is applied well with no noticeable spots of uneven coating. The two-piece cutting head itself lined up properly when loading a blade and reassembling the razor, leaving an even blade exposure on each side of the cutting head.”
Mike explained that he thought the cutting action of the razor felt a bit more aggressive than he expected due to its heavy feel in hand, but added that the 98R delivered a “solid shaving performance”.
In conclusion, Mike said he found the Parker 98R to be well made and a fair alternative to the more expensive Merkur 38C, adding it is a “good value razor for the budget conscious wet shaver”.
You can read the full Shaving101.com review by clicking here.
The Parker 98R retails for just £21.99 at the Shaving Shack. We also stock a large number of other Parker razors and affordable double edge safety razors.
Ask Mantic Q&A #1: Runny Lather
In May, we managed to get a Question and Answer session with double edge shaving guru Mantic, a veteran of the BadgerAndBlade and ShaveMyFace forums.
The session proved very popular, with lots of entries coming in. We cherry picked the best ones and sent them onto the US wet shaving expert.
And the first question comes from Tony, he asked: “Why do I on occasion find that the lather from a soap is fine on the first pass, really creamy and slick, but when I start to apply with the brush for subsequent passes, it has turned airy and foamy? It is with soaps that I have had good results from before too.”
Mantic has put together a superb video clip (see below) answering this excellent question.
And to spice things up we offered a prize of a puck of Mitchell’s Wool Fat (worth £4.99) for every question that gets published, so Tony expect your puck to arrive very soon!!
The best question overall will receive an additional tub of Truefitt & Hill 1805 Shave Cream (worth £14.99).
Please check back very soon for the second question in the Ask Mantic series.
Why use a shavette instead of an open razor?
Posted in Shaving Creams, Shaving Tips, Straight Razor Shaving | Comments (0)
A shavetteis a razor that is similar to a straight or cutthroat razor, with the main difference relating to the fact that its blades can be changed. These razors are available from well-known brands such as Parker and Dovo and so you can be assured of a quality product. If you are wondering whether you should consider one above a typical open razor, then check out the points below.
The shavette is a distinctive and stylish razor that is proving to be very popular at this moment in time. The key reason for this is that as the blade does not need to be frequently stropped or sharpened, it can save time for those who are in a hurry, but still want to experience the luxury of a wet shave. Therefore, the preparation time for the shave is greatly reduced when using a shavette.
As with a safety razor, the shavette can be fitted with disposable blades, which slide into place and can be changed from time to time. This gives the user a greater flexibility to replace the blades when required, yet still be able to enjoy the closeness of a shave you can only get by using a straight razor.
A shavette is quite affordable and standard double edged razor blades are not all that expensive. These products are great when travelling as you won’t need to take the other shaving equipment such as a strop or hone with you.
So, you may be wondering after hearing about these advantages why anyone would use anything else. Well, the blades can still be very sharp and so they are usually recommended for more experienced (and patient) wet shavers. If you make any errors with this lighter razor you can easily cut yourself, so with a steep learning curve extra care is needed when using a shavette.
In the end it is up to you to decide if a shavette is for you or not. Many people still prefer the extra comfort a straight razor gives you, and don’t mind taking the time to prepare a razor for shaving. For these shavers, there is no substitute for the real thing. Other people prefer to keep both to hand, so there is always a spare razor ready to use. Whatever your view on this, there is no denying that shavettes are an excellent quick alternative to an open razor.
Follow Nick Gibbens on Twitter @nickgibbens
More articles by Nick Gibbens
Wet shaving writers wanted
We are currently looking for wet shaving contributors to help us update our daily content.
This is an unpaid, yet rewarding opportunity. Writers may regularly submit their work on a variety of wet shaving subjects to gain exposure for themselves as experts in the world of wet shaving or to refer employers to professionally published examples of their work.
Authors not only gain exposure for their writing, but receive added benefits as well, such as being listed as a writer on our website. Articles are easy-to-post and will include the author’s byline, biography, and photograph. Writers will also retain the copyright of their work.
Please email [email protected] for more information.
Parker 99R arrives at The Shack!
Parker 99R Heavy Duty Butterfly Premium Barberpole
The eagerly awaited butterfly version of the Parker 98R Heavy Duty Premium Barberpole has arrived. Check it out here: Parker 99R Heavy Duty Butterfly Premium Barberpole
Men taking much longer to get ready in morning
The average US man only spends seven minutes less on getting ready in the morning than the average woman, a new study has revealed.
A recent survey by GQ and Allure magazines discovered that a man’s beauty routine now takes 22 minutes on average, about two minutes longer than in 2005.
The 2010 Grooming and Beauty Study also revealed the reasons behind the trend, with seven out of 10 men stating that they felt “under more pressure to care about their appearance”.
Eighty per cent of American men said they now felt more comfortable buying grooming products.
According to the survey, men across the pond now spend an average of $121 a year on grooming products, compared to $194 for women.
Win a premium shaving kit worth £120 thanks to Men’s Health
Posted in Shaving Shack Promotions, The Bluebeards Revenge | Comments (0)
We have teamed up with The Bluebeards Revenge™ and Men’s Health, the UK’s best selling men’s magazine, to giveaway five luxury shaving kits worth a whopping £120.
Win a luxury shaving kit worth £120
Each luxury shaving kit consists of a stylish shaving set and a year’s supply of the ultimate shaving product, The Bluebeards Revenge™.
To win this fantastic prize, visit http://tinyurl.com/33uvvrf and answer the simply question.
Please note:The Bluebeards Revenge™ has been designed for Real Men and not the bum fluff brigade. Not only does the premium shaving cream contain a unique formula to get right to the root of thick stubble, but is also the only product on the market to contain Decelerine™, a scientifically proven marvel that actually reduces beard growth within a few months’ use. So, every time you shave, you’ll make it easier in future.
Introducing The Bluebeards Revenge™ – A premium shaving cream that combats tough stubble
Posted in Product News, Razor burn, rash & bumps, Shaving Creams, The Bluebeards Revenge | Comments (0)
The Shaving Shack is delighted to announce that we are now stocking The Bluebeards Revenge™, a luxurious shaving cream designed for Real Men.
Designed by a real life Blue Beard who was bored to death with being a Desperate Dan look-alike, The Bluebeard’s Revenge™ is a paraben free, premium quality shaving cream with added ingredients to specifically combat tough stubble.
“It has been formulated to our unique specification in one of the UK’s premier male cosmetics laboratories who are renowned experts in the field of shaving cream,” said a spokesperson for The Bluebeards Revenge™.
The shaving cream contains Decelerine™ - which in turn is made up of a mixture of active ingredients that delay hair growth, reducing the frequency of shaving and depilation and at the same time providing a recovering effect on the skin.
How Decelerine™ works
The normal hair cycle is divided into four periods:
1. ANAGEN – Active Growth Phase (2-6 years)
2. CATAGEN – A short transition period with regression (2-3 weeks)
3. TELOGEN – A resting phase (2-3 weeks)
4. EXOGEN – A shedding stage
Then the new hair starts to grow and the follicle is back in Anagen. The length of hair is primarily a function of the relative durations of Anagen and Telogen. Whether hairs are in one of these phases at the time of hair removal is important because only Anagen hairs are particularly sensitive to the effects of Decelerine™. Decelerine™ targets its action in hair follicle cells and weakens new hair formation.
It has proved to be effective in inhibiting hair growth, decreasing length and density of unwanted hair and also providing a soothing, moisturising and anti-inflammatory effect.
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™ relieves and soothes the effects of shaving (especially skin prone to irritation and dryness) by providing moisturisation and protection to facilitate its regeneration.
But according to the packet, if you are a fully paid up member of the bum fluff brigade then the cream is not for you!!!
What does it smell like?
The Bluebeards Revenge™ has a signature scent that was chosen by shaving enthusiasts. It is based on a fresh and classic English barbershop scent with a modern twist. We’re hoping to give it a name soon!
How long will it last?
Based on average use a tub of The Bluebeards Revenge™ typically lasts 3-5 months.
Supporting real heroes
The Bluebeards Revenge™ is a shaving cream for real every day heroes. 50p from every pot we sell goes towards Operation Florian and The Fire Fighters Charity - it’s our way of rewarding the real men (and Women!) who perform heroic acts on a daily basis.
Double shave points!
Get double the Shave Points you would normally receive when buying The Bluebeards Revenge ™!
The Bluebeards Revenge™ is available to buy from the Shaving Shack website at a cost of £14.99.
More information about the cream can be found at www.bluebeards-revenge.co.uk
Using and caring for a shaving brush
Shaving brushes are experiencing something of a resurgence at the moment. As wet shaving is back in fashion, with many men rediscovering what a pleasurable experience shaving can be again, so people are trying out various shaving products to make their daily routine even more enjoyable.
Incorporating a badger brush into your shaving procedure can help you to generate a rich lather which can raise and relax the hair on your face, improving the quality of the shave. The badger hair is great for massaging the face and adds to the luxurious nature of wet shaving.
However, when you use a shaving brush you really need to look after it in order to benefit from its fine qualities. There is a wide variety of shaving brushes out there and you can make a choice depending on its firmness, but each kind needs to be maintained well to ensure its longevity.
A badger shaving brush can provide over 10 years of service, if it is used delicately with lather applied gently to the face. It is important not to allow the brush hairs to splay through excessive force being applied. The brush should also be cleaned every time following use. This can be achieved by rinsing it with warm water and shaking off any excess moisture. This natural product should be kept on a drip stand, with the hairs pointing downwards.
Make sure you pay careful attention to how you handle the brush and you will be able to enjoy all the benefits a shaving brush provides.
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