Bluebeards ‘Scimitar’ crowned world’s best razor by About.com readers

April 2, 2012 · Posted in Product News, Shaving in the News, Shaving Shack News · Comment 

The Bluebeards Revenge 'Scimitar' Double Edge Razor

The Bluebeards Revenge “Scimitar” Double Edge Razor has been named the winner in the About.com 2012 Readers’ Choice Award for best wet shaving razor.

The iconic razor beat off competition from Gillette’s Fusion ProGlide and the Wilkinson Sword Hydro 5 to scoop the coveted first prize.

Nick Gibbens, The Bluebeards Revenge’s PR and Marketing Manager, said: “We are truly honoured to win such a prestigious award. To beat the world’s biggest two shaving brands is a massive achievement and something we are extremely proud of.

The 'Scimitar' is laser etched with The Bluebeards Revenge logo

“It’s also nice to see that people voted for a traditional single bladed safety razor over a multi-bladed cartridge system. Hopefully this shows that times are changing and men are turning their backs on expensive cartridge razors and investing in a shaving solution that provides a much closer shave and is cheaper in the long run.

“I would like to thank everyone who voted for us.”

The ‘Scimitar’ is a totally stunning, bespoke, German engineered double edged razor. It’s designed to cut through the manliest of stubble.

Meanwhile, The Bluebeards Revenge’s beard reducing shaving cream took second place in the best shaving cream category.

The Readers' Choice Awards honour the world’s best products

Now in its fifth year, the Readers’ Choice Awards honour the world’s best products, features and services across more than a dozen categories, ranging from technology to hobbies to parenting and men’s grooming, as selected by its readers.

In January, the site’s readers were asked to nominate their favourite shaving cream brands and aftershave products. After a nomination period that saw a flurry of activity, three finalists were chosen in each category. From February 18 through March 21, 2012, readers cast tens of thousands of votes every day via the About.com website.

Shack products shortlisted for two prestigious About.com men’s grooming awards

The Shaving Shack is celebrating after two of our luxury shaving products were shortlisted in the prestigious About.com Readers’ Choice Awards 2012.

The Bluebeards Revenge’s beard reducing shaving cream has been nominated in the best shave cream category, while the brand’s iconic ‘Scimitar’ double edge razor has made the best razor (wet shaving) category.

The Bluebeards Revenge 'Scimitar' Double Edge Razor

The Bluebeards Revenge scooped two awards in last year’s About.com Readers’ Choice Awards. The brand’s shaving cream was named runner-up in the best shave cream category, and its post shave balm took third sport for best aftershave balm.

The legendary Merkur 34C was voted the world’s best razor in the 2011 About.com Awards.

You can vote for The Bluebeards Revenge at http://menshair.about.com/b/2012/02/22/2012-readers-choice-awards-vote-now.htm. Voting will close on March 21, with the winners announced on March 30.

About.com’s popular reader-driven awards program highlights the best products, features, and services across a wide variety of topics.

Ask Aaron Q/A: A good alternative to the Merkur 34C

February 10, 2012 · Posted in Ask Aaron Q & A, Double Edge Shaving, Safety Razors · 2 Comments 

ask aaron 420 Ask Aaron Q/A: A good alternative to the Merkur 34C

Mark Southern, from UK, asks:

“Hi Aaron. Hope you are well. I really want to purchase the Merkur 34c safety razor, but every online shop I visit seems to be out of stock. Can you please recommend me an alternative razor, something which is similar in terms of weight, feel, look, aggressiveness and price.

Thanks Mark.”

DE89L 150x150 Ask Aaron Q/A: A good alternative to the Merkur 34C

Edwin Jagger Double Edge Razor DE89L

AARON SAYS

“Mr. Southern,
With the growth of popularity of wet-shaving I’m not surprised to hear there is a shortage of the Merkur 34c! It’s a great razor, but with it being out of stock there are some good alternatives out there too. The Edwin Jagger DE89 series is a great competitor, and very similar is head shape, aggressiveness and price. Other good alternative razors are the Muhle R89, the Merkur 38c (the long handled cousin to the 34c), Bluebeard’s Revenge “Scimitar”, and the color handled Merkur “barber-pole” razors. These should all serve you very well and give you the same shave as the Merkur 34c. A great question, thank you!

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: Shaving under the nose

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”

Do you have any burning questions you would like ask our wet shaving expert Aaron Wolfenbarger? CLICK HERE TO ASK AARON YOUR QUESTION

Bluebeards Revenge Post-Shave Balm & Scimitar Razor Reviews

My New Year started off beautifully. I woke up suddenly around 9am, entangled with my loved one, and had the startling and somewhat shocking revelation that I was completely hangover-free. I hopped out of bed, had a cup of coffee and some toast, and set about deciding what my first shave of 2011 should look like.

Nick from The Shaving Shack had recently sent me a box containing the Bluebeards Revenge Scimitar double-edged razor and a tub of the Bluebeards Revenge post-shave balm. This, then, was the way to go. I knew a review needed to be written, a beard needed to be shaved, and… Well, it was time to get moving.

The Bluebeards Revenge 'Scimitar' Double Edge Razor - Image by Shaving101.com

My initial impression of the razor was that it was similar in nature to most other higher-end modern razors (see Merkur as a fine example). It displays the Jolly Rodger skull-and-crossbones proudly on the top piece, echoing the “Bluebeard” pirate theme that runs throughout their product line. The fit and finish were absolutely perfect, and the heft and balance of the razor definitely felt great. Perhaps my only complaint - out of the box - was that the grip was a touch slick.

After a hot shower, I popped a fresh Japanese Feather blade in, lathered up with Truefitt & Hill’s Lavender cream (which has quickly become my standard go-to luxury shave cream) and set to work. The razor was just slightly more aggressive in feel than my trusty vintage Gillette Superspeed. I’d put it close to setting 4 or 5 on the Gillette Fatboy adjustable, though very smooth and forgiving at the same time. It made short work of my beard and left me feeling quite happy with the results in 3 standard passes.

I finished up with a thorough rinse and a shot of witch hazel, and then opened up the tub of balm. The consistency was quite thick, so I popped a finger in, grabbed a dollop, and rubbed it in quickly. The first thing I noticed about the balm was that it burned as though it was an aftershave splash, which of course screams “alcohol!” to me. I’m not normally a huge fan of alcohol in my balms - if I want it, I’ll use a splash. In this case, however, it works. I was a little surprised, to be honest, just how WELL it worked. The balm absorbed into the skin, leaving it feeling fresh and moisturized without even a hint of oil or shine. The scent of the balm was pleasant as well, a nice classic barbershop style, though it lingers much too long for my taste.

corsair sm Bluebeards Revenge Post Shave Balm & Scimitar Razor Reviews

The Bluebeards Revenge offers a complete shaving range - Image by Shaving101.com

I continued to use the two items every day until this morning, and the only change in my technique has been a switch to Art of Shaving’s excellent lemon shave cream. The razor has completely knocked every other double-edge out of rotation. My Superspeed, Fat Boy, the uber-1970′s Krona, even my Merkur slant - they’re all sitting unused in my medicine cabinet. I’ve not touched the other shave balms I’ve accumulated over the last few years at all lately, and even with daily use for over a month I’m still not even 1/4 of my way through the tub of aftershave balm.

My only suggestion for a change is that Bluebeard should release a completely unscented version of the shave balm. Otherwise, I’m extremely impressed with both products and would heavily recommend them to anyone entering the wetshaving world.

Switch to our mobile site