A few years ago I started to become interested in men’s personal grooming. I’m not exactly sure why; maybe I didn’t like the way my skin reacted to those overpriced quadruple blade systems, maybe I actually cared about my skin. Maybe I didn’t like spending a fortune for new blades every month. Maybe I didn’t like having to charge up some cheap plastic electric razor. Maybe I wanted to feel like a man.
I am far from knowledgeable or even experienced but I look forward to shaving every day and want to share my limited experience. Every morning I make sure that I give myself a little extra time to do it right. Sometimes I go as far as lighting a candle (for that extra bit of relaxation, candles will be another blog entry). If I don’t shave right after a shower I try to relax my skin with a hot towel that I prepare using a little bit of Vick’s VaporRub. I use Taylor of Old Bond Street shave soap. I’ve been in love with their lavender scent but I haven’t yet used a scent by them that I don’t enjoy. I will on occasion use other brands of shave soaps, such as Geo F. Trumper and Proraso. I use a generic ceramic shave mug to hold the soap and I use a new pure badger hair shave brush from the Art of Shaving. I had a cheap brand when I first started out and it fell apart. Upgrade to a better shave brush. Your skin will thank you! As far as my razor goes I use a long handled Merkur safety razor. I originally used Merkur double edged blades but now I use Feather brand. Some blades are sharper than others, and no, sharpest isn’t always better. I find that it depends on your shaving style and skin type.
As for aftershaves, this is completely up to you. Back to my reasoning of shaving this way, it’s because I want to feel like a man. Therefore, I exclusively use the manly “old school” aftershaves, musky and spicy. In fact, I don’t think I use a single contemporary aftershave. The aftershave I use the most is Clubman Pinaud. Clubman has been around since the early 1800’s and it was one of the first aftershaves I used and is my goto when heading to events. If I have an evening dinner date or small party I’ll use a bay rum, bay rum from different brands does have its own unique scent but for the most part they’re spicy and ready to liven up a party, I use Clubman Bay Rum or Layrite No.9 Bay Rum. I also splash a little on for my daily going outs as well; during Spring and Summer I tend to use Lucky Tiger, Aqua Velva or Florida Water (another aftershave that has been around since the early 1800’s). During Fall and Winter I find myself using Skin Bracer or Stetson. Other aftershaves in my regular rotation are Old Spice Classic and Brut Classic, two scents that are recognizable, relaxing and great for the daily grind.
There are so many aftershaves available, like I said, everyone has their own preferences as to what they enjoy. I would LOVE to get the following aftershaves someday; Canoe, Musgo Real, Osage Rub, British Sterling, Gabels Bay Rum, Royall Lyme, Muelhens, Clubman Lilac Vegetal, Clubman Lime Sec, Tabac, Proraso, Jovan Musk, Royal Copenhagen and English Leather. If anyone cares to gift me a bottle of any I would be forever grateful! Thank you in advance!
