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 started caring about my skin. Maybe I got tired of spending a fortune on replacement blades every month, or having to charge up some cheap plastic electric razor. Maybe I just wanted shaving to feel a little more traditional.
I’m far from knowledgeable or even experienced, but I genuinely look forward to shaving every day and wanted to share some of my limited experience. Every morning I make sure I give myself a little extra time to do it right. If I don’t shave right after a shower, I usually relax my skin with a hot towel prepared with 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, although I honestly haven’t tried a scent from them that I didn’t enjoy. I’ll occasionally use other shave soaps as well, such as Geo. F. Trumper and Proraso. I use a generic ceramic shave mug to hold the soap, along with a pure badger hair shave brush from The Art of Shaving. When I first started out I used a cheap brush that quickly fell apart, so my advice is to upgrade to a better shave brush. Your skin will thank you.
As far as razors go, I use a long-handled Merkur safety razor. I originally used Merkur double-edged blades, but now I use Feather blades. Some blades are definitely sharper than others, but sharpest isn’t always best. I’ve found that it really depends on your shaving style and skin type.
As for aftershaves, that’s completely up to personal preference. Going back to my original reasoning for shaving this way, part of it is because I want it to feel classic and masculine. Because of that, I tend to use more old-school aftershaves—musky, spicy, traditional scents. I honestly don’t think I use a single contemporary aftershave.
The aftershave I use most is Clubman Pinaud. Clubman has been around since the early 1800s, and it was one of the first aftershaves I ever used. It’s a fresh powdery scent and still my go-to when heading out to events. If I’m going to an evening dinner date or small party, I’ll usually use a bay rum aftershave. Different brands all have their own variations, but for the most part they’re spicy scents that really stand out. I usually use Clubman Bay Rum or Layrite No. 9 Bay Rum.
For everyday use during the spring and summer, I tend to use Lucky Tiger, Aqua Velva, or Florida Water—another classic product that dates back to the early 1800s. During the fall and winter I usually find myself reaching for Skin Bracer or Stetson. Other aftershaves that regularly stay in 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 out there, and like I said, everyone has their own preferences and favorites. Some aftershaves I’d still love to try someday are Canoe, Musgo Real, Osage Rub, British Sterling, Gabel’s Bay Rum, Royall Lyme, Muelhens, Clubman Lilac Vegetal, Clubman Lime Sec, Tabac, Proraso, Jovan Musk, Royal Copenhagen, and English Leather.
If anyone feels like gifting me a bottle of any of them, I’d be forever grateful.
