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.
John:
Fascinating essay! Back when I was a younger man, I used an old standard used by many GI’s during WWII. It was a “Rolls-Razoe.” It had a built in “strop” along the bottom surface of its carrying case. It was the closest thing I ever found to the “straight razor.” My beard is VERY slow growing and when I was young, it was blond. Now that I have piled on the years it is white. I gave up the shaving brush and “Williams” shaving cream back in the early 50’s when I began to shave. (I had “peach fuzz” right up to to 1952 or 3) I started with Gillette “Blue Blades” and also an oldie known as “Personna,”then to Schick “Injectors and up to the recent past fell for that stupid and very EXPENSIVE “Fusion” junk which is overpriced, over rated, and no better than a good sharp single razor. Now, as I find my hand not as steady as in days of yore, I have gone with “Harry’s” which are EXCELLENT multi blade razors with removable cartridges. I get at least 5 shaves out of each insert before I replace it. You have really recalled some of my MANY past grooming tools. I still use “Brylcreme, a little dab’ll do ya, Brylcreme, you’ll look so debonair. Brylcreem, the girls will all peruse ‘ya, they’ll love to run their fingers through your hair!” I also loved Jeris when hair tonic was in style, “Tiger as you have in your illustration, and my old and now deceased barber Carl Amato used his father’s special brand which had a delightful lavender-rose lasting aroma. As to Old Spice, never particularly interested in it as almost all guys wore that stuff.
A few years ago I’ve joined the world of wet shaving. A lot of experiments, a bunch of money spent, a lot of brands, products, etc…. At the end of the day now I know, that for me the best pre-shave brand is Proraso, the best after-shave brand is Old Spice, the best safety razor brand – Merkur. Everything else is worth to try but not to use all the time. Again, it’s just my opinion.