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Shaving Advice
15 Best Safety Razors: A Review of the Top Brands
6 Best Straight Razors That Have A Wicked Edge
10 Best Shaving Kits For Men: Review of The Top Brands in 2020
Best Safety Razor Blades: Top 8 Brands Compared & Reviewed In 2020
Best Shaving Soap: Top 13 Brands Compared & Reviewed In 2020
Best Shaving Cream Warmer (Dispenser) To Generate A Hot Lather: Review of The Top Brands
Best Aftershave Balm: Rich Post-Shave Moisturizing Relief
Best Cartridge Razor of 2020: Review of The Top Brands
11 Best Pre Shave Oils For A Silky Smooth Shave
Best Shaving Brushes: Synthetic & Badger Hairs Reviewed
12 Best Shaving Creams That Deliver Superior Results In 2020
VIEW MORE
OTHER TOP DEALS
Baxter of California Safety Razor
If there is one sin to the wet shaving routine that can never be committed, its going to be a proper shower or hot towel session. When shaving its absolutely critical that you always take a very hot shower (preferred) for several minutes as your very first step.Why is this important?When you shower, the hot water will help to open up your pores and most importantly soften your whiskers. When you don't shower, the hair follicles on your face are extremely rigged and are susceptible to be pulled and yanked on when the razor passes. In addition the razor will have a harder time cutting through the follicle when compared to one that has been soaked in water and swollen up.A hot towel does act as an excellent backup plan, however it simply won't be nearly as comfortable as a shave when compared to showering.Now there is a lot of back and forth between wet shave enthusiasts when it comes to the use of a pre shave oil. Some men swear by it while others find that it doesn't make much of an impact in their overall shave routine.From our experience we found that a pre shave oil does make a material impact on the comfort of the shave. Pre shave oils act as a secondly barrier between your skin and the shaving cream when it's applied.The core ingredients of any pre shave oil is typically a carrier and essential oil. Most notably is the carrier oil as it makes up the majority of any pre shave oil mixture. Carrier oils for pre shave oil will typically be a castor or jojoba oil.Castor and jojoba oils are incredibly popular in several beauty products for both men and women – from beard oils to balms, lotions, and shampoos, carrier oils are a natural way to provide moisture to your skin or hair follicle when applied liberally.Therefore when pre shave oil is incorporated into a shave routine, it will help to improve the elasticity of your skin to help prevent any tearing or nicks, and will allow the follicle to be a bit more pliable making for a smoother cut with the razor blade.Essential oils found in pre shave oils act as an added layer of benefits (i.e. tea tree oil is a very common ingredient and is a natural antiseptic). Essential oils can also be great at providing skin toning, reduction of acne, and cures several other skin aliments along with helping the comfort of your shave.If you are thinking about a pre shave oil – we recommend checking out our in-depth analysis on how we selected the best pre shave oil.If your shaving cream still comes out of a can, its time to consider the alternatives. The best shaving cream that we reviewed was the 162 year old Taylor of Old Bond street. Taylor of Old Bond street has been trusted by men for generations and still continues to set the bar in this day and age as well.But why is this so important?Simply put, when you use a quality shaving cream like Taylor of Old Bond Street, it does a terrific job at locking in both the heat and moisture when whipped up properly. This heat and moisture allows for your pores to stay open and to further increase the pliability of your whiskers.A quality shaving cream is also incredibly slick which makes for a much smoother shave that will allow the razor blade to glide effortlessly as opposed to any sort of skipping or chopping of the blade. A “dry” shaving cream like those found in the can varieties don't provide this rich level of moisture.In addition to being considered “dry”, a canned cream also is loaded with several chemicals that will dry out your face upon shaving. This dry face will leave you susceptible to general ashiness throughout the day.When you compare a shaving cream to a soap, they are largely the same. However advanced wet shavers may be able to draw out a bit more of the lubricating properties of a soap compared to a shaving cream. If you are new to the whole world of wet shaving, we heavily advise checking out a shaving cream instead since they are more beginner friendly as opposed to soaps. In a pinch? The Art of Shaving also delivers relatively good shaving creams as well.While a fluffy shaving brush may seem a bit feminine for such a masculine routine – a shave brush should never be overlooked and will help to draw out the properties in the best safety razors.Typically made of badger hair, these brushes do a phenomenal job at providing a gentle pre-exfoliation of your skin that will ensure that the dirt and oils found within your pores are loosened up prior to the first pass with your safety razor.In addition to the pre-exfoliation, a shaving brush will help to make your whiskers stand on edge. When your hairs are on edge, this will allow for the blade to have a much cleaner cut of the hair follicle as opposed to any tugging or pulling. Conversely if you use your hands to apply a shaving cream, whiskers will likely be matted down against your face making it much more difficult for the razor to get a clean sweep.While we eluded to effectiveness of shaving creams and shaving soaps in the previous section, many of these higher performing products do require you to own a shaving brush as they will be near impossible or difficult to apply otherwise. A brush will ensure adequate coverage of the cream that allows for both a slick lubrication and cushion for the blade to glide effortlessly.If you are interested in a shaving brush, we invite you to check out our in-depth review of some of the best ones on the market.When it comes to using your double edge safety razor, many men often get tripped up on the proper technique for the first use that will leave a (likely) bloody mess on your face. Unlike a good cartridge or disposable razor that has the blades pre-set to the desired 30 degree angle – when using a double edge safety razor for the first time, you will want to mimic this angle.What some men may do to ease into the transition from using a cartridge or electric based razor to that of a double edge razor is that they will first just shave their cheeks due to their relatively flat surface. This allows for you to get comfortable with the optimal 30 degree angle that will leave you with a comfortable shave afterwards. To get used to the technique further, you may want to then ease your way into the trickier chin area – again make sure that you always keep the razor blade at a 30 degree angle.Now when it comes to the desired smoothness of the shave, you will want to go with either two or three passes for the razor. When using a double edge safety razor you will first want to go with the grain of your hair follicles. This will allow for much of the hair to be cut. However, when you rub your hand over your freshly shaved face, you will notice that there is some coarseness on your skin.To get a closer shave you have one of two options at your disposal. For men looking for the ‘BBS' shave (i.e. Baby Butt Smooth), you will want to go across the grain of your face.With this optional step, you will want to first go downward for the first pass then towards your ear or mouth for the across the grain pass (second pass).To wrap things up, for the last pass you will want to go against the grain on your face. This will give you the closest shave and the most desirable results from your double edge safety razor. Many men may feel that this goes against their learnings from when they first shaved. Traditionally when you use a cartridge razor, ingrown hairs may occur when shaving against the grain. However, with a double edge safety razor that has already made one initial pass on your face, the subsequent pass that goes against the grain will be fine (if done at the appropriate angle), shouldn't allow for any increase prevalence of ingrown hairs.If you are starting to age and have skin that has a bit less elasticity or general folds in the skin, you will want to make sure that you always pull on your skin to make sure that the surface is tight to reduce any unnecessary chopping of the blade. Keeping a taut surface is key to comfort.When shaving with a double edge safety razor for the first time and making sure that you go with the grain, across the grain (optional), and against the grain, its important to take a moment and study how your hairs are actually growing in.All men have different hair growth patterns, so what you may have learned from someone else will likely not apply when you go to shave yourself. Therefore don't follow your favorite YouTube shaving tutorial on this – look at your whiskers and shaving accordingly.If you like to manscape by shaving your chest, back, head, or groin area, a double edge safety razor is not the best tool for the job. You will likely get nicked badly if you aren't careful. While a double edge safety razor is technically of course a razor that can cut hair, there will be men out there that claim they can cut hair in any of the areas listed above, its best to leave that for the experts.For general body grooming, we recommend using a mutigroom tool like the Philips Norelco 3100. Depending on the desired results, you may want to go with a swivel based head like that seen on the Gillette Fusion ProGlide (with the Flexball) when shaving your head and groin areas given the surface area and general curvatures (the Flexball makes a huge difference for these areas).When you are purchasing a double edge safety razor, you are truly buying a metallic handle and head. Virtually all razor blades used for double edge safety razors are can be swapped out of any system. Therefore if you want to use a Merkur 23C with an Astra or Derby blade, you can. Or what about a Edwin Jagger handle with Merkur or Feather blades? You bet!Generally speaking, blades are largely a personal preference and results that some men find for one blade may not exactly be the best for another man. Luckily however, there are variety packs that do exist in the marketplace that allow men to try out a set of blades from differing manufacturers in order to select the blade that yields the best overall performance. Remember everyone is different, therefore what may work for one person does not necessarily mean it will work for you.With many manufacturers, razor blades are incredibly cheap when compared to their cartridge or electric counterparts. Therefore when purchasing a box of blades for your double edge safety razor will likely last you not just a few months, but rather a few years! So be sure when selecting a razor blade for long term use, that you don't just buy a box of razors that is necessarily the cheapest or one that has some slick marketing – get a sample pack and test a few out before investing in an entire box.Aftershaves can be a great way to either add flair or comfort to your post shave maintenance. While we outlined the differences between splashes, lotions, and balms in this post here are a few of the highlights:Many traditional aftershave splashes contain alcohol which actually isn't that great for your face. Alcohol when applied as a post shave ointment, while it may be an antiseptic to help flush out the pores through the terrible stinging sensation, it actually also completely drys out your face making for an ashy jawline that can be unsightly for some.Several lotions, just like splashes do tend to also contain alcohol as well, and its generally recommended to avoid these products.What we and many wet shavers alike prefer, is an aftershave balm. Unlike splashes, balms are used to hydrate your skin that was just fully exfoliated through the shaving process and will work to repair the surface. Balms do not contain alcohol and therefore will not give you any sort of post shave razor burn or irritation. They largely contain mild products that will leave you feeling comfortable throughout your morning. If you are looking for a recommended aftershave balm to try out, we fell in love with the Nivea Sensitive Skin aftershave balm, you can read our full review in our in-depth aftershave balm guide.While balms can act as an antiseptic, many men may look for other solutions outside of balms for repairing any nicks or cuts that were experienced during the shave. What we recommend for those men, is to use either an alum block or styptic pencil for easy application to help stop bleeding.While many double edge safety razors may look the same at first glance, there are several little nuances that separate each and every single one of these devices apart from each other. Razors can come in a variety of mechanical forms – two piece, three piece, butterfly, and adjustable. Here is an explanation on each one of them:One of the classic designs of the double edge safety razor is the two piece system. Found in razors like the Merkur 37C and 34C, these razors have just a two parts – namely the head and the handle.When comparing all the systems there aren't huge advantages of one design over the other. Some men prefer the two piece simply because its less parts and therefore reduces the chances of anything breaking. When it comes to swapping out the blade, the two piece system is fairly quick as all you will have to do is simply unscrew the top of the head and drop the blade in. Being that you will only have to swap a blade once a week, this typically isn't a huge selling point of one design over another.Now when it comes to cleaning a two piece system over a three piece or butterfly design, it may be a bit more trickier. Given that the base where the razor rests cannot be removed, some men may either prefer or dislike this. Some men may wish that the base could be removed for a more comprehensive cleaning while others enjoy that the base is affixed to the handle which can provide leverage if necessary – overall though this is largely a personal preference and shouldn't be a huge impact on deciding one double edge razor over another.Whether you are considering a Parker 97R, Edwin Jagger 89lbl, or the Merkur “1904” Classic, these double edge safety razors all come in a three piece design.With the top of the head (also known as the safety bar plate), base plate (where the razor rests), and the handle all being independent pieces.Many mens first ever double edge safety razor will likely be a three piece system simply due to its worldwide popularity. With a three piece system, men can thoroughly clean each part by either dipping it into a cleaning solution of their choice and take it a step further by polishing each component separately as well for long term use.Unlike the butterfly or adjustable razors, both the two and three piece design contains no moving parts making it prime for long term use without any mechanical issues. A three or two piece design will have no direct impact on the quality or comfort of your shave.Another incredibly popular choice when it comes to double edge safety razors is the butterfly style (also known by some as ‘Twist to Open'). The butterfly design is what some would consider a single piece system.To use a butterfly double edge safety razor, all you simply need to do is twist the bottom part of the handle and the head of the razor will open from the center to reveal the razor blade. Simply turn the handle in the opposite direction and the head will close back up.With the exception of the adjustable double edge safety razor, the butterfly style is rather difficult when it comes to cleaning and long term use. Being that the entire system is contained to one piece that cannot be dis-assembled, trying to clean shaving cream that has been caked up or stray whiskers that have been wedged into the hinges of this razor can be rather difficult to reach without a makeshift toothpick or other narrow tool.If proper maintenance/cleanliness is something that you look for when deciding on a double edge safety razor, then we recommend going with the two or three piece designs.One of the more rare double edge safety razors on the market is the adjustable system such as the Merkur Progress 510 (referred to by wet shavers as “Merkgress”) or Merkur Futur.What makes an adjustable double edge safety razor so unique when compared to their butterfly, two, or three piece counterparts is that the adjustable system has a direct impact on the quality and comfort of your shave.When looking at the Merkur Progress 510 for instance, when this razor is adjusted to a setting of 5 (considered the most aggressive), this blade will provide one of the closest shaves available from a double edge safety razor on the market today. For many men, this double edge safety razor can provide that often desired BBS (baby butt smooth), shave on just the first pass. However, with such an aggressive take on shaving, this blade can of course cause nicks and cuts rather easily.Generally speaking adjustable double edge razors make for a great second or third razor purchase rather than your first simply given the nature of how aggressive the shave will be (i.e. its best suited for those who are experts in using a safety razor).The beauty of this system of course is the ability to hone in on just the right set up for you that just simply can be achieved with any other systems on the market. Generally speaking, adjustable double edge razors tend to cost substantially more when compared to their stationary counterparts.When examining safety razors closely, you will start to notice little nuances in the head design of them. Whether you are looking at the Merkur 37C that has a slightly slanted head (pictured top), or the Merkur 34C HD (pictured middle) that has a straight razor with a scalloped safety bar (also known as closed comb), and lastly the Parker 24C with open comb head (pictured bottom).All the unique heads can provide a vastly different approaches to your shave. A misnomer about open comb razors is that they will provide a much more aggressive shave when compared to a scalloped safety bar or slant head razor. When it comes to selecting a double edge safety razor, head designs (whether its open comb, slant, or safety bar) can all have varying levels of aggressiveness.Its important to know that the aggressiveness of the shave doesn't come necessarily from the design of the head, instead aggressiveness is determined by how exposed the blade is within the head. Therefore if you use an adjustable based razor like the Merkur Progress 510, you can easily adjust the aggressiveness by simply turning the dial to increase or decrease blade exposure. What makes the Merkur Progress 510 different from other safety bar razors is that the default blade exposure of the head on the lowest setting may still be more exposed when compared to others.With that being said, typically speaking open comb razors do generally tend to have a slightly higher level of aggressiveness when compared to a safety bar razor.For the slant design, these heads allow the blade to slice through your whiskers in more of a guillotine fashion. Like any variety of razor heads out there, the slant design does have a learning curve. These heads make for a great second or third razor geared towards the intermediate or advanced wet shaver. Slant heads like open combs do have a tendency to run a bit more on the aggressive side with typically a bit more blade exposure.The Baxter of California safety razor has everything that you need to get a close and comfortable shave.This 3-piece safety razor features a closed comb head to increase comfort along with a lightweight handle (2.3oz) that will make it very beginner-friendly.Another aspect about this safety razor that we absolutely loved was the knurled handle design.This little extra feature ensures that there is no accidental slippage of the handle (especially when your hands are coated with shave cream) so you won't cut yourself while shaving.In addition to the beginner friendly design we also love the fact that this safety razor comes with 5 starter blades (Derby).These 5 starter blades help offset the elevated price point – and gets you started shaving right away.Like the Merkur and Muhle safety razors, this safety razor is actually made in Germany, even though the company name may indicate otherwise.Overall this is a great safety razor for those looking to treat themselves or plan on giving one as a gift.Key Facts To Know About Baxter Of CaliforniaWhat You Need To Know
DOVO Inox Straight Razor
Straight razors come in a variety of materials.As we researched countless brands and blades, we found the following materials to be among the most popular:Here’s a brief look at each of these metals and how they slightly differ from one another:Stainless Steel – One of the most common metals used in straight razors, stainless steel is both strong and sharp. But one of the biggest advantages of this alloy is that it naturally resists corrosion (source). Therefore, when this alloy is used for extended periods of time in a naturally humid or wet environment, you don’t have to worry about rust or any pronounced spread of bacteria.Carbon Steel – A more modern steel variety when compared to stainless steel, this alloy is a mixture of steel and up to 2.1% carbon composition (source). This results in a blade that will be even stronger and sharper than other pure metals and alloy (including stainless steel). However, a compromise is made in the durability of the carbon steel itself. Unlike stainless steel, carbon steel is susceptible to corrosion, requiring it to be hand-dried once it is exposed to water or moisture along with being stored in a dry environment (outside the bathroom).Surgical Steel – Unfortunately, there is no formal definition of what surgical steel is. However, this subset category of stainless steel is designed for medical settings. Surgical steel will often carry an SAE steel grade of either SAE 316, SAE 440, SAE 420, and 17-4 (source). This type of steel will often feature anti-corrosion properties like stainless steel. Often, surgical steel is used as a marketing term in order to bolster a brand’s claims of purity or safety.When it comes to making straight razors, both the blade type and width are important considerations.Here’s an overview of the common blade types:While the blade point is more difficult to cut around a precise edge, the round point offers more forgiving properties when it touches the skin. This results in fewer nicks or cuts making it a recommended pick for beginners.Opposite of the round point, you will find the square point. Square point straight razors can make clean and straight cuts on the face. Whether you are detailing your beard, mustache or sideburns, the square point will give you great results. However, this blade type requires a careful hand as accidental nicks and cuts may occur.With a quarter-circle curve in the blade that ends on a square point, this blade type is more decorative and closely resembles the same performance found in a square point blade variety. Expect this blade to carry the same risks of accidental cuts when using.Blade WidthBeyond the blade tip types, you also have a variety of widths available. Typically found in 1/8” increments (3.175mm), the blade width can have an impact on both weight (more on this in the next section) and performance.Here are some general takeaways of blade width:One of the most notable factors on the straight razor’s weight will have to do with the grind of the blade itself.Sharp metal edges will typically follow any one of the follow grinds:SourceDepending on the type of grind used by the company will result in varying amounts of metal remaining (or have been cut away) from the blade.This results in not only a different shave performance but the weight of the straight razor as well.In addition to the grind of the blade, the composition of the metal itself along with the handle materials all play important factors.Lighter straight razors provide more concentration on the cutting angle and movement of the straight razor along the surface of the skin.Heavy straight razors, as noted by a few wet shaving fans here, are typically found in old vintage straight razors and will not pull or tug on your facial hair when making a pass.When exploring the world of wet shaving, you will find that some countries tend to specialize in certain characteristics of the blade and performance.As you asses and review all the leading straight razors available, you will find that two countries are mentioned more than any other:Japanese razor companies, such as Feather, are built on their expert craftsmanship. Feather blades are among the thinnest and sharpest blades available – especially when it comes to shavettes and safety razor blades.German crafted straight razors are known for their attention to detail and precision. The quality of the grind on the blade along with a beautiful handle showcase German craftsmanship at its finest. While not as sharp as their Japanese counterparts, German blades are generally regarded by the wet shaving community as being both timeless and classic.Beyond Japan and Germany, other countries are still playing catchup when it comes to straight razors. Whether it’s lacking the engineering expertise or just general traditions, straight razors made in other countries just aren’t simply as good.If you are truly looking for the best straight razor and want one that will last a lifetime, as it stands today, you should only consider those made in the countries we mentioned.While the straight razor can trace its origins back more than 3,000 years, as of today, the number of brands available to men is limited.Other shaving tools such as safety razors, cartridge razors and electric shavers are now the de-facto standard.Current companies that make quality straight razors today include the following:Beyond the list above, many of the other brands that you may come across in the large online marketplaces are often poorly made and exhibit no precision engineer qualities (poor grind, uneven weight, poor metals, etc.).The beauty of this unique product category is that straight razors, with proper care, can last a lifetime.Therefore, beyond some of the more modern brands that we listed above, you also have a wide array of vintage brands at your disposal.This inevitably begs the question – which should you go with, a vintage or modern straight razor?If it’s your first time ever using a straight razor, or you are using it in a professional barbershop, then we strongly recommend that you go with a modern brand.This is simply because the blade engineering has been perfected over time, leading to not only a much more comfortable shave but also a better balance of weight.Now if you have a few straight razors in your shave den at home, or you are feeling adventurous, then an old vintage straight razor can be a perfect project to work on.Restoring an old vintage straight razor from the 1800s will let you not only appreciate craftsmanship from a bygone era but will also allow you to really draw out that classic barbershop feeling once you get the straight razor fully restored.While it goes beyond the scope of this guide, you can find countless articles by passionate wet shave enthusiasts like this one that explain all the necessary steps to bring an old straight razor back to life.The amount you pay for a straight razor will vary depending on the level of craftsmanship involved. However, we found that most quality straight razors will typically range anywhere between $100 and $250.Naturally straight razors can cost outside of this range with the lower-end often relying on inferior steel or plastic handles, while the higher-priced straight razors feature ornate or rare materials in their handles.When using a straight razor, it’s important that you have the necessary supplies to bring out the best qualities in the razor itself.Complimentary shaving supplies you will need when using a straight razor include the following:We will expand on these in the How to Use A Straight Razor section of this guide.However, we just didn’t want you to fall into the trap of buying a straight razor, using a canned shave gel and then experiencing a poor shave.Founded in 1906, DOVO has become one of the most prominent brands relied upon by wet shaving experts.Drawing out the best qualities in German precision engineering couldn’t be more pronounced than with the DOVO Inox Straight Razor.Relying on an 80-step production system, this is a straight razor that is anything but mass-produced.What makes this straight razor one of the best ones currently available is a combination of factors.First, the full hollow ground blade is a moderate 5/8” and is crafted from carbon steel.This wicked sharp blade and the unique grind found on the edge of this straight razor will provide one of the closest shaves that you have ever received.As mentioned previously, carbon steel is susceptible to both natural rust and corrosion. Therefore, this straight razor must be dried on a hand towel after you are done using it.On the blade itself is a 24k gold etching which says the following:“DOVO-INOX TIEFGEKÜHLT ROSTFREI”While we don’t speak any German, a Google Translation leads us to believe that it is a Rust-Free blade.Opposite of the blade is an olivewood handle that has been protected with a waterproof seal.Given that each one of these straight razors has a unique level of craftsmanship, the wood grain on the handle will vary from one razor to the next – giving you a true one-of-a-kind product.When it comes to the shave experience, DOVO does recommend that you strop the blade every time before use for optimal performance.If you really want to go all-in on a straight razor and want one that you can happily pass down to the next generation, then there is no better choice right now than the DOVO Inox Straight Razor.
Harry D Koenig & Co 4 Piece Shave Set Review
As you will see in our reviews of the kits below, razors that come package with the kits come in two distinct categories: double edge safety razor and a cartridge razor.By and far the most popular of the two is the cartridge razor.Cartridge razors from companies like Gillette, Schick Hydro, or even the Dollar Shave Club (which distributes Dorco Razors), are the market leaders in this category.While cartridge razors get a tremendous amount of flack from the wet shaving enthusiast community, they definitely serve a purpose and deserve to be in consideration for a part of your bathroom countertop.The biggest sticking point to cartridge razors is the long term cost. When compared to the double edge safety razor, well there isn't much of a comparison.The average monthly cost of a cartridge razor is about a few bucks whereas a double edge safety razor is only a few cents.However, with that being said, cartridge razors are cheaper for the initial cost (much like the printer ink market).If you are always on the go, or perhaps find that you are short on time in the morning, and have a bit of discretionary funds every month, then a cartridge razor shaving kit is likely going to be a better choice when compared to a double edge safety razor.As an additional note: You can easily carry a cartridge razor with you on an airplane, while a double edge safety razor would require you to check your luggage.Now for those men who are on a strict budget and want to have total control over the shaving experience – for better or worse – a double edge safety razor will be a better pick for you.The reason why we left the caveat in there for double edge safety razors is that they do require a learning curve that can be a bit tough for some men to overcome.This is due in large part that you have total control over how the blade interacts with your skin.You see on a cartridge razor, the blades are pre set at a cutting angle of 30 degrees. Now with a double edge safety razor, you have to figure out that angle yourself as you are shaving.What makes it trickier is that your entire face isn't flat, therefore you have to navigate around tougher areas like your jaw line, chin, nose, adams apple, etc.So expect to get nicked on the first couple of times using a double edge safety razor.However once you over come this learning curve, many men, especially those susceptible to severe skin irritation, razor bumps, or ingrown hairs will, with time, get a much better shaving experience when shaving with a safety razor.Now there are a lot of factors that can impact the shaving experience – which we will touch on in just a minute.The last component to consider when it comes to a razor is what you plan on using it on.Generally speaking, we wouldn't recommend ever using a double edge safety razor on any other part of your body besides your face.If you plan on shaving your head, chest, groin, etc. we strongly recommend a cartridge razor. Our personal choice was the Gillette ProGlide that we recently reviewed. The Flexball in this specific cartridge razor helps to navigate contours of your body while making it virtually impossible to cut yourself.If you haven't used a shaving brush in the past, then just about any shaving brush will make a huge difference in your shaving routine – especially if you are planning on using a quality shaving cream.However here are just a few of the key points to look for when picking out a shave brush:Fiber type – by and far the most popular fiber found in shaving brushes is going to be badger hair. Sourced from different parts of the badger, a badger hair brush will come in several different grades. We talk about it in much greater extent in this post.A badger hair brush will have the follow grades (ranked from passable to high quality):Many shaving brush companies do try to pass off inferior grade of badger hair (i.e. pure) as silvertip by simply dying the ends of the hair color. While the dye typically won't be any issue at all – if you are looking for a true silvertip brush, you will likely be paying substantially more.However, a pure badger hair brush will do a lot more for improving your overall shave as opposed to just simply using your hands.Which leads to the next point:Shaving brushes assist in helping to build up a thicker cushion when using a shaving cream. The additional cushion will allow for a much more comfortable shave.Secondly, when you use your hands to apply shaving cream, your whiskers will be matted down against your skin. Whereas when you use a shaving brush, the hairs will be standing up on edge leading to less tugging and pulling when you make the passes with a razor blade.If you are looking to buy a shaving brush separately, be sure to check out our review of the best shaving brushes.While many shaving brushes and razors won't deteriorate when resting on the bathroom counter, a shaving stand that is included with just about every shaving kit does a wonderful job at keeping your gear a bit more hygienic.If you shave once every couple of days, your razor, whether its a cartridge or double edge safety razor, won't collect mold or other nasty bacteria along the blades edge. Same goes for your shaving brush as well.A stand is a great way to have your razor and brush hang dry and thoroughly get all the moisture out at a much quicker pace rather than resting in a puddle of water.As far as the integrity of stands, we prefer metallic stands as they just simply hold their ground much better and therefore less likely to tip over.When looking for stands, a stainless steel or chrome plated stand is preferred as its less susceptible to rust.While there are plastic stands that are available, look for those with weighted bottoms so they don't easily tip over if only a razor or shaving brush is loaded on one side.Now when it comes to completing your shaving kit, its critical to include complimentary products to make the entire package complete.Even if you have all the best shaving tools, you cannot overlook the raw benefits of products like shaving creams, aftershave balms, and even a pre shave oil.Here's a brief breakdown of the key essentials:We found that pre shave oils can make a significant difference when it comes to the overall comfort of the shave. Whether you are using a double edge safety razor or a standard cartridge razor, pre shave oil assists in keeping both your skin and wiskers well nourished and moisturized.The nourishment comes from the primary ingredients found within a pre shave oil itself. Largely made of carrier oils like castor seed, argan, or jojoba, these oils very closely mimic the natural oils produced by your sebaceous glands (sebum oil).Also loaded in pre shave oils is essential oils. Essential oils do provide some benefits other than just smelling incredible. An essential oil like tea tree oil is an natural antiseptic and will help to ensure that your pores are clear of bacteria when you go to make the pass with the razor.Lastly, some pre shave oils include vitamin E that can help to improve your overall skin health on a long term basis.In addition to nutrients, a pre shave oil will allow the razor blade to glide effortlessly throughout the entire shaving process.This easing of the blade will prevent from incidental tugging and pulling on your hair follicles when they are cut by the razor.For a recommendation on quality pre shave oils, we talk about it quite extensively in this post.Even the best shaving kit in the world cannot provide a great shave unless it has the right supporting cast members. Sure pre shave oil is important, but there is no doubt the importance of using a quality shaving cream.When looking for a shaving cream, you want to make sure you get a boutique, yet higher quality cream that isn't loaded with chemicals.You see the chemicals that are often found on so many heavily marketed shaving creams and gels that you may pick up from your local grocery or drug store often contain alcohol.When you drag the blade across your face with every pass, the problem is that you are also taking off a very small layer of skin – which acts as a deep exfoliation.While this may be great to ensure that you have fresh skin, the problem with a shaving cream that contains alcohol is that it will severely dry out your skin post shave.Dry skin is much more susceptible to general skin irritation and you may also notice an uptick in ashier skin as well.Quality shaving creams not only allow for more nourishment, but they can also provide a much richer lather which leads to a more comfortable shave – whether its a double edge safety razor or a cartridge razor.Therefore what we highly recommend is to go with a shaving cream that isn't commonly found on store shelves. Instead we recommend a boutique shaving cream like Taylor of Old Bond Street – as it was our winner of the best shaving cream that we reviewed and was also included as the shaving cream of choice in the Merkur 38C shave set reviewed further below.There is this misnomer that an aftershave splash should sting as its effectively ‘doing the job'. I don't know about you, but the last thing I need at 6 o'clock in the morning after my shave is a wretched stinging sensation – no thanks!Mostly all of the aftershave splashes and lotions that we found contain some form of alcohol. While alcohol is a terrific antiseptic to ensure that your pores are fully flushed out when applied, it's also bad for your skin in making it dry out (see reasons above within the shaving cream section we just covered).Therefore for any man that is on the fence about an aftershave, we highly recommend aftershave balms. Balms provide all the great benefits of keeping your pores flushed out like a splash, however, they don't contain alcohol and use ingredients that will help ensure that your skin stays moisturized throughout the morning hours.Be sure to check our in-depth review of the best aftershave balms in this post.After much extensive research, we are breaking down each of the shaving kits outlined below to help you distill which shaving kit will provide the greatest value for you and serve you the best over the long term.Furthermore we break out each section of shaving kits into distinct categories (cartridge razors, beginner double edge safety razor sets, etc).Here are some of the best cartridge razor shaving sets that you can buy today. These sets contain all the essentials (i.e. razor, brush, and stand). Our personal favorite of all the cartridge razor sets was the one artfully crafted by Edwin Jagger.However, with that being said, there are many other cartridge razor sets that make for fine candidates:This chrome plated shaving set by Harry D Koenig is a terrific shaving set for any man that is in the beginning of their shaving journey. If you are looking for a gift for a teenager or just are simply looking to upgrade your bathroom countertop decor this entry level shaving kit simply gets the job done.First and foremost the stand of the this shaving kit is chrome plated and should be able to last for several years in the bathroom. With its ‘T' shaped design, you will be able to allow the cartridge razor that comes included with the kit alongside the boars hair shaving brush to hang in tandem allowing for clean and sanitary environment.The universal fittings on this stand will allow for many double edge safety razors and shave brushes to fit within the slot should you ever decide to upgrade at any point down the road.The cartridge razor that comes included in this shaving set will work for the first set of shaves, however with time you will have to buy replacements. Therefore many men who own this stand will upgrade to the Gillette Mach 3 cartridge heads as they will fit perfectly into the handle.Regarding the shaving brush that comes included, it is built from boars hair, and therefore is a bit stiffer when compared to some of the finer grades of badger hair bristles that are reviewed in this guide.As we covered above, if this is your first time ever using a shaving brush, you will immediately notice an difference in the lather when applied to your skin regardless of fiber quality. Therefore boars hair bristles shouldn't be a downside to the shaving novices, only wet shaving enthusiasts may look for a shaving brush of higher quality.A bonus feature offered by this shaving kit not normally found in the several others that we reviewed is that it also includes a shaving scuttle (i.e. shaving bowl) as well. This shaving bowl is ideal for shaving soaps with its relatively shallow design, however, you should be able to adequately whip up a lather with a shaving cream as well.
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April 02,2020
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