Blog | Page 11 of 14 | Original Shave Company

How to find quality shaving supplies that will last

If you are the type of man or woman who demands quality shaving supplies and will not settle for less, even when it comes to shaving essentials, then you have come to the right place. We carry shaving products from some of the best names in the industry and our wide variety of carefully selected soaps, creams, oils and lotions are as natural and skin friendly as can be. Depending on the shaving essentials you’re looking for, you can find high quality items with reasonable prices with us. Here are some of the quality shaving products we carry.

Shaving Brushes

A shaving brush is an important part of any wet shaving kit and should be top of the list for anyone who is in the market for wet shaving supplies. We stock synthetic brushes for those with who have allergies with animal hair and vegans who would rather not use animal products. We also carry animal based brushes which include pure badger, best badger, super badger and silver-tip badger brushes from top quality brush makers like Edwin Jagger, Simpsons and the Colonel Ichabod Conk.

Soaps & Creams

Our soaps and cream supplies are made up of the best shaving creams and soaps from names like Baume.Be, Edwin Jagger Taylor of old Band street and much more. These are iconic companies who don’t settle for anything less than perfection when it comes to quality which is why we carry these brands for our trusted customers. There are a variety of scents like sandalwood, lime/citrus, cooling menthol and Aloe Vera available so you can experiment with different scents and find the right one for you. Lathering with a good soap or cream is very fundamental to wet-shaving and should be approached with the appropriate care. Using low quality creams or soaps can be leave you feeling dry or even worse irritating your skin.

Pre-shave oils

Pre-shave oils are also an essential part of the wet shave process. They help moisturize and lubricate the skin which also assists in razor burns you may get if you have sensitive skin. Special care should be taken to ensure that you buy high quality pre-shave oils that are natural and safe. Some Pre-Shave Oils could actually harm more than help so it’s important to go with a trusted brand and company who knows how to create safe essentials for men and women. Contact us if you have any questions on the benefits of Pre-Shave Oils.

After-shave Balms

After-shave balms or lotions are important in every wet shaving session. Shaving exfoliates the skin and needs to be taken care post shave by applying moisturizers and skin foods to help in healing/protecting the skin. We have a variety of after-shave balms and lotions which will provide the coverage needed after a close shave. Don’t ignore this step as many people have done in the past. Sealing your shave in is one of the most important wet shaving steps.

Beard Care

Beards are back and very popular these days which is why there are many great ingredients available such as washes and oils that will help keep your beard clean and fresh. Take a look at some of our beard care essentials which is guaranteed to help mold your beard into perfection in addition to keeping you smelling fresh all day long.

Finding the proper shaving supplies can be a intimidating and pricey task but it doesn’t have to be with the right company. Make sure you ask us how you can get clearer skin in just 30 days.

Posted on April 6, 2016October 23, 2017 by Sean Mason

How Wet Shaving Products are Making the World a Better Place

There’s plenty of room in fashion for a man’s clean-shaven face. One of the best ways to shave is with a prepared, wet, lathered face. Wet shaving products are the perfect addition to a man’s grooming routine since it makes this mundane task fun and exciting again. Here is how you could get started with Wet shaving products and give the perfect gift that keeps giving.

Start with good tools

Modern cartridge razors have been adding blades in the name of a closer shave for decades, an arms race that has been parodied in a famous old Saturday Night Live commercial, which was funny until reality caught up. But regardless of the technological achievements, nothing beats a fresh double-edged razor blade, especially when taking some steps before and after.

The double edge safety razor is one of the best ways to go when shaving. This timeless, classic shaving tool is not only reasonably priced due to low manufacturing costs of stainless steel blades, it also allows a fresh blade change more frequently since each razor blade is pennies compared to costly cartridge razors. Plus, over time,you end up throwing away less material compared to cartridge razors with only one blade. Another great benefit of the safety razor blade is it does not get clogged with stubble, oil, and lather compared to other shaving tools.

Before the shave

Before you start slicing those follicles off your face though, you should be getting your skin and beard ready. It’s often best to shave after a shower since the heat and moisture will soften your beard. This often times makes shaving more comfortable.

Investing in a high quality pre-shave oil and applying it to your face before the wet shave kicks off is ideal. Pre-shave oil will moisturize your skin and allow the razor to glide across your face versus being pulled across. In case you didn’t know, this “pull” is what could create razor bumps and ingrown hairs. Most Pre-Shave Oils are made from natural vegetable oil which makes it not harsh on the skin or harsh down the drain.

Afterwards is important, too

Adding to the natural shaving prep, consider including some after shave oil/creams. Despite using a sharp blade and sublime pre-shave oil, the skin needs some care post shave as well. Consider one of these soothing after shaves which will seal your skin and kick start your day the right way.

Keep in mind that your wet shaving tools need to be cleaned of all remaining debris before you store them away. This means your wet shaving products should be dry of water, soap or oil after each shave.

The most common ingredient in after-shave oil is tea tree oil. It’s a strong antiseptic and emollient, and when diluted it does great on razor burns and ingrown hairs. You’ll probably not want to use it straight, though. And definitely don’t drink it; it’s toxic when taken internally! 🙂

The complete kit

The final piece of great wet shaving products is a shaving brush. A shaving brush is used to apply shaving cream and soap but should not be used to apply pre shave oils by any means. A well-designed brush is, like the razor itself, a delight to hold and use which can make a chore like shaving more meditative and enjoyable. The handle can be plastic or wood; the hairs can be synthetic, but better are boar, badger, or horse hairs.

Put all these together, and you’ll end up with a terrific gift set. After all, Father’s Day is just around the corner! If you have any questions on any of our wet shaving products, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are always very happy to help!

Posted on April 4, 2016October 23, 2017 by Sean Mason

Different Types and Designs of Double Edged Razors

Double Edge Razors are a very popular razor for wet shaving and have been for a very long time. Even though straight razors provide a closer shave, the safety feature of double edged razors have made it way more popular than the straight razor. It might have something to do with people not wanting to worry about slicing their neck every time they shave. Cartridge razors may not shave as close as the other two, but they do have their advantages, such as their ease of use and the ability to shave faster without worrying if you will cut yourself. Apart from that, safety razors offer a cleaner, closer shave and are cheaper to maintain than cartridge type razors. There are different double edge razor designs that may be confusing at first for beginners so this article will attempt to explain these differences and offer insight into the world of the double edged razors so you could make an informed purchasing decision.

One-Piece Razors

There are three basic designs of double edge razors and they are named accordingly. The first is the one-piece design, which is also called butterfly, adjustable or silo razor. This razor has a mechanism inside it that allows the cutting head to open with a twist of the handle or the press of a knob. One-piece razors gained popularity because razor blades could be changed easily without disassembling and reassembling the razor. The down-side to these razors are that they are difficult to clean and because they have moving parts, they are more prone to malfunction after being used for many years. The Merkur Futur Safety Razor is an exception to this rule since this high quality German razor is built like a tank and is guaranteed to last for many years.

Two-piece Double Edged Razors

Two-piece razors are razors designed with a removable head which has a long bar in the middle and a screw at the end of the bar that fits into the handle. The head can then be fastened to the handle using a knob on the lower part of the handle or with other methods. Cleaning of a two-piece razor is easier than cleaning of a one-piece razor but changing blades on the one-piece razor is easier than on a two-piece razor. It’s all relative and just depends on which style you prefer.

Three-Piece Double Edge Razor

The three piece double edged razor is similar to the two-piece razor except that the handle can be unscrewed from the base of the head. This makes the bar attached to the top head short as opposed to the long bar of a two-piece razor. The earliest models of the three-piece razor were offered by Gillette around the early part of the twentieth century and they have since grown to become the most popular type of the double edge razor. Their popularity is partly because of the ease of cleaning and also their design which leaves very little moving parts. This made the Gillette’s some of the most durable type of double edged razors available until other brands were released from countries all over the world.

Closed and Open Comb Head

There is another major design difference between razors when it comes to their safety bars. Most razors have a solid safety bar and are called closed comb safety razors. They are the most widely used and are perfect for beginners. The solid safety bar provides an even, tight pressure on the skin and provides protection against nicks. Open comb razors on the other hand have periodic openings along the bar which gives them the look of a comb. They are more suited to people with coarse hair and are considered to be more aggressive razors. We recommend starting with closed comb heads if you are new to wet shaving.

Razor Aggressiveness

A razor’s aggressiveness is a result of the amount of space between the edge of the blade and the safety bar. The more space there is, the closer the razor can shave and the more aggressive the razor is then said to be. There are basically three levels of classification for razor aggressiveness and they are called mild double edge razor, medium aggressive razor and the aggressive double edged safety razor. These three types of razors are non-adjustable but there is also an adjustable razor whose aggressiveness can be varied.

Straight Bar & Slant Bar Head

The last major difference in safety razor design is also the design of the safety bar. The majority of safety razors have a straight bar design, meaning that their safety bars are in a straight 90 degree angle to the handle. The slant bar design was patented in 1915 and has its bar slanting at an angle different than the 90 degrees to the handle. This makes the razor’s blade able to slice a stubble at a slant which is a more effective method. This feature has been used in the design of the guillotine for example and is appreciated mostly by men with coarse beards and even more appreciated if your skin is sensitive.

Conclusion

Knowing the differences in double edge razor design will enable you to choose the best safety razor according to your skin type, your hair type and your shaving style. Only a straight razor can offer you the closest shave when you compare it to the double edged safety razor but it lacks the safety of the DE razor which is why we do not recommend it for beginners. If you have any questions on the types of double edges razors, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be more than happy to help.

Posted on April 2, 2016October 23, 2017 by Sean Mason

The Importance of using a Pre Shaving Oil during Wet Shaving

Pre shaving oil is a mix of vegetable oils or essential oils which is applied to the skin before a shaving cream in an effort to achieve better shaving results. Such results include the avoidance of razor bumps and skin irritation by providing the much needed lubrication between the skin and the razor blade. Human beings have used vegetable oils and animal fats as shaving lubricants for many centuries. Although the practice has evolved into the additional application of shaving cream or soap after the initial application of shaving oil, there are still a few men today who shave exclusively with oil.

How Shaving Oil prevents Razor Bumps

Razor Bumps are an unpleasant condition that affect many shavers. They can be terribly uncomfortable in addition to being a visually unpleasant. However, razor bumps can be prevented by the use of shaving oil which is a solution men who have sensitive skin have been using for years. Applying a thin layer of pre-shave oil helps to soften the hair so your blade cuts through it easily without pulling at the follicles and irritating them. This pull is what creates the razors bumps. It also enables the blade to glide smoothly over the skin, thereby avoiding the irritation of the skin for people with sensitive skin types.

Men with sensitive skin benefit the most from the use of shaving oil. If you have sensitive skin like many people do, you will discover that there truly is a difference between using a pre shaving oil versus not using one at all. One of the many reasons why there has been a spike in demand for pre shaving oil is due to men demanding clear skin and no red irritation marks post shave.

Applying pre-shave oil helps to reduce ingrown hair because the razor cuts the hairs cleaner. Ingrown hairs occur mostly because they have been cut at an angle. This cutting at an angle happens only when hair gets pulled by a razor before being cut. Such a scenario is not possible after the application of a pre-shave oil. Pre-shave oils help to reduce irritation of sensitive skin (razor burns) because the razor blade has lubrication to glide on.

How To Use Pre-shave Oil

The number one complaint people have against the use of pre-shave oil is that it clogs their razor and stops them from getting a clean shave. Another complaint is that shaving oils are difficult to wash off from the face after shaving. The simple solution to avoiding such complaints is to buy a good quality pre-shave oil which should have a thin consistency. This will ensure that the pre shaving oil comes off easy with warm water.

You begin your shaving session by either wrapping your face for a few minutes in a towel dipped in warm-to-hot water or by starting your shave after a shower. Now that your pores have been opened by the heat and your hairs are starting to soften, you apply just a few drops of your pre-shave oil to the palm of one hand and rub it together with the other palm. It is important to note here that you do not need excessive oil. You only need to create just a thin film of oil across the area you plan to shave. So use your two oily palms to massage the oil across your face, making sure it is not too thick. After this massage, you can now go ahead and lather up.

Recommended Pre-Shave Oils

Taylor of Old Bond Street – Sandalwood Pre-Shave Oil

This sandalwood pre-shave oil from Taylor of old Bond street is one of the finest pre-shave oils from one of England’s finest brands of gentlemen’s essentials. Use this to protect your sensitive skin from aggressive razor blades and avoid irritations and bumps.

Col Conk Pre Shave Oil

This Pre-shave oil from the Colonel Ichabod Conk is another fine product from another reputable brand of gentlemen’s essentials. Use this shaving oil to save yourself the agony of razor bumps.

Baume.Be Pre Shave Gel

Made from the finest ingredients, the Baume.Be pre shave gel is similar to pre shaving oils but with a lighter texture that doesn’t incorporate the oily substance. This is the best alternative if you want a pre shaving solution but refuse to use an oil.

Posted on March 31, 2016October 23, 2017 by Sean Mason