What Makes a Good Shaving Set?

Shaving Set

What Makes A Good Shaving Set?

Each morning, millions of men from around the world wake up, take a razor blade and use it to shave themselves before starting the day. The fine art of shaving used to be a laborious but very manly ritual that extended from generation to generation.  However, this wet shaving event has lost some quality and enjoyment due to the proliferation of poor quality shaving cream, cheap razors, razor burn and the pace of our society.

The importance and enjoyment of shaving is not lost though. In fact, shaving is back on track and is more popular than ever with funny commercials from shaving subscription companies who promise you shaves as cheap as dollars a month.

The shaving process is something that should be enjoyed and all you need is a few quality minutes to get a good shave in the morning. This is really possible with an excellent shaving set which includes all the shaving essentials you need.

What Should A Good Shaving Set Comprise Of?

At this point, you are probably asking yourself what a good shaving set is comprised of right?  The main ingredient in a good shaving set is the one that makes it all happen, the razor. Wet shaving razors are made for different shaving experiences and if it is your first time, then you may want to try a few to find one that’s perfect for you. You can get a close wet shave experience with some of the razor choices available which are Straight, Safe, Fusion or Mach3 blades.

Simpsons Shaving Brush - Beaufort B1 Pure BadgerNext comes the shaving brush. A good brush for shaving should have water retentive features, excellent lathering capabilities and should be soft to the touch. You’ll have many choices here like synthetic and natural brushes with different hair types. For example, badger brushes have different hair applications such as the SilverTip Badger, Super, Best and Pure to both stand up and provide the closest shave since your hair follicles are ready to be cut.

Pre-shave solutions are essential to prepare the skin for cutting facial hair. This will depend more on a man’s skin type than anything else. So if you have sensitive skin, you’ll want pre-shave products like oils, creams or lotions that will make it infinitely easier to get a close and irritation free shave.

A shaving cream or soap is what you’ll lather your face with before putting the razor to skin. When the manly deed is done, employ an aftershave oil for a soothing finish. Like pre-shave products, the aftershave you get depends on your skin type and preference.

A Safe and Chemical-Free Shaving Set

Build Your Own Bundle - Mach3 Razor PackageA shaving set that is free from harmful chemicals is definitely what you need to look for. Check the ingredients of a shaving product you’re interested in before buying it.  You can do so by contacting us before your purchase. Is it Triethanolamine, Parfum and Phthalates free? You’ll need some answers to your questions to make sure the shaving set you are looking to purchase is right for you.

As mentioned, there is a way to get all your shaving set essentials safe and free from harmful chemicals. A good shaving experience is modified and actually enjoyable when you take the time for it and use only natural ingredients. What’s great is that OriginalShaveCompany.com provides a wide variety of shaving products that you can bundle together for a special shaving experience. You can save time, money and get everything you need at the quality you can expect from us. Our mission is to bring back the high art of the ultimate shave for each and every man.

How to find quality shaving supplies that will last

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

Edwin Jagger Synthetic Brush - Faux Tortoise Shell - 21P13A 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

Col Conk Pre Shave Oil

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

Edwin Jagger Beard Wash Sandalwood – BWSW

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.

How Wet Shaving Products are Making the World a Better Place

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

Edwin Jagger Safety Razor DE87BLModern 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

BAUME.BE Pre Shave GelBefore 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

Wet Shaving ProductsThe 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!

Different Types and Designs of Double Edged Razors

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

Merkur Futur Safety Razor Polished ChromeThere 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

Merkur 34C Straight Bar HD Safety RazorTwo-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

Edwin Jagger Safety Razor DE3DBC15BLThe 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

Double Edged RazorsThere 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.