Soaps, creams, and aftershave.

Masteroffajitas

Masteroffajitas

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I've decided to get a gillette saftey razor.

Any brands of soaps, or creams that you guys recommend? It'd be great if you can buy it in a wal mart. But if it's online, that's cool too.
 
I got Burma Shave brush and Williams soap from WalMart and they work well and are economical. (About $6 total). If you have a health foods type store around (Whole Foods, Wild Oats, or a small local one, etc.) look for Toms of Maine shaving soap in a tube; it is my current favorite. Around $5. (P.S., it says you don't need a brush, but it really does to bring out its best.)
 
You bet. That's all a good place to start but after using those products for years I moved up to a badger hair brush and better soaps. I use the oil, soap, and creams from Art of Shaving and L'Occitane. Believe me, you will feel the difference and you might as well pamper your self when no one else will.
 
So far the best bang for the buck in re: soaps and creams for me so far ( about 6mos. wet shaving now) has been proraso, smells great, real smooth and leaves an awesome tingle when you do your final rinse. Pinuad clubman makes for a great aftershave and you should be able to get at most drugstores.
 
I can't find much in Wal-Mart, so most of my stuff is from on-line vendors. You can, of course, get Aqua Velva and Old Spice there, which are good aftershaves IMHO. I also like Pinaud Clubman, which is the aftershave most barbers use on the back of your neck after they shave it. You can find that in a lot of pharmacies. There are about a million other aftershaves from all over the world that you can find out there if you want to get adventurous.

I think Taylor of old Bond street has the best values in creams. Around $13 per tub (plus shipping) and the quality is as good as most of the other top-shelf (and more expensive) English creams. Speick is also good and fairly cheap. If money is no object, Castle Forbes is superlative.

I don't use shaving soaps much, but Tabac is the exception, because it's just so darned good. Not cheap, but darned good.

I would also recommend going with a badger brush, which is a great improvement over boar bristle IMO. Good Rooneys can be had from $50 - $75 on the low end, and over $200 on the high end.
 
When I first got my straight razor I went to walmart to get some shave soap and a brush. It took me forever to find the few dusty boxes of Williams soap, when I brought it to the counter they didn't even have the SKU in the computer haha. I didn't like the smell of it so I've been getting the Col. Conk Almond and Lime soaps offline.
A badger hair brush is really a step up from those awful walmart boar's hair, totally worth it.
 
don't know if anyone still looks at this, but I really like Crabtree and Evelyn, thier Nomad series is pretty darn nice. Taylor of Old Bond Street too
 
VDH soap from Walmart or Walgreens. Much better than Williams in my opinion.
 
Hey there,
I just saw this postings about personal grooming, and I have to say that for a bunch of years now I've been shaving the good oooooold way... Shaving soap and my Gillette Sensor or Sensor Excel. I've also used several different soaps, and so far, he best of the best (for my taste) is the line of Glycerine soaps of Col. Ichabod Konk. They are absolutely amazing. Great lather and really cool scents (lime and almond my personal choices). They give a very soft sensation and they give a very soft afterfeeling in the skin. There are also several things to consider before shaving, like how wet is the face, water temperature and getting the skin and hair free of the natural oils of the face. And most important, for how long do you brush the face in order to impregnate the beard and skin, and thicken the lather.
I usually buy the soaps, mugs and brushes online, and BTW, I don't like badger brushes, they are too soft for my taste. I prefer bristle, because they produce a thicker lather... and they are less expensive.
A couple of sites:

http://colconkproducts.com/

http://www.amazingshaving.com/page/amsh/CTGY/soa

Good luck
 
From my experience, Tom's of Maine and the mall shaving store soap left me with a bad case of razor burn. Too bad, as I like most of Tom's products.

For years I used Barbers Soap (That's the only name is has) and brush. The Schick Stick injector blade razor was my first and only blade. Almost thirty years later and I still used it. I have a '40s vintage Gillette safety razor that gets used once in a while.

American Crew has some excellent products. The pre-shave essential oil and shaving cream are great products.

I recently upgraded to a badger hair brush and a Thiers bowl.

I still like bay rum and Pinaud Clubman for nostalgia.:cool:

As far as what WalMart sells, I couldn't tell you. That would be the last place I would go for just about everything.

Check out www.classicshaving.com.
 
BarkRiverfan said:
Hey there,
I just saw this postings about personal grooming, and I have to say that for a bunch of years now I've been shaving the good oooooold way... Shaving soap and my Gillette Sensor or Sensor Excel. I've also used several different soaps, and so far, he best of the best (for my taste) is the line of Glycerine soaps of Col. Ichabod Konk. They are absolutely amazing. Great lather and really cool scents (lime and almond my personal choices). They give a very soft sensation and they give a very soft afterfeeling in the skin. There are also several things to consider before shaving, like how wet is the face, water temperature and getting the skin and hair free of the natural oils of the face. And most important, for how long do you brush the face in order to impregnate the beard and skin, and thicken the lather.
I usually buy the soaps, mugs and brushes online, and BTW, I don't like badger brushes, they are too soft for my taste. I prefer bristle, because they produce a thicker lather... and they are less expensive.
A couple of sites:

http://colconkproducts.com/

http://www.amazingshaving.com/page/amsh/CTGY/soa

Good luck
Click to expand...
You should drop in at Badger and Blade or Shavemyface.com, there is a lot of discussion there about alternatives that you may actually like much better. :)
 
A Sheffield wedge + Floris soap + DRH Pink aftershave splash does it for me :thumbup:
 
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I use the Art of Shaving cream with a badger brush in the shower and their Gillette razor with the light daily. IMHO, NOTHING beats a shave with oil, but I reserve that for Sundays and special occaisions. There are many excellent Jack Black products, including their Beard Lube.

I'm still an Aqua di Gio man for fragrance.
 
I just make my own shave soap when I make my other soaps. I tend to like a mix of Kaolin and Bentonite clays with babassu, olive, and castor oils along with shea and cocoa butter.

I also choose to make my own aftershave with Vodka, witch hazel, and other ingredients that are soaked in the vodka to add scent.
 
gruntinhusaybah said:
don't know if anyone still looks at this, but I really like Crabtree and Evelyn, thier Nomad series is pretty darn nice. Taylor of Old Bond Street too
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+1, Just a got a tub of TOBS Mr.Taylor last week and have liked it from the moment I got . Good amount of cream for price, lathers like crazy, and provides a shave that is second to none.
 
The Taylor of Old Bond sandalwood shaving soap that comes in a wooden bowl. Awesome stuff, better than any cream I've tried. It will last you 6 months, and then you can refill it for $12 for another 6 months:
SHAVING SOAP

REFILL

Badger brush. For aftershave, its Thayers rose petal witch hazel as an astringent followed by Truefitt & Hill Ultimate Comfort:

AFTERSHAVE BALM

Everyone's skin is different, but I've tried many different products and the ones mentioned here are the best. Another thing that makes a big difference is blades. I like Feather, and another brand I can't remember right now. Other blades "grab" my skin.

Technique also matters. Don't press on your skin, just shave the hair, not the skin. Re-lather and do a second pass. Use hot water and hot brush and shower before you shave.

While you're shopping at Classic Shaving, should probably pick up a styptic pencil to close cuts:

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/550344/355874.htm
 
gruntinhusaybah said:
don't know if anyone still looks at this, but I really like Crabtree and Evelyn, thier Nomad series is pretty darn nice. Taylor of Old Bond Street too
Click to expand...

Last summer I was in the Crabtree & Evelyn shop in Victoria and they said that the Sienna shaving soap was being discontinued so I bought the last two they had, along with a nice wood bowl. It's OK but doesn't lather up like my Art of Shaving soap. I jazz it up with a tiny shot Barbesol or the like. Today I was reading on the Badger and Blade that C&E has definitely dropped the several of the men's shave soap products. My son left me a can of Nivea jell shaving soap and that is pretty good stuff. I put a little in my hand and lather it up with the brush. The wife likes it, too. I'm thinking I have a lifetime supply of Sienna. BBJ
 
I've been getting the Col. Conk Almond and Lime soaps offline.
A badger hair brush is really a step up from those awful walmart boar's hair, totally worth it. +1!!
 
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