I found here in Canada a company called Cromwell & Cruthers that makes shave oil that gets rave reviews from some friends I know ho've tried it so think I'll give it a go. There's a little more about the product here:
Just walked into my neighborhood Shoppers Drug Mart here in YEG and finally this shave oil in stock and so bought one package wanting to give it a try figuring $5.99 wasn't a bad investment for what the manufacturer claims should be 100 shaves. To my surprise at the check out it scanned through instead as $1.99, so went back and bought the only other two packages on the shelf.
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2009 Q miles: UA 28166 NW 6818 WS 1008 YouTube Jukebox: ArcadiaGoodbye Is Forever
Let us go how you like the shave oil experience. Remember to wet your beard thoroughly. If the blade stops gliding, you can use more water (moist hands) instead of more oil. Also watch for razor clogging.
Rinse with warm water, then final rinse with cold water. Dab face dry, don't rub. No after shave should be needed.
Let us go how you like the shave oil experience. Remember to wet your beard thoroughly. If the blade stops gliding, you can use more water (moist hands) instead of more oil. Also watch for razor clogging.
Rinse with warm water, then final rinse with cold water. Dab face dry, don't rub. No after shave should be needed.
Till
Having used the oil the last few days I'm quite impressed as it's provided really close, smooth shaves. I use my old standby original Gillette Sensor two-blade replaceable cartridges as I find these to offer a good shave at a decent value to replace periodically, even cheaper than the slightly better Sensor Excel. I tried but never really liked the Mach 3 nor the Fusion models. I'd intended the oil to be used only on the road but now I'm thinking I might switch full time.
Anyway, very pleasantly surprised with the product.
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2009 Q miles: UA 28166 NW 6818 WS 1008 YouTube Jukebox: ArcadiaGoodbye Is Forever
It really works surprisingly well. I now use it mostly on days when my skin is dry. It provides great relieve, better than my after shave balm (l'Oreal). And I use it for traveling, of course. The reason I don't make it my sole method is that I like to play around with different methods like whipping up a good foam with a brush and that it still clogs the razor quite a bit. Having to clean the razor blades with my little brush while I am shaving is a bit of a bother. The real problem is that the hair will still stick to the razors nooks and crannies afterwards, even if I use the brush and rinse it really well. However, one shave with my cheapo barbasol foam takes care of that and I have a nice clean razor again.
By the way, at under $1 the barbasol stuff is great. I find it clearly comparable to the Gillette products that cost much more. The only foam I prefer is the Nivea foam (not gel) for sensitive skin with chamomile. Unfortunately, it is a bit hard to find.
As an update on the Schick Quattro Titanium, I can say that I love the thing. I have shaved at least ten to fifteen times with it since I got it and I still cannot detect any decrease in cutting performance. Very good. Also the trimmer works great and takes surprisingly little battery power. It is really the ideal travel razor for longer trips because it helps you stay groomed all around without the need for an extra electric razor or trimmer.
After ten times my Sensor Excel blades are definitely going downhill. Otherwise I do love the easy handling and cutting performance of the Sensor blades.
works best for me with a Schick multi-blade razor. Contains topical anesthetic benzocaine!
I alternate using the cream with using straight, plain, uncompromised aloe vera gel.
In all cases the wetter the beard, the better the shave.
I *always* shave against the direction of growth, but I must confess; the upper lip and lower lip-to-chin areas defeat me (tough beard, tender skin) and thus I've worn a goatee for as long as I can remember.
It's worth it to try everything until you find a combination you can be happy with, but clearly, it's not a "one method fits all" matter.
Two days ago I decided to throw out the Schick Titanium blade I've been using since APRIL. It had at least 30 shaves on it and might have gone longer. But at this point I decided I had gotten out my money's worth.
In real life, I wear a full (somewhat tight) beard. My usual routine consists of an electric beard trimmer that I picked up at Bed Bath & Beyond several years ago, plus whatever three-blade razor (Gillette or Schick) was most recently on sale for my neck.
However, I work in the oil/petrochemicals industry, and refinery safety rules usually require me to be clean-shaven when I travel. In such cases, I travel with the aforementioned three-blader and a travel-size canister of Barbasol. If I'm traveling for leisure (or to someplace where facial hair regulations don't apply), I'll take the electric. This, however, is quite bulky and often gets hidden with my wife's toiletries, where the incremental weight won't be noticed.
My questions are these: (1) Is there a less-bulky beard trimmer that I'm not aware of? And (2) What am I missing out on for my clean-shaven trips? I haven't had much opportunity to experiment with razors and shaving creams.
"I'll take the electric. This, however, is quite bulky and often gets hidden with my wife's toiletries, where the incremental weight won't be noticed." Love that sentence.
As for the first question I can't help you because I never had a beard. I can tell you that the little trimmer on the Quattro is most likely not big or strong enough to cope with a real beard. It is good enough for a mustache and trimming the side burns and such, though. I'd just do an Amazon search for beard trimmer to see if there are any smaller models that strike your fancy.
On the second question just read this thread post by post or check out the badger and blade forum. But don't come back and say we didn't warn you!
I carry the "Art of Shaving" travel kit which includes:
Shaving brush - Compact
TSA approved size Oil/Shaving Cream/Aftershave lotion
Gillete Mach 3 razor which attaches to the underside of the travel box
It all comes in a neat and convenient package which is perfect for travelling and you get a great shave everytime !!
How is that holding up for you? I went through about 5 in 7 years and finally stopped carrying the case and the razor. In my experience, the case litterally fell apart. The leather (or fake lather) covering would peel off leaving cardboard. The cardboard would then get damp and the case was no more. I've also had the neck of 2 of the razors break. This left the blade spinning around when I tried to shave. Very disappointing as I paid around $200 for the case if I recall correctly. I bought 3 and Nieman Marcus replaced 2.
Finally, I got around to trying the Panasonic ES-8068 with shaving cream. The ES-8068 is a former top model from Panny. It still performs very well even after 8 years of use (that is about once a week use coming to something like 1.5 years daily use).
I used the Tabac Original Shaving cream (not the stick) which gives me great results when used with brush and blade. The only difference was that I didn't whip up a thick foam with a brush but I put some cream on my washed/wet face and massaged it in with the fingertips. I had a 48 hour scruff. It took longer than dry shaving and I had less control of where I was shaving. It was necessary, or I felt so, to rinse the shaver twice. It took about 5-6 minutes versus 3 for pure dry shaving. I still cannot understand how some guys take 15 minutes for a shave. So in terms of time savings, this takes me as long as an oil shave or a foam can shave. A self-made brushed lather takes 10-12 minutes for me. I think in a travel context when one is often in a hurry these things do matter.
Now, all the reviews say that Pannys really perform best when used with a bit of foam or even with just water. Strangely enough, I got AGAIN more irritation than using it just dry. I think I might have pressed to hard. I actually cut myself under the chin. That has never happened with an electric razor before for me. And on my neck I got a bruise that looks like a hickey. The funny thing is that one Amazon reviewer says EXACTLY the same thing about the hickey and use of an electric Panasonic shaver with foam. It was probably at least as bad in terms of irritation as using the Panny with the KoS oil. I must be doing something wrong.
Was it worth it? No! But in the spots where it didn't miss hair, it was indeed very, very close to a wet blade shave. I was quite amazed. Missing hairs is not only a shaver problem but can be attributed to how well the user handles the shaver. As usual the neck area is difficult.
I will give it another chance with foam and might even try just plain water. Normally, plain water will produce more drag but some have reported good results.
Tomorrow is the scheduled delivery date of my new electric razor: the Panasonic ES8243K. It is the ARC IV Nano model and supposed to be terrific. The thing has caused a real ruckus with the shaving nerds on their forums. It is also lighter than my current model (255 vs. 189g) and about the same weight as My Philips Norelco Arcitec 1090 which I also kind of bought for traveling but use mostly back home in Germany (it's stationed there so I don't need to even bring an electric shaver).
I'll let you know how it performs. Also, if you are interested go back to the original article on OBOW for my short review of the Norelco 1090. I would like to do a comparo of these models on Amazon.
Just found this gadget by chance. I don't know why men some shave in the shower. Seems like not the ideal environment and might waste water while not gaining any time. But still, this mirror is pretty nifty. It folds up for travel, has an integrated shelf and razor hook and it attaches to the shower head, fogless, of course.
No idea of cost. But thought some might be interested.
I've had two shaves with the new Panny. Terrific results so far. I will report back when I have a bit more experience with it but I am already feeling this thing, great shave and great design.
Inspired by a thread about the use of olive oil on Electric Razor Rap, I set out to explain the conundrum that exists when combining the question of when one should shave and whether or what products one should use before and after the shave. I hope this helps to clarify the situation.
The reason most manufacturers recommend against experimenting with practically anything is what I call the "Idiot Factor". People will go crazy and do God knows what and then complain they had a bad rash or their shaver exploded.
Many of the shave oil products might actually contain olive oil. I tried Jojoba and it worked just fine. There is also a difference whether the oil is used to lube the blade or whether it is used on the face.
The idea that olive oil would dull the blade, no matter how it is used, is very strange. I will say that it cannot have anything to do with microscopic particles suspended in the oil because the whiskers the blade cuts are much thicker than any particles in the oil. Blades are often sharpened with oil or water (in addition to stones, of course) to actually give a more even sharpening and to suspend particles or wash them away, depending on the stage of the sharpening process. Oil will also help to prevent oxidation of the blade. Some knives, scissors and razor blades will receive a thin coat of oil for storage. Some wet razor blade freaks advocate to immerse the entire blade in mineral or olive oil while it is not in use. Oxidation comes from water and oxygen. A blade fully immersed in oil will get neither. For wet shaving oxidation is given as one of the primary reasons for blade dulling, more so than abrasion from actually cutting the facial hair. There is no reason this should be different with electric shavers. It's a blade made of metal and subject to the same phenomena.
The idea of lubricating the skin to ensure a better glide probably doesn't need any explanation. The trick is to find just the right amount to give better glide instead of more drag and more gunk (another reason shaver mfrs are against the use of oils and pre-shaves). More gunk means higher friction thus more heat and blade abuse. But just a little bit of oil on the skin and on the blade will not create enough gunk and allow for a faster shave with less friction. Faster shave means less run time, means less blade abrasion, means better shaves for a longer time period. Obviously, better shaves for a longer time period is not in your interest when you are in the business of selling replacement blades and foils. Providing warranty on gunked up shavers where users have gone overboard is not in the manufacturers' interest, either. Hence their recommendation.
So those who say one should follow the manufacturers recommendation are only half right. If one has not enough common sense to see these things, it is a good idea to follow the recommendations. If one is critical enough, one will ask the "cui bono" question (who profits?) before heeding the recommendation.
Now, if the foil is really smooth and the user has a very clean and dry face there will also be minimal friction. That is perhaps easier to achieve than choosing the right lubricating substrate and applying it correctly.
This also explains the pre or post shower question where it is recommended to either shave before showering (but after cleaning the face) or to wait 15 minutes after showering. The problem of shaving after the shower is that the water will not only make the hair swell and make it soft, thus harder to grab by the foil, but it will also make the skin swell temporarily, so less of the hair stands out. It is a similar puffy skin effect as after getting up (see the recommendation on waiting 15 minutes after getting up). Moreover, the continued warmth of the shower opens the pores and makes the skin's natural oils come to the surface. This can create too much drag (but is good for wet shaving) and is the reason why moisturizing is so important.
Pre-shaves like the now elusive Lectric Ultra Gel or even the liquid versions contain alcohol and other astringent liquids. The idea is to a) disinfect the skin before shaving because bacteria on the skin can easily get into the skin and cause redness (mini inflammations), b) work as an astringent. The astringent will contract the skin around the whisker. The whisker will be more exposed and standing up better, thus easier to grasp. Rubbing with the fingertips against the grain and a bit of slapping can enhance that effect. The pre-shaves are meant to be used sparingly and supposed to be used only after they are completely dried. Just don't wait too long or the astringent effect is gone. I would say the most benefit can be had when you use such a pre-shave lotion if you decide to shave BEFORE showering. It can "wake up" your skin and give you a clean face without adding too much moisture like you might get from a full face wash.
Exfoliation of the skin be it with a sugar scrub, an exfoliating gel or a wash cloth is also recommended for the closest shave. In theory, exfoliation before shaving should help against ingrown hairs. Exfoliating daily might be too much of a good thing, which is why wet shaving daily often creates so much irritations among those who must shave daily. But exfoliating for example twice a week makes sense.
Moisturizing and disinfecting after the shave is equally a good habit. The skin needs to get back some of its oils and moisture to protect it and it is a good idea to disinfect again after the shave. Since alcohol is usually used as a disinfectant and alcohol is also an astringent (like menthol or campher) it will close the pores and help prevent any impurities from settling in the still open pores. So a quick rinse (first luke warm to get any leftover pre-shave lotion and any small hair particles off, then cold water to close the pores) after a dry shave makes sense and should be followed by the application of an after shave balm instead of a non-moisturizing after shave.
The King of Shaves Kinexium oil is horrible. It clogs up the razor, and also leaves a horrible residue in the sink (ie oil containing hairs) and on your face (oily). You need something like a hand towel to wipe it away.
The King of Shaves Alpha oils are good though - much better.
I havn't tried the Azor, I think that's next on my list.
I have this really kick butt mirror that allows you to fill the back with warm water and stops it from steaming in the shower. Absolute MUST have product if you shave in the shower (which you should!). It is so simple in design that you wonder why every mirror doesn't have a little pocket for water behind it.
By the way, shaving in the shower makes it totally mess free and gives you a closer shave since your face would have been under the hot water for several minutes. Also zero chance of leaving any shaving stuff behind.
Some more thoughts on methodology
