9 easy tips to drastically improve your shave
Shaving can be dreadful, painful and not least expensive. But there are ways to make your shave more pleasant. Read along as I present nine tips which will help improve your shave.
Six Shooter Shaving Brushes
If you are looking for a shaving brush that will stand out from the crowd and attract some comments, then you should have a look at the new shaving brushes from American company, Six Shooter Shaving.
These shaving brushes are designed to replicate the look of a loaded revolver body, and come in five different metal colors. The knot can be taken off to easily fit a replacement if the brush wears out at some point.
The shaving brush cost USD $149 as a stand-alone product, but you can get a complete gift set including the brush, a specially designed stand and a tube of shaving cream for $199. The knot on the brush is average sized at 20 mm, and the website tells that the hair is “finest badger.”
You can probably find similar brushes on the market at much lower prices, but if you like these cool metal handles, then Six Shooter Shaving Brushes could be for you.
I haven't been able to try the Six Shooter shaving brushes, but I do like the design and the concept of being able to separate the handle from the actual brush in just a few seconds. I am sure there could be a market for this kind of “shaving handle memorabilia”, allowing you to buy a quality shaving brush and a handle to suit your own taste.
For now, I will probably just stick to my usual shaving brush and keep the 200 dollars in my pocket. If you are interested in military gifts and revolvers in particular a .44 caliper shaving brush could be just what you desire…
Read more about the Six Shooter Shaving Brushes at www.SixShooterShaving.com
Braun Series 5 review
The first electric shaver I ever bought was a Braun back in 1998. Two years later, I replaced it with another Braun model I had won in a competition. Since then, I have owned a Philips shaver and a load of different Gillette razors and in the later years, Double Edge razors.
Recently, I got the chance to try out one of Brauns latest models from their utterly popular Series 5. As you may have read elsewhere on the site, I definitely prefer wet shaving over electric shaving, but for a few weeks I decided to leave the razor blades and shaving soap and use the Braun Series 5 for my shaving needs. I will share my experience in this review.
The Braun Legacy
I
t may not be fair to compare the Series 5 shaver to my old Braun shaver from 1999. After all there must have been some development over the last 13-14 years. But in many ways this may just be the best way to judge the quality and necessity of the product.
As most other Braun shavers, the Series 5 has a double foiled shaving head with an extra knife between the two foils. This is the same technology seen in the Series 3 and 7 (but not in Series 1) – and is also similar to the head of my old Braun 6550 from 1999.
The machine itself is quite a bit larger than my old shaver, but the actual shaving head is more or less of the same size as the old model. It has however been improved in several ways, but more on that later.
The Series 5 shaver has a very nice feel, and it fits great in my hands. The handling of the shaver is perfect and it seems very well balanced. The shaving head pivots, but can be locked in several positions for better precision.
The actual shave
As mentioned before, I believe the shavers head is a piece of great technology. Not only does the head pivot and lock in different angles to allow increased precision but it will also lift and lower each of the foil blades individually as it pivots. This seems to work very well as it allows the knife between the foils to reach more of the thorough stubble on your chin. This particular feature is known as UltraActiveLift, and is available on several Series 5 and 7 shavers.
I often find that reviewing electric shavers can be hard and painful, as each type of shaver requires some time to get used to. But with the Series 5, I hardly experienced any rash or irritation at all. It did (as most electric shavers seem to) have some problems dealing with longer stubble underneath my chin. But a bit of extra effort in that area was enough to get the job done.
Cleaning and maintenance
The Braun Series 5 reviewed by Shaving Shavingdetective
I have been testing the Series 5-030 model. It is delivered with the rather bulky Clean&Charge station. The station is a large docking station to be placed somewhere in your bathroom to store, clean and charge your shaver.
Let me start by saying that you don't have to use the station to charge your shaver. I personally prefer to just use the charging cord whenever it's needed.
The Clean&Charge station holds a cleaning cartridge, which will automatically clean your shaver while the battery is recharged. It seems to do a great job keeping your shaver clean and properly lubcricated, but I am generally not a big fan of these large charging stations. Once you have inserted the cleaning cartridge it is a hard job finding somewhere to put the station while it is not in use. It requires both the cleaning fluid and electricity plugged in to work, so you must find a good spot for it. You can of course disconnect it when not in use, but it is a bit of a
extra work.
Overall
I have to admit that I am quite fond of the Braun Series 5-050 shaver. It does a great job at what it is supposed to do, and the design is both useful and beautiful at the same time.
I may not be a big fan of the Clean&Charge station – but since it is not required for me to use it, I will just leave it in the box for now. The shaver is just as good without the station, as long as you remember to clean the shaving head every now and then.
The particular model I tested is available on the European market, but Series 5 shavers are available with different accessories and several design variations from Amazon.com and a shop near you. All Series 5 shavers use the same shaving head and technology, so the variations are only in design, display indicators and other minor details.
Overall rating 4 out of 5 stars.
Save Money on Razorblades
Is it possible to save money on razorblades?
Aside from razorburn, one of the most common complaints when it comes to shaving is the cost.
Right now, a 5-pack of Gillette’s Mach 3 cartridges costs about £7 in the UK. Those 5 cartridges are the product of hundreds of years of shaving technology; they feature tiny microfins to encourage the correct shaving angle, three blades to avoid unnecessary pressure and an aloe strip to sooth the skin. This is all very well, but when they only last a handful of shaves, it seems that the costs heavily outweigh the benefits.
So what can you do? There are a number of options available to the frustrated shaver. Firstly, don’t worry! You can easily save yourself some money by changing your shaving style or even switching to a different kind of razor.
The Technique
If you’re browsing this website, you’re likely to be an experienced shaver with your own personal technique, as individual as the next man’s. However, if you’re like most men on the street today who have been shaving with disposable razors and canned gels for years, then the following may be of interest.
Switching over from a gel to a natural cream or soap may very well be one of the best choices you can make. No need to spend a fortune to try it, most creams and soaps are under £10 and will last you nearly half a year.
Not only do they rarely need replacing, creams and soaps will do a far better job of moistening and softening the hair, which will allow your razor to cut through it with unrivalled ease.
If you’re going to try a cream or soap, I can’t recommend a shaving brush enough. Shaving brushes may seem a little ‘over the top’ for most men, but they are a lot better at creating a lather than using your hands alone.
Some brushes such as one made from ‘super badger’ hair, come from the back of the badger where the long, thick hair is very good at withholding water, and builds a better lather. Other brushes, such as the hog hair, synthetic hair or even just plain old pure economy badger hair won’t really hold as much water as the premium variants. However, the rougher hair has other advantages such as helping to exfoliate the skin.
Environmental Concerns
I recently posted on Facebook about the difference of opinion regarding shaving with either hot or cold water. The consensus generally, as I’m sure seasoned shavers will agree, is that warm water is the preferred as it softens the hair, allowing you to cut through it easier with the blade. Others believe that by using cold water, you’re actually making the hair stand up straighter, and can therefore get a closer shave. Be that as it may, the softer, warmer hair will be far more delicate on your blades and will help them last longer.
Another point to consider is the drying of the blade. Typically, I’ve never thought to dry my blade after use, but by rubbing over it a couple of times (in the opposite direction) with a towel and giving it a little shake, I’ve learnt that it certainly helps keep the blades dry so that they don’t pick up the imperfections caused by oxidation. It saves a couple of extra shaves, at least.
Technological Advantage
Following on from that thought pattern, keeping the blade clean and away from things that could harm it is certainly a good tip to adopt. The Shaving Detective recently reviewed the RazorPit, a small plastic ‘shoe’ device which allows you to ‘sharpen’ your blades or cartridges by running them in the reverse direction along the surface of the RazorPit after every shave.
Although I would argue that what’s happening here isn’t exactly ‘sharpening’, rather ‘cleaning’ the blades of any pieces of dead skin or hair which have built up on your razor during the shave – I do believe that bathroom gizmos like this have the potential to lengthen the lifespan of your blades.
I think it’s important to mention that products like the RazorPit, however, only give you access to one side of the blades if you’re using a cartridge razor like a Gillette Mach3 or Fusion system. Products like MagnaBlade are another option. They purportedly use the power of ‘magnetic fields’ to “increase the bonding power between molecules” making for a tougher and more durable blade. Although the science behind these products sounds like biorhythms, many shavers do report back positive results from using them.
What Does it All Mean?
So what can we glean from all of this? Is there a best course of action to take when trying to save money on razorblades?
I think that in conclusion, there are all sorts of tips and tricks you can use to help maintain the lifespan of your blades, but not all of them may work for you.
Shaving is a very personal thing and what works for one person may not work for another. Experiment with the shaving creams, soaps and brushes you use – as there isn’t always a clear winner. Products such as the RazorPit or the MagnaBlade may help you out, but I think the overall message is that if you take care of your razor blades, then they will last longer.
What weird and wonderful methods do you adopt to keep your blades alive? Let me know in the comments, below!
James Bond Boosts Cut Throat Razor Sales
The Shaving Shack, the UK’s leading online retailer of premium shaving products, has attributed the latest James Bond movie for a whopping 405% increase in sales of cut throat razors.
During a scene in Skyfall, British actress Naomie Harris gives 007, played by Daniel Craig, a close shave using a cut throat razor, whispering in his ear “sometimes the old ways are the best” as she performs the shave.
And The Shaving Shack says this intimate shaving scene is the reason for the dramatic sales surge over the last five days.
The online retailer has also seen a 123% increase in web traffic since the film was released in the UK on October 26. Traffic from Internet searches for “cut throat razor” and “straight razor” have soared by a staggering 735% over the last five days, the firm added.
Nick Gibbens, The Shaving Shack’s Brand Director, believes Bond’s legendary style and iconic status have inspired men to try out a new method of wet shaving.
“Bond fans have an emotional attachment to 007, they love his Aston Martin cars, Omega watches and dinner suits. So it comes as no surprise that they have jumped on his love for cut throat razors.
“These luxury, old-school razors range in price from around £60 up to £300 so it’s fair to say that Bond fans are spending big to ensure they look as clean cut as 007.”
But Bond fans that can't splash out up to £300 on a razor are instead opting for a cut-price shavette – a close relative to the cut throat razor with the difference being that the blades can be changed. Sales of shavettes on The Shaving Shack website have risen by 509% since the release of Skyfall, with bumper sales of the budget £9.99 Bluebeards Revenge Shavette.
The Shaving Shack says it’s delighted to see an increasing number of men ditching the multi-bladed cartridge razor in favour of a straight but they are also keen to point out the increased complexity of a cut throat shave.
“Shaving with a cut throat razor is certainly one of life’s pleasures as it will give you the closest possible shave. But it does take time to master the technique and you’ll certainly need a steady hand and plenty of practice,” said Mr Gibbens.
“We strongly advise that all men take the time to read up on the correct technique.”
As your Shaving Detective I will set out on a mission to learn how to shave with a cut throat razor. Check back on the site soon for reviews and tips.
Olivelia Shaving Foam
If I say “Greece” you probably don't think of cosmetics, do you?
However, Greece is more than just beautiful scenery, historical places and tzatziki. It's a country full of olives. On my latest visit to the wonderful island Crete, I decided to try out one of the numerous brands of olive based shaving foams.
Olivelia Shaving Foam
The Olivelia Shaving Foam, priced at €7.50 in the local tourist shop in Agia Marina, was my pick of the trip. The name is a combination of the Latin and Greek names for olive (Olive and Elia).
The shaving foam is free from parabens. The bottle design and the label will make you think of a natural, ecological product, and it does contain both olive oil and extracts from hop and cotton. However, the list of ingredients also tells that it's a cosmetic product and contains perfume among a long list of artificial ingredients. I was slightly disappointed about this but mainly because the packaging made me think of a more ecological product.
At first, I found the Olivelia Shaving Foam a bit too watery, and was not able to get a very good shave with it.
After some attempts, I found a solution for that problem; just spray the foam onto your hands and rub it for a few seconds. That will wipe away a lot of the water, and leave a nice, frothy foam that gives a much better shave.
All in all, I have enjoyed using the Olivelia Shaving Foam. It is available from several sources online, including Mocmarket.com.