The Male Waxing & Shaving Blog

Archive for the ‘products’ Category

Perron Rigot, manufacturer of all the waxes I use for my treatments have recently launched a new product. This new non-strip wax is part of their hypo-allergenic range, and is also great for working in warm treatment rooms as it sets super quick.

A creamy non-strip wax that delivers outstanding results on all skin and hair types. The natural colophony (rosin) found in most other waxes has been replaced with a synthetic resin, offering exceptional tolerance for even the most reactive of skins. Non-fragranced and colorant-free, this new wax melts at a low temperature for increased client comfort on all parts of the face and body. Cirépil Pure’s fast-setting formula makes it an ideal choice for hot and humid summer weather, and where speed is of the essence.

Features & Benefits

1. Rosin-free, hypoallergenic formula.
2. Non-fragranced and colorant-free.
3. Melts at a low temperature for increased client comfort.
4. Fast-setting – ideal for hot and humid summer weather.
5. Easy to use – applied in economical single layers, in the direction of hair growth.
6. Contains elastomers – wax stays flexible as it dries and will not break during removal.
7. Ideal for fragile and reactive skins, and for sensitive areas such as the face, underarms and bikini line.

Recommended Use

1. Cleanse the area to be waxed with Blue Lotion or Eau de Cristal Lotion.
2. Apply a few drops of Jasmine, Pearlescent or Natural Moistursing Oil.
3. Apply wax in fine, single layers in the direction of hair growth and allow to dry.
4. Once fully set (30-60 seconds), lift a corner of wax and remove in the opposite direction to application.
5. Follow with Blue Lotion or Eau de Cristal to cleanse and cool.
6. Finish with a gentle massage using Refreshing Gel or Moisturising Milk to calm and nourish the skin.

For more information about Perron Rigot waxes, see their website or request a product catalogue from Thalgo on 020 7512 0872.

I’d like to introduce you one of my favourite and most popular products … Australian Bodycare Hand & Body Lotion. I introduced this fantastic range of products this year as the perfect aftercare product range.

I now use the range every day in all my waxing treatments, and the Hand & Body lotion is the perfect after wax lotion. It is a a gentle non-greasy water based lotion that is suitable for all skin types. Used every day it works as a great fast and effective hygienic skincare lotion to help maintain soft supple skin. It has a fantastic cooling effect on the skin which makes it very popular when used in treatments. The antibacterial effect of the tea tree helps to prevent acne, keep pores clear and aids the prevention of ingrown hairs.

Tea Tree Oil is a natural essential oil steam extracted from the Melaleuca alternifolia tree grown in Australia. It is well known for its natural antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. Hand & Body Lotion contains 5% tea tree oil which gives it a light fresh & clean aroma.

Australian Bodycare only use Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree Oil) which out of the 110 different varieties of Tea Tree Oil has been proven to contain the most beneficial natural properties for healthy skin and hair.

After searching and trying various products from different suppliers I have taken on a new range of superb skincare products from Australian Bodycare. The name is Australian, but the products are made here in the UK … the Tea Tree Oil that is used in the products comes from Australia. Grown in New South Wales, the Melaleuca alternifolia tree is the one one of the 110 species from which this unique natural oil can be extracted. The oil is distilled under high pressure steam within one hour of harvest!

I am now using these products in all waxing treatments, starting off using the wet wipes as a pre-cleanser for treatments, then using the Hand & Body Lotion as my afterwax of choice. This is great for cooling and soothing the skin immediately after waxing, ongoing it helps keep the skin nourished and soft and can help prevent ingrown hairs.

After each treatment I also offer clients a small sachet of Skin Wash to use as a shower gel for their first shower. This helps to continue soothing the skin, and the antiseptic properties can help to prevent acne and any infection of the hair folicles. For chest and intimate waxing I also include a sachet of the Hand & Body Lotion to use the following day.

And finally just to ensure everything is covered, for underarm waxing I have small sachets of Tea Tree based deodorant that is available that can be applied immediately after waxing. Particularly useful if you are off out or to a meeting later that day.

I also recommend that to get the best, longest lasting results from a waxing that clients continue to use the products at home. The Hand & Body Lotion is available in 150ml and 250ml bottles, and the Skin Wash in 250ml pump bottles. The Deodorant comes in a tube with roller applicator so it is always ready when you are and is very easy to apply. Click here out more about the Australian Bodycare range.

For a good few years now Hive of Beauty have had a range of waxing products specifically for men … Wax 4 Men. The range consists of a warm wax, roller wax and hot film wax for intimate areas.

And of course my wax non-strip of choice is also available – Cirepil Homme from the French manufacturer Perron Rigot, along with a roller version … not sure why they don’t do it as a warm wax.

But until now no other companies have really specifically targeted the male waxing market. This week I took delivery of the latest edition of the Ellisons Beauty Buyers Guide. And they have launched this year “Wax Master Wax for Men”, or (and I love the abbreviation) “Man Wax”. They describe it as:

A high grade premium wax specifically formulated for use on male clients. Distinctively Masculine in appearance ‘Man Wax’ is specially formulated with an increased viscosity for greater adherence enabling wax to grip the hair at its base to deliver optimum waxing performance. Suitable for all parts of the body.

I’ve not used it, infact I’ve not used any of the Wax Master waxes so really can’t comment on their quality but it is good to see one of the largest suppliers in the market taking male clients seriously. Hopefully they have also reviewed how they treat male therapists looking for training in basic waxing in their Training Academy.

If you have used it I’d love to hear your comments about it Man Wax.

Today I took delivery of a few new products, or rather products that are new to Waxing for Guys. I’ll post about some of the others over the coming week, but today I want to talk about a new wax I think I will be moving to very shortly!

I have always used Hive Options waxes, lately using their Green Tea product. And I’ve always been happy with the wax and the result, but recently I’ve been thinking should I look to change. And so I ordered a tin of Perron Rigot Escential Green Tea. And today I got to try it out for the first time.

This isn’t the first time I’ve tried a Perron Rigot strip wax, I do have a tin of Cristal Ocean available that I use for clients who are allergic to the rosin in most waxes. But I’m not a big fan of I must say, I’ve just never got on with the texture of it for some reason. So was very interested to try a different product from the range.

The first thing to note about this is the cost, it is about 230% more expensive then the Hive wax, so to justify that cost it has to be good … very good!

The wax has a very distinctive fresh grass type of smell to it, and that is no bad thing. There is also a slight glittery shimmer to it that looks very nice, but how it looks and smells aren’t what a wax should be judged on. How does it perform in a treatment.

The first thing you notice about the wax is how thin you can spread it. Not just thin, but really really thin! I was able to cover an entire side of the back with wax before I had to remove it, it doesn’t dry out on the skin … great for speed waxing! Also when it comes off it not only takes every hair with it but it also all comes off so the skin isn’t left feeling sticky. And any little bits left over you can just dab with a strip and they come off easily enough.

So, about that 230% price increase … is it worth it? Definately! When you do a treatment you can see just how much wax you have used from the pot as it goes down. Using this it felt like using a tiny amount of wax to what I am used to, so it lasts longer and goes further! And it is more comfortable for the client.

The 800g tin it comes in can be inserted directly into the heater or it can be warmed slightly and poured into the heater bucket. For my trial I’ve just used it in the tin, I would probably use it in the bucket on a daily basis as it is a bit easier with the scraper bar and its easier to control the temperature.

King of Shaves recently launched the latest version of their Azor Razor … the Azor M Alloy System Razor.

Designed and manufactured in the UK and tipping the scales at 47g, compared to the 17g Azor, the Azor M is perfectly balanced and ideally weighted for maximum control and comfort whilst shaving. The Azor M utilises King of Shaves’ internationally patented “Bendology Technology” flexible hinges which allows the Azor’s head to bend and follow every contour of your face whilst pressing the blades progressively closer onto the skin for a superbly comfortable yet close shave. The unique wishbone shaped head design provides greater visibility when shaving.

The latest addition to the award winning Azor line-up also introduces the new v2 slim blade cartridge, that makes shaving under the nose and other hard to reach places even easier. The tactile handle features side creases for improved dexterity and grip, trim guides for shaping and styling facial hair, a larger skin pre-tensioner (reducing the risk of unwanted nicks and cuts whilst helping to prevent in-growing hairs) and an improved soft-touch cartridge ejection mechanism making it even easier to change blades – not that you will be doing that very often as our Endurium coated blades last longer!

The razor has a RRP of £6.99 with blades costing between £0.81p and £1.25 depending on the pack size. Very competitively priced, and a very different design … so how does it compare? Well this will naturally be a part of the Big Razor Test to compare.

Perron Rigot, the industry leading french wax and depilatory product manufacturer recently launched its latest product range.

The new range is a collection of three new hypoallergenic products suited to the most sensitive skins, especially formulated to minimize allergy risks.

1. Cirépil Pure non-strip wax; velvety texture, easy to work, exceptionally gentle removal;
2. Alcohol-free Eau de Cristal lotion;
3. Pearlescent Oil; light, fluid texture.

Cirépil Pure, a non-strip wax is rosin free and formulated to minimize allergy risk. A pure white colour without fragrance, this wax is suited to all hair and skin types. Being one of the new generation non-strip waxes it is particularly suited to intimate waxing, underarms etc.

Eau de Cristal Lotion is derived from sea water, cleans and remineralizes fragile and reactive skins. Enriched with aloe vera and olive oil, its soothing and healing action is ideal for dry and sensitive skin. Suitable for use on all parts of the body, and in particular the most sensitive places, it can be used before and after waxing.

The Pearlescent Oil, with its light, fluid texture and formula based on calendula extract (with its healing and softening properties) and coconut oil (which moisturizes and regenerates), is ideal for after-care modelage. Its floral, powdery fragrance, allergen-free, associated with mother-of-pearl, leaves the skin soft and gently fragrant. Use before waxing on cold or dehydrated skins, and after waxing for the finishing touch.

And for those looking for a hypoallergenic strip-wax there is the existing Cirépil Cristal Océan. This wax has a special formula using synthetic resin so it is rosin-free. And for the most sensitive of skin types it is also fragrance-free. This is a very fluid wax that lets you spread a very thin layer very close to the hair root, making removal more gentle and more effective.

So this is the first blade to face the review! So we are starting off with a disposable razor from the biggest name in men’s shaving. This is a very different type of razor, particularly for those more used to changeable cartridge style razors.

The pack of 8 razors cost £3.19, with each razor therefore being a nice 40p each. I must just make a comment about the packaging as I really liked this, they pack is a small plastic bag and to open it you tear a strip off the side. This then reveals a zip-loc style sealer so you can keep all the remaining razors safe and clean inside the packaging. A nice touch I thought.

You start to notice a difference with disposable razors immediately, they are a complete plastic body so feel a lot lighter in the hand. The grip is comfortable, and nice to hold, doesn’t slip around between your fingers and you can still keep a good grip with went hands.

The head on the Blue II Plus consiss of two blades and a very well lubricated strip and is a fixed position. So it doesn’t tilt and move according to the contours of your face … you have to do that yourself. And this is one of the big differences, I found I just nicked the skin a couple of times and felt the blades just scraped the skin in a few areas leading to a little bit of irritation.

The result was quite a close shave, but only because of extra awareness on the second shave. I found that it wasn’t as close as I would like for the first shave, you wouldn’t be able to get away with a single shave with this … and if I did this would have lost a point on the closeness.

Overall, a good enough razor but one that you’d need to stick with to practice a little and get familiar with. I’m not sure it would be too good for those with thicker beards – or how it would cope with a few days more growth.

Scores
Grip: 3
Glide: 3
Closeness: 3
Comfort: 2
Ease of Use: 2
Value for Money: 3

Total Score: 16 / 30

I’m a bit late picking this up, but a few days ago Procter & Gamble Company announced the latest product in the Gillette shaving range, yes they have done it again and designed a razor that is better, smoother and more comfortable then all their previous razors that were better, smoother and more comfortable then all their previous razors.

As is the way now for Gillette this will come in the standard and “powered” varieties.

So there you have it, the best a man can get just got better! This new razor is launching in the US in June 2010 and around the world at some point after that, yet to be announced. But as soon as I can get hold of one I’ll bring you a full review and my own opinion of it.

One thing that I think we can be sure of … it is going to be expensive, the current Fusion Power blades cost upto £2.51 a head!!

For the corporate view here are some bits from the press release.
Read the rest of this entry »

That is what it says on the box of the gift set from The Shave Doctor. These fantastic mens shaving products are now in stock and I cannot recommend them highly enough. In my view the best complete shave products on the market!

So why not get along to the Shave Shop and check them out for yourself.